About Jian Yuan
Jian Yuan (also written Yuan Jian) maintains HelioCalc: who is accountable for the 2026 solar model, state dataset and public corrections log.
Who maintains HelioCalc
My name is Jian Yuan, also written Yuan Jian when the family name comes first. I own and maintain HelioCalc. I am accountable for the state electricity-rate dataset, the calculation model, the editorial standards published here and the public corrections log. This page exists so a reader can put a real person behind every byline rather than an anonymous brand or an invented expert.
I am not a licensed solar installer, engineer, tax professional or financial adviser, and this site claims none of those qualifications. My role is narrower and checkable: I decide which sources are used, I check every published number against its primary source, and I record material changes publicly. The editorial standards and methodology pages let anyone audit that work without taking my word for it.
What I am accountable for
- The dataset. EIA August 2026 residential rates for all 50 states and DC, twelve EnergySage state price averages where measured, and a clearly labeled national modeling benchmark everywhere else.
- The model. One versioned calculation kernel behind the interactive calculator, the static answer tables and the Python reference implementation, cross-checked field by field before each deployment.
- The disclosures. Who made the content, how automation was used, why these pages exist, which values are measured and which are modeled, and which rules could not be verified.
- The corrections. Material fixes are logged with a date, the old value, the new value and the affected pages — never silently edited.
How the content is made
Explanatory prose is drafted with AI assistance from one versioned dataset, and every published figure is checked by a person against its primary source before deployment. Automation is used because keeping 51 jurisdictions on one consistent, auditable rule set by hand is error-prone. The editorial standards page explains the process in full. No number on this site depends on a commercial relationship, and HelioCalc does not sell solar or collect leads.
What this site is and is not
HelioCalc is a free, 2026-accurate residential solar calculator built because much of the solar advice still online quotes a 30% federal credit that ended with 2025. It is not a quote, tax advice, legal advice or financial advice. Estimates are planning-grade; check them against three written installer quotes, your own utility tariff and a qualified tax professional. We do not publish identity documents, personal contact details or a photograph on this page, and we do not link to an external profile that has not been confirmed as real.
Contact and corrections
Use the contact page with the page URL, the exact statement and a verifiable primary source. Confirmed material errors are added to the corrections log. Originally published 2026-11-07; last reviewed 2026-11-13.
Frequently asked questions
Is HelioCalc free?
Yes. No account, no email gate, no paywall, and no third-party analytics that follow you across sites.
Do you store my inputs?
Your most recent estimate is saved in your browser's local storage so you can return to it. It is not uploaded to a server.
Can I cite your numbers?
Yes, with attribution and the 'as of' date. State rates are EIA data; the estimates themselves are modeled outputs, not measured values.
Are you a solar engineer or tax adviser?
No. I maintain the dataset and the model and check the numbers; I claim no professional license or credential. For installation, tax or financial decisions, use a licensed contractor and a qualified professional.