Mirasol · Los Cabos
Guests don't pay the electricity bill — you do. They run A/C through the night, fill the pool, and leave lights on. Your panels produce during the day when the property is empty or guests are at the beach. Without net metering, the energy exported during the day is worth almost nothing. Whether you manage through Airbnb, VRBO, or a local property manager, the economics are the same. For a vacation rental in Los Cabos, an honest solar quote starts by understanding that mismatch.
Quick view
Vacation rentals have the worst solar usage profile — guests running A/C at 2am while panels sit idle. Here's how to size solar honestly for a Los Cabos rental property.
In a primary residence, evening and night consumption overlaps partly with late afternoon solar production. In an occupied vacation rental, overnight A/C can represent 60–70% of total daily consumption — entirely outside solar generation hours.
25–35% self-consumption means 65–75% of solar production is exported to the CFE grid at PML spot price, which in BCS is frequently near zero. A system designed without accounting for that pattern won't generate the savings the quote promises.
Guests consume more per day than permanent residents. A/C running all night, a heated pool, and appliances in constant use can double the average daily consumption compared to days when the property is empty.
With a battery sized for the rental's overnight consumption, self-consumption can shift from 25–35% to 65–75%. That difference turns a marginal system into a solid financial case, especially for properties on the DAC rate.
The night-time consumption problem
Vacation rental consumption concentrates in the afternoon and evening: guests returning from the beach, A/C running at full power, entertainment and cooking. Panels generate between 7am and 5pm, when most guests are out or asleep in peak season. Without battery, a vacation rental may achieve only 25–35% self-consumption — lower than any primary residence.
In a primary residence, evening and night consumption overlaps partly with late afternoon solar production. In an occupied vacation rental, overnight A/C can represent 60–70% of total daily consumption — entirely outside solar generation hours.
25–35% self-consumption means 65–75% of solar production is exported to the CFE grid at PML spot price, which in BCS is frequently near zero. A system designed without accounting for that pattern won't generate the savings the quote promises.
Guests consume more per day than permanent residents. A/C running all night, a heated pool, and appliances in constant use can double the average daily consumption compared to days when the property is empty.
Why battery changes the case
A battery stores midday solar production for guest use in the evening and overnight. Self-consumption can reach 65–75% for a well-configured rental — more than double without storage. The battery also protects against grid outages on BCS's isolated network, which in an occupied rental can mean angry guests and refund requests.
With a battery sized for the rental's overnight consumption, self-consumption can shift from 25–35% to 65–75%. That difference turns a marginal system into a solid financial case, especially for properties on the DAC rate.
A power outage during an Airbnb or VRBO stay can lead to bad reviews, refunds, and future cancellations. A battery with 4–6 hours of autonomy for critical loads (one-zone A/C, refrigerator, lights) protects the guest experience during seasonal outages on BCS's grid.
A three-bedroom rental in Los Cabos can use 15–20 kWh between 6pm and midnight with active guests. A 15–20 kWh battery covers that demand if A/C is managed to one or two zones. Size for real overnight consumption, not peak August occupancy.
Sizing for the real pattern
The most common mistake is quoting a system for August consumption — the worst month — without accounting for low-occupancy months. A rental with 8 peak months and 4 slow months has a very different annual average consumption from what appears on the summer bill. Request 12 months of CFE history before sizing.
A system oversized for August will export large amounts to CFE at near-zero price during low-occupancy months. The right size balances annual production with annual average consumption, not the worst-case month.
The pool pump can represent 20–30% of a rental's daily consumption. Scheduling it to run between 9am and 3pm — peak solar generation hours — directly captures solar energy without battery and can raise self-consumption by 10–15 percentage points.
Require the quote to show self-consumption, monthly savings, and payback for both scenarios. The difference between a basic system with scheduled loads (self-consumption ~45%) and a system with battery (self-consumption ~70%) may be the deciding factor for financial viability.
DAC risk for rentals
One intense peak season can push the 12-month rolling average above the DAC threshold, even if the property sits empty most of the year. Once in DAC, the average takes months to come back down even with solar installed. If you're evaluating a rental property purchase or contracting a solar system, review the last 12 months of CFE history before deciding.
In BCS, the DAC threshold is around 850 kWh/month rolling average. A rental consuming 2,000 kWh in August and September can push the annual average over the limit even if other months are modest.
If the property is already paying DAC rates, the case for solar is strongest — savings per kWh are maximum. But the system must be sized with a realistic vacation-rental self-consumption assumption (25–35% without battery, 60–70% with battery) to avoid overstating returns.
Ask the seller or property manager for 12 months of CFE history. If the property is already on DAC or close to the threshold, factor the cost of a solar and battery system into the purchase price.
FAQ
Yes, but the case is much stronger with battery. Without it, self-consumption on a rental can be as low as 25–35%, which limits real savings. With battery lifting self-consumption to 65–70%, returns improve significantly — especially if the property is on the DAC rate.
Without battery: 25–35%, depending on occupancy and guest habits. With pool pump scheduled during solar hours: 35–45%. With battery: 60–75%. Rentals with high overnight occupancy and no load controls have the lowest self-consumption.
Not mandatory, but it's where battery storage makes the most sense. It solves the core problem of overnight consumption profile and also protects the guest experience during grid outages. For properties on the DAC rate, battery can be the difference between a marginal system and one with a clear return.
DAC activates when the rolling 12-month average exceeds the regional threshold (~850 kWh/month in BCS). One intense high season — August and September with A/C running full blast — can raise that average above the limit even if the rest of the year is modest. Once in DAC, the property stays there until the average drops, which can take 6–12 months even with solar installed.
Yes. The CFE interconnection contract and system ownership belong to the property owner, not the management company. The manager only needs to know that the pool and other large loads should run during solar hours when possible. Installation does not require the management company's consent.
Sources
These sources help explain regional solar and CFE context. A final property quote still depends on the bill, roof, and technical visit.
Next step
With a recent CFE bill we can separate usage, tariff, charges, and solar potential before deciding whether to move forward.