Solar on a building with a rental unit

Has anyone out there gotten solar panels on a house in which they live but also rent out one of the floors? We want to get solar but have a weird situation. Right now we have two meters for our 2 units. T the unit we live in has very low energy costs, while our rental unit (which we’re using as an Airbnb) has its own mini split system and has about triple our energy costs. The solar co recommended taking our two meters and combining them into one meter – and attaching that to the solar panels. The drawback is that it makes figuring out how much to deduct for rental or airbnb more complicated since there won’t be an itemized bill anymore.

Also trying to figure out the credits for going solar is complicated if the solar panels are partially for our own home and partly for the rental unit. II know that certain tax credits work only when you spend $ on your own home. Anyone out there have advice to give on this?

Guest User | 2 years and 8 months ago

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Guest User | 2 years and 7 months ago

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@Lurker that is great to hear! Interesting that you were able to claim the full state and federal credits even though a part of your building is a rental. And no issues with combining the meters? BSW told me that if we combined the meters though we would no longer be able to have an itemized bill dividing up the rental unit’s electricity use from our unit’s. Is that the case for you?

Lurker | 2 years and 8 months ago

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we have rental unit in 2 family, got solar, they combined meters and all worked out well both with inspections and taxes. when solar designs your system they typically look at what you use and try to spec a system that will generate more over the year than what you use, and so you end up only paying the delivery fee to coned going forward (~ $25). That is a general idea obviously every situation is different. But you could have electric included in rent and just see what it is over a year and after year one tweak it as needed–ie, add $50 above your normal rental, tell renter electricity is covered and try that for a year. if you come up short bump the fee.

Guest User | 2 years and 8 months ago

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J did you end up getting solar? If we got it just for our unit (the owner’s unit), it wouldn’t really make sense since we use so little electricity. If we get it for the rental unit I don’t think this qualifies for the tax credits…

irfan | 2 years and 8 months ago

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Same boat. Electrician said it’s a requirement to have 2 meters and inspectors would balk. I’m not sure if coned would let you either. We didn’t have a good solution for this unfortunately. Will be curious what others say.