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June 2025

This spreadsheet aims to give residents an idea of the savings they can anticipate once a proposed shared solar energy system is operational.

To make use of this sheet, you will require the following inputs:

  1. The expected annual solar production of the proposed system
    This can be derived from quotes you have received, or from https://pvwatts.nrel.gov  The Notes tab has information to guide you through the process of completing the PVWatts calculator inputs.
  2. Your Lot or Unit Entitlement (expressed as a percentage). Your Unit Entitlement is used to calculate levies, so you should be able to find it on your levy notice.  If you are a tenant and don’t have access to such information, contact the secretary of your Owners Corporation, or (as a very rough guide) calculate 1/Number_of_units_in_the_complex – this only works if all units are of similar value though.
  3. Two electricity meter readings (found on your power bills) ideally one year apart and as recent as possible,

  4. The tariffs charged by your electricity provider, also found on your pawer bill. You’ll need:

    1. The daily supply charge
    2. The usage tariff
    3. The feed-in tariff
      The feed-in tariff is what the electricity provider will pay you for electricity that you feed back into the grid. This may be more difficult to find, but if you make use of the Australian government’s energy comparison website, (https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/) then you may find it there.

Good luck, and happy calculating

Background

This spreadsheet came about because I had applied to the NSW Government in Australia for a grant to help pay for the installation of a shared solar system on the block of units in which I live.

The grant is known as the Solar for apartment residents (SoAR) and details can be found here:

https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/solar-apartment-residents

The guidelines specify that the electricity generated by the solar installation must be:

  • distributed to all residential lots in the building.
  • shared proportionately amongst residential lots. RedNectar (aka Chris Welsh)
Source: readme.md, updated 2025-07-12