A business evaluates solar differently from a household. The numbers depend on operating hours, demand and peak exposure, and BC Hydro's self-generation rules. The single most important factor is usually daytime load — because solar only offsets consumption it can reach.
Why daytime load matters most
Solar produces during daylight hours, so it offsets consumption that happens during those hours directly. A warehouse, clinic, cold-storage facility or shop that runs through the day can offset a large share of cost. A business whose load is mostly at night gets far less from solar alone and needs storage to benefit meaningfully.
Demand and peak management
Some businesses pay demand or peak charges under their BC Hydro rate. Solar can reduce the daytime demand component, and storage can help clip peaks or shift consumption — but only where those charges apply and where the tariff structure rewards it. The proposal should show exactly where the savings come from.
Self-generation for businesses
Where eligible, surplus can be exported under BC Hydro's self-generation rate. Eligibility, caps and settlement depend on the rate schedule and the account type, so business assumptions are confirmed with BC Hydro before reliance — the same rules do not apply to every customer.
Storage for resilience
For point-of-sale, refrigeration, connectivity or continuity during storms, storage can keep the revenue-critical loads on during an outage. A business battery is sized to the loads that protect revenue and operations, not to the whole facility.
Bring 12 months of bills
A commercial assessment starts with 12 months of BC Hydro bills and a load profile where available. The proposal then states the production and financial assumptions, the equipment, and the BC Hydro rules used — so the business decision is made on numbers, not on a sales pitch.