How to use the Customer App

How to use the Customer App

Site Graphs-

  • Banners at top will let you know if there is anything that needs immediate attention such as the below:

System Status:

  • This allows users to monitor the immediate operational status of their solar system using an API connection with inverter or microinverter and battery

Powerflow:

  • This provides real-time generation data and allows users to verify that panels are actively generating power.
  1. Solar Only w/ no consumption meter
  2. Solar Only w/ consumption meter:
    ◦ Real-Time Energy Usage: Shows the total power consumption of the household.
    ◦ Real-Time Solar Consumption: Indicates how much of the solar power generated is being used by the household.
    ◦ Real-Time Utility Import: Displays the amount of power being imported from the grid.
    ◦ Real-Time Utility Export: Shows the amount of excess solar power being exported to the grid.
  3. AC-coupled or DC-coupled:
    ◦ Real-Time Energy Usage: Shows the total power consumption of the household.
    ◦ Real-Time Solar Consumption: Indicates how much of the solar power generated is being used by the household.
    ◦ Real-Time Utility Import: Displays the amount of power being imported from the grid.
    ◦ Real-Time Utility Export: Shows the amount of excess solar power being exported to the grid.
    ◦ Real-Time Battery Charge %: Displays the current charge level of the battery.
    ◦ Real-Time Battery Charging from Solar System: Indicates whether the battery is currently being charged by the solar panels.
    ◦ Real-Time Battery Discharging to Grid: Shows if the battery is discharging power to the grid.
    ◦ Real-Time Battery Usage: Indicates the amount of power being used from the battery.

Solar System Cost:

  • Overview: This section shows the total cost of the solar system, the percentage that has been paid off, and the estimated pay-off date which helps users track their investment and balance their solar system.

Total Lifetime Contribution:

  • Overview: This section provides a summary of the total savings, energy generated, and environmental benefits (such as equivalent miles driven by an electric vehicle) accrued from using the solar system.
    ◦ Lifetime Savings: Cumulative data of actual savings.
    ◦ kWh Generated: Cumulative data of actual energy generated by the solar system.
    ◦ Miles in a EV: This metric translates the generated kWh into equivalent miles driven by an electric vehicle.

Your Savings:

  • Overview: This section provides an overview of the customer's solar system savings. It includes average daily and monthly savings, a comparison of actual savings versus estimated savings, and a year-over-year savings percentage increase.
    *Actuals will only show for sites using the Design App.
    ◦ Average Daily Savings: Aggregation of all actual savings value of this year / No. of days completed till date of this year
    ◦ Average Monthly Savings: Aggregation of all actual savings value till last month of this year / (Number of months running now – 1)
    ◦ Year-to-Date Savings: Aggregation of all actual savings value of this year till date
    ◦ % Actual saved than estimated: [(∑ Actual savings till year - Estimated savings this year*) / ∑ Estimated savings this year*] * 100
    ◦ Actual Savings: The amount of money you actually saved on utility bills since going solar.
    ◦ Estimated Savings: The amount of money you are estimated to save based on optimal solar system usage and performance.

Your Solar System:

  • Overview: Displays monthly energy generation data comparing actual vs. estimated generation.
    *Actuals will only show for sites using the Design App.
    ◦ Actual Generation: API connection with inverter/microinverter.
    ◦ Average Generation Per Month: Total generation till date / Number of months till date
    ◦ Average Daily Yield: Total energy production divided by the number of days in the year so far. (Total generation / total no. of days) / system size in kWh
    ◦ Actual Generation Year to Date: (Total generation / total no. of days) / system size in kWh
    ◦ Estimated Generation: The amount of energy your system is estimated to generate. The actual number could change based on the season, weather, and energy usage.
    ◦ % generation of energy than estimated: [(∑ Actual generation till year - ∑Estimated generation this year*) / ∑ Estimated generation this year*] * 100
  • If 1) Solar Only + SMD, 2) AC or DC-Coupled, 3) AC or DC-Coupled + SMD
    -Users will be able to see actual generation broken down into self-consumption + exports
    • Self Consumption: (Total Solar Generation - Total Solar Export) / Total Self Consumption
    • Formula: Total energy exported to the grid.
    • Graph Explanation: The graph provides a visual representation of the energy data:
    ◦ Self Consumption (Yellow bars): Energy consumed directly from the solar system each month.
    ◦ Exports (Red bars): Energy is exported back to the grid each month.
    ◦ Estimated Generation (Orange bars): The estimated energy generation for each month.

Electric Bills (SMD Only):

  • Displays monthly and yearly electric bill data, including the average bill, total year-to-date bill, and the highest bill during the year.

