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Home energy research,from the electric bill.

Independent research that started with rooftop solar in Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Oregon. Water heating and HVAC are adjacent loads on the same bill. Four cities are the worked examples.

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States: 4
Examples: 4
Method: Primary-source math

States: 4live
Examples: 4
Method: Primary-source math

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Brookfield, WI · We Energies

2026 ratesUpdated sources

4 researched states

Why the math is different

✓ Utility-specific rates and exports

✓ Rebates with real application timing

✓ Quote assumptions checked against sources

Net cash, modeled 7 kW

$18,600

Federal 25D credit is $0 for a 2026 install

12 mo

JFMAMJJASOND

7 kW

Modeled system size

Typical annual offset

~$870/yr

Cash payback, typical

~21 years

Brookfield worked example$21,000 upfront$18,600 net cashRead the Brookfield example →

Figures are the Brookfield worked example. Federal 25D credit is $0 for a 2026 install.

Researched states

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Each state hub carries the utility tariff. One city per state is the worked example. Water heating and HVAC explainers sit next to that solar record.

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Latest updates

What changed

Policy, utility, and quote-risk notes from the source record.

01illinoisHow Smart Solar Billing Changed the Math for ComEd Customers in IllinoisMay 15, 2026 → 02wisconsinWisconsin Solar with We Energies: Why Avoided-Cost Net Metering Is Not the Same as RetailMay 15, 2026 → 03buyer-guideHow to Read a Solar Quote in 2026: The Cash $/W, Dealer Fees, and Line Items That Actually MatterMay 15, 2026 →

All posts →

Research library

Verify the part that matters.

Three source-backed paths before a homeowner compares a quote.

Quote reviewCheck the offerCash price, dealer fees, and assumptions worth challenging.Start here →System basicsUnderstand the hardwarePanels, inverters, meters, warranties, and what wears out.Read basics →MethodologyAudit the source recordVerification cadence, funding disclosure, and publishing rules.See method →

Adjacent research

Water and HVAC, from the same bill

Explainers on electric water heating and space conditioning, written from the solar tariffs and production notes already on this site. Summit does not install or sell that equipment.

Water

HVAC

Efficiency research hub →

Summit publishes nothing without a primary-source citation. Pages carry a last-verified date, source list, and a disclosure of the referral-fee funding model. Read the methodology →