The financial case.
WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT TO KNOW
How long before it pays for itself.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What they currently spend on energy.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THAT
Fuel Generator servicing and repairs Generator replacement, apportioned Electricity tariff, where supplied Losses from outages, where quantifiable
WHY GENERATOR MAINTENANCE BELONGS
It is substantial and customers omit it from their own comparison.
WHAT TO CALCULATE
Annual current cost Annual cost after the system The difference The system cost divided by that difference
WHAT THAT GIVES
Payback period.
WHAT TO ALSO ACCOUNT FOR
Battery replacement, which occurs within the system's life.
WHY THAT MATTERS ENORMOUSLY
Omitting it overstates the return substantially, and customers discover it later.
WHAT TO PRESENT
Honest figures, including replacement.
WHY HONEST
Overstated payback produces disputes and reputational damage.
WHAT TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT
That solar frequently reduces rather than eliminates generator use.
WHAT TO EXPLAIN
The hybrid reality: solar carrying the base load, generator or grid covering the rest.
WHAT NOT TO PROMISE
Complete independence, unless the design genuinely provides it.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
The assumptions behind the calculation.
WHY
They are what makes the figure defensible.
WHAT TO REVISIT
The figures, when fuel prices move.