Your Total Consumption:

*Only available to customers who have enrolled in SMD or AC or DC coupled

  • Overview: The diagram provides a visual representation of energy consumption for a solar monitoring system, highlighting both solar and grid energy usage over a specific period.
    • Key Metrics Displayed:
    ◦ Total Self Consumption: Displays the amount of energy consumed that was generated by the solar system for the current month.
    ◦ Total Import: Shows the amount of energy imported from the grid for the current month.
    ◦ Total Consumption (Year-to-Date): Cumulative energy consumption from both solar and grid sources since the beginning of the year. ◦ Solar Freedom: Indicates the percentage of total electricity consumption covered by solar energy. (Total Solar Consumption / Total Energy Consumption) * 100.
    • Graph Explanation:
    ◦ Bars Representation: Each bar in the graph represents the monthly energy consumption.
    ◦ Yellow Bars: Indicate energy consumption from solar energy.
    ◦ Blue Bars: Indicate energy consumption from the grid.
    ◦ Positive and Negative Values:
    ▪ Positive Values: Indicate total energy consumption from both sources.
    ▪ Negative Values: Indicate periods where more energy is imported from the grid than is produced by the solar system.
    • Interpretation:
    ◦ Efficiency: Users can observe their energy consumption patterns and understand how much of their energy needs are met by their solar system versus the grid.
    ◦ Solar Production vs. Grid Dependency: The ratio of yellow (solar) to blue (grid) bars indicates the user's reliance on solar energy compared to grid energy. A higher proportion of yellow bars suggests greater energy independence.

Time of Use:

  • Overview: The diagram provides a visual representation of the time-of-use energy consumption for a solar monitoring system over a specific period.
    ◦ Energy Consumption Data: The data is sourced from the solar monitoring system, which tracks energy usage in real-time and categorizes it into on-peak and off-peak consumption.
    ◦ Time Frame: The data covers a specific period, such as the first half of the year.
    ◦ Peak Usage Period: Identifies whether the highest energy consumption occurs during on-peak or off-peak times.
    • Graph Explanation:
    ◦ Bars Representation: Each bar in the graph represents the monthly energy consumption.
    ◦ Grey Bars: Indicate off-peak consumption.
    ◦ Blue Bars: Indicate on-peak consumption.
    ◦ Positive and Negative Values:
    ▪ Positive Values: Indicate periods of net energy consumption.
    ▪ Negative Values: Indicate periods where energy production exceeds consumption, resulting in net energy savings.

Your Battery: Charging and Discharging:

  • Overview: The diagram provides a visual representation of battery charging and discharging activities for a solar system over a specific period.
    • Key Metrics Displayed:
    ◦ Battery Charging: Displays the amount of energy stored in the battery each month.
    ◦ Battery Discharging: Shows the amount of energy utilized from the battery each month.
    • Graph Explanation:
    ◦ Bars Representation: Each bar in the graph represents monthly battery activity.
    ◦ Yellow Bars: Indicate the amount of energy charged into the battery.
    ◦ Orange Bars: Indicate the amount of energy discharged from the battery.
    • Interpretation:
    ◦ Efficiency: Users can observe periods of higher battery activity, identifying months with significant charging and discharging. This helps in understanding how the battery is being utilized throughout the year.
    ◦ Storage vs. Usage: The balance between yellow (charging) and orange (discharging) bars indicates the effectiveness of energy storage. Consistent charging and discharging suggest optimal battery usage, whereas large discrepancies may indicate potential inefficiencies or areas for improvement.

Your Battery: Performance and Status:

  • Overview: The diagram provides a visual representation of the performance and status of a solar battery system over a specific period.
    • Key Metrics Displayed:
    ◦ State of Charge: Indicates the battery's charge level over time.
    ◦ Power Flow: Displays the power being charged to or discharged from the battery.
    ◦ Charge Level: Shows the current charge level of the battery as a percentage.
    • Graph Explanation:
    ◦ Lines Representation: The graph uses two lines to represent different metrics.
    ▪ Yellow Line (State of Charge): Shows the percentage of the battery's charge level over time.
    ▪ Green Line (Power Flow): Indicates the power flow into or out of the battery, showing charging and discharging events.
    ◦ Time Scale: The x-axis represents the time period, which can be adjusted to show data for the entire period, a specific month, week, day, or in six-hour intervals.
    ◦ Right Panel: Displays a visual representation of the battery’s current charge level, indicated as a percentage.
    • Interpretation:
    ◦ State of Charge Patterns: Users can observe the fluctuations in the battery’s charge level throughout the selected period. Regular peaks and troughs indicate frequent charging and discharging cycles.
    ◦ Power Flow Dynamics: The green line’s movement above and below the axis shows the charging and discharging power, respectively. Users can identify periods of high energy usage or production.
    ◦ Current Charge Level: The right panel provides a quick view of the battery's current charge status, helping users understand the immediate availability of stored energy.

Site Details Overview-

  • Site Info: Contains general information about the site, including the owner's name, address, email, utility provider, site start date, site size, financing details, and tariff category.
  • Hardware Info: Lists the hardware components used in the solar installation, including the module type, inverter details, racking system, and monitoring equipment.
  • Installer: Provides contact information for the installer, including the name, address, phone number, and email.
  • Documents: Contains all relevant documents related to the site, such as contracts, bills, summaries, and protection guides. Documents can be searched, viewed, and downloaded.
  • Warranty: Details the warranties applicable to the site, including the manufacturer's warranty, workmanship warranty, and any extended warranties.

Referrals-

  • Promotional section encouraging users to refer others to sign up for solar systems, offering a monetary incentive.

Help Center-

  • Directs users to support site with FAQs/video tutorials