If you're an Arizonian, you're no stranger to the sun's relentless gaze. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, the Grand Canyon State is a solar paradise. Unless you’ve been living under an off-the-grid rock, you might have heard about the new law that passed recently that totally changed the way solar works out here. That’s probably why your neighbors are starting to look into it again - the benefits of going green just got even better!

The new program is more selective, with new rules that change who is a good fit or not. But how do you know if your home is a good candidate for solar? How do you sift through the myriad of information from different solar companies, and make sense of it all? If you're a customer of APS or SRP, you've likely considered the move to solar for its potential savings.

In the past, many companies would mislead homeowners into believing their house was a good fit for solar when it really wasn’t, which lead to a lot of negative press and folks believing solar energy was a rip-off. The truth is, only about 1 out of every 5 homes actually qualifies for solar under the new program, and you may not be aware if your home does or not. It’s a good question to ask, but where do you start?

The answer lies in two critical factors: your home's roof line and your annual kilowatt-hour usage. Let's dive in.

Assessing Your Roof Line

The first step in qualifying your home for solar is understanding your roof line. The orientation, pitch, and size of your roof, along with the amount of shade it receives, can significantly impact the solar viability of your home.

Consider this: a south-facing roof is ideal as it receives the maximum sunlight throughout the day. However, don't despair if your roof doesn't face south. East and west-facing roofs can also harness significant solar energy.

What about the size and slope of your roof? A large, gently sloping roof is the perfect canvas for solar panels. However, even smaller or steeper roofs may accommodate a solar system, depending on your energy needs.

Lastly, shade. Overhanging trees or nearby tall buildings can cast shadows, reducing the effectiveness of your solar panels. But remember, partial shading doesn't completely eliminate your solar prospects. Modern solar systems can often work around these issues.

Crunching the Kilowatt-Hours

Now, let's talk about your energy consumption. The more energy your household consumes, the larger your potential solar savings. Take a peek at your energy bill. You'll see your usage measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This number can fluctuate throughout the year, spiking in the blistering Arizona summer, and dipping in the milder winter months.

To get a clear picture, calculate your annual kWh usage. This number is critical. It helps determine the size of the solar system you'd need to offset your energy costs. The higher your annual usage, the more likely you are to benefit from solar. However, if you use more energy than you are able to offset with the space you have available on your roof, you won’t be able to offset enough to eliminate your bill entirely, and we may not be able to pick your home.