Why a Shoplot or Factory Solar Plan Starts Differently from a Home

A home solar discussion can begin with a recent electricity bill, a few roof photos and the household's daytime routine. A shoplot or factory still needs those basics, but the first questions also include the electricity account, who controls the roof, how the premises operates and what happens if work affects the building or production. That changes the order of the conversation.

Start with the account, not the panel count

The current Solar ATAP guidance separates Domestic and Non-Domestic Consumers. For a non-domestic consumer, the proposed installation is tied to Maximum Demand, not just the empty area on a roof. The current guidance also sets technical-study routes for larger installations and high-voltage sites.^[3][4]

That is why a shoplot or factory review starts by checking the account and supply arrangement. Is the electricity account held by the operating company, a landlord or another party? Is the building multi-tenant? Where is the point of connection? These are not details to fill in after a panel layout has been drawn.

For the first call, a clear copy of the latest bills, the property type and a short note about how the site is used give the installer a better starting point than a guess based on roof size.

The working day matters

A home has its own pattern of use. A business site may have trading hours, shifts, machinery, cooling, storage or office loads that change during the day. A shoplot may also have a landlord, several occupants or a shared roof arrangement. A factory may need access and installation work planned around operations.

None of those details should be invented from the word "factory" or "shoplot". They have to be confirmed from bills, site information and the people who run the premises. The useful question is not simply how many panels can fit. It is when the site uses electricity, where the main loads sit and what the business wants the system to do during a normal working day.

Roof access is part of the plan

A house roof and a commercial roof can both look straightforward in a photograph. The working questions are different. The review may need to cover roof condition, structural information, shading, access routes, electrical routes, maintenance access and any planned renovation or expansion.

Inhome Solar's public commercial project page describes this as a sequence: review the bill, property type and roof photos first; confirm the site and electrical constraints next; then review a written proposal before installation, testing and handover.^[2]

For a business, access is also about keeping people and operations safe while work is carried out. The final arrangement belongs in the written scope. It should not be hidden inside a panel count or a savings headline.

The proposal has more to explain

A homeowner may be the only person reviewing a home proposal. A business proposal can pass through an owner, accounts staff, a landlord, a facilities person and an installer. That makes the assumptions worth writing down clearly.

The current Solar ATAP application material lists project and technical information, company or ownership documents, a recent electricity bill, an endorsed single-line diagram and civil-and-structural drawings. The exact documents depend on the project and the current requirements.^[3]

A useful proposal should show what was reviewed, what remains to be confirmed, which party is responsible for each document and what site condition could change the design. It should also separate equipment warranty, workmanship coverage, programme requirements and commercial terms.

What to send for a useful first review

Start with the information that helps someone understand the site:

• the latest electricity bills and any available Maximum Demand record;
• the property type, account holder and roof or premises control;
• roof photos, access details and any known maintenance or renovation plans;
• normal operating hours and any planned change to the business; and
• the electrical information already available, including any planned shutdown window.

This is not a sizing worksheet. It is a way to keep the first conversation honest. Inhome Solar's public services include installation, TNB/NEM documentation and application support, and operations and maintenance.^[1]

The first step is a better set of questions

A shoplot or factory solar plan should not begin with a promised capacity or a made-up savings figure. It should begin with the account, the site, the working day and a written explanation of what still needs checking.

Updated 16 September 2026 · Inhome Solar field note