Annual net savings sensitivity$34,266–$51,399±20% operating scenario before financing and tax
01 / POTENTIAL TAX BENEFITS
Keep more capital in Year 1.
$0
Showing $0 because eligibility is unconfirmed. Confirm it in “Adjust my financial assumptions” to see a scenario — a real result needs your tax adviser.
Why this starts at $0 — and what changes it
The model never assumes you qualify. When you and your tax adviser confirm eligibility and usable tax capacity, the scenario applies the credit and deduction rates below. The adviser — not this site — confirms rates, timing, qualified basis and recapture.
02 / DEMAND-CHARGE REDUCTION
Target expensive power peaks.
$10,800 / year
Battery savings scenario. Confirm tariff and interval load.
How demand savings differ from energy savings
Energy savings come from using less grid electricity overall (kWh). Demand savings come from cutting your single highest power draw (kW) in the billing window — batteries can flatten those peaks. Utilities measure demand differently, so your tariff and interval data decide the real number.
03 / OWNERSHIP & FINANCING
Compare ownership with financing.
$42,833 / year
Operating savings before tax and upfront system cost.
Operating savings vs cash flow after financing
Operating savings are what the system saves before any financing payment. Cash flow subtracts what you actually pay. A financed or PPA project can have positive cash flow while transferring more of the long-term benefit to the financier — the comparison shows the trade-off.
04 / PAYBACK & LONG-TERM RETURNS
See when the numbers turn.
17.9 years
Your payback follows your property, utility tariff, project cost and eligibility — enter your real numbers for a meaningful result.
Which assumptions determine payback
After-tax payback uses modeled operating savings, usable first-year tax benefits (ownership paths) and the entered cost. It is a simple payback, not an IRR, and doesn't model degradation, escalation or replacements. Every input is adjustable below — change nothing to inflate the result; we don't.
Property-value sensitivity applies when the owner pays the utility.
Reading these numbers — plain-English guide
Why tax benefits show $0 at first: this model never assumes you qualify. Tax benefits only appear once the eligibility boxes below are checked as a scenario — and a real result requires your tax adviser to confirm eligibility, timing and tax capacity.
What drives payback: your actual bills, the project cost entered, how much solar energy is used onsite, demand-charge savings, and usable tax benefits on an ownership path.
Operating savings vs cash flow: operating savings ignore financing payments; cash flow includes them. A low monthly payment can look attractive while extending total cost.
Demand vs energy savings: energy savings reduce total kWh purchased; demand savings reduce billed peak kW. Batteries target the second, and your utility's measurement method decides how much is recoverable.
Ownership vs PPA tax treatment: on a PPA you buy power; the system owner claims the tax benefits and prices them into the rate. Ownership paths keep those benefits with you if you qualify — never both.
Adjust my financial assumptions
These assumptions are editable and illustrative — we do not change them to produce attractive payback numbers. Solar and battery qualified tax bases may differ. Financing figures require a quote; a zero payment entry is not a financing offer. Residential tax rules are separate.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
Your bill-based review, section by section.
SOLAR BLACK BELT · BILL REVIEWIllustrative sample—not an actual customer assessment
1. Usage & billing summary12-month billing view built from the bills you submit.
2. Energy vs demand chargesWhere your bill comes from, and which part batteries can target.
3. Preliminary system-sizing assumptionsRoof area, yield and offset assumptions — clearly labeled as assumptions.
4. Potential solar & storage benefitsScenario ranges, not guarantees.
5. Ownership, financing & PPA comparisonThree capital paths compared on the same inputs where applicable.
6. Potential tax benefitsModeled only; eligibility must be confirmed by your tax adviser.
7. Cash-flow & payback summaryAfter-tax payback and sensitivity, with assumptions listed.
8. Missing information & next stepsExactly what we still need from you, and who does what next.
Every section is preliminary until engineering, utility, financing and tax reviews are complete. Unreadable or missing bill fields are flagged for you — never guessed.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
After you upload, here's the process.
What you receive
A personalized review built from your bill and calculator inputs — usage summary, energy vs demand charges, preliminary sizing, potential benefits and a payback summary, with assumptions disclosed.
Who reviews it
The Solar Black Belt project team. Your files, calculator inputs and property details stay together in one private project record with a reference number.
How results are delivered
We review your submission manually and follow up by phone or email. There is no automated bill analysis — anything unreadable or missing in your bills is flagged for you, not guessed.
What may be needed next
Up to 12 monthly bills, a utility interval-data export for demand analysis, and your tax adviser's confirmation for any incentive scenario.
Response time
We'll confirm the next steps and review timeline after receiving your bill.