Getting solar quotes

Solar quotes can differ wildly. One company might recommend a small system with premium panels, another a much larger system with budget components, and a third a battery you didn't ask for. Prices can vary widely for systems that look similar on paper. Comparing quotes properly means understanding what's being offered, checking it's designed for your home and usage, and looking past the headline price.

This guide explains how to prepare, what a good quote should include, how to compare quotes and which warning signs to watch for.

Before you ask for quotes

A little preparation helps you get more accurate quotes and judge them better.

• Gather your electricity bills for the past year to see your usage across seasons.
• Download your interval data if your retailer or distributor provides it. It shows when you use electricity, which is key to sizing and to deciding whether a battery suits you.
• Think about future changes. An electric vehicle, a pool, a switch from gas to electric appliances, a new baby or working from home can all change your usage.
• Know your goals. Lower bills, lower emissions, backup power or independence from the grid may lead to different designs.
• Check your roof and switchboard. Note the roof's condition, any shade and the age of your switchboard.
• Try our size estimator for a rough idea of the system size that matches your usage.

Where to get quotes

Approach installers and retailers directly, ask friends and neighbours who've installed solar, or use quote comparison services. Comparison services may pass your details to several companies who pay for leads; that's fine, but be aware that the companies contacting you have paid to do so. Whichever route you take, check accreditation and reputation before you sign.

What a good quote includes

A detailed quote should include:

• System size in kilowatts, and the number of panels.
• Exact panel model, with datasheet and warranty details.
• Exact inverter model, with datasheet and warranty details.
• Battery model and usable capacity, if included.
• A roof layout showing where panels will go.
• Estimated generation, ideally month by month, with the assumptions used.
• Mounting system and any extras, such as tilt frames.
• Switchboard work, meter changes and any other electrical upgrades.
• The STC discount, showing the number of certificates and their value.
• The total price, including GST, and payment terms.
• Workmanship warranty and what it covers.
• Who will install the system, and their accreditation.
• Network approval, including any export limit expected.
• Timeline for approval and installation.

If a quote is vague, such as "tier one panels" without a model number, ask for specifics. You can't compare what you can't see.

Comparing quotes fairly

Lay quotes side by side and compare:

• Size and estimated generation. A larger system will cost more but produce more. Compare the price relative to estimated generation, not just the total.
• Products. Compare panel efficiency, temperature coefficients, inverter types and warranties. Check that every product is on the approved lists.
• Design. Does the layout make sense for your roof and shading? Are panels split across faces sensibly? Does the inverter suit the layout?
• What's included. Switchboard upgrades, monitoring, consumption metering, tilt frames and removal of old equipment can all add cost. Check whether each quote includes them.
• Warranties. Compare product, performance and workmanship warranties, and who backs them.
• The company. Consider reputation, how long they've operated, whether they use their own staff or subcontractors, and how they handle service and warranty claims.

Savings estimates

Many quotes include an estimate of savings or payback. Treat these with care. They depend on assumptions about your usage, how much solar you'll use yourself, electricity prices, feed-in tariffs and future changes, any of which may be optimistic. Ask how the estimate was calculated, check it against your own usage data and remember that tariffs can change. We don't publish savings figures, because they vary so much between households.

Batteries in quotes

If a quote includes a battery, check its usable capacity, power output, backup capability and warranty, and how the Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount has been applied. Ask for a quote with and without the battery so you can see its cost and consider whether it suits you. Read our battery guide.

Warning signs

Be cautious if a company:

• Pressures you to sign today or offers a discount that expires immediately.
• Can't or won't provide exact product models and datasheets.
• Offers "free" solar or a price far below other quotes.
• Doesn't ask about your usage or look at your roof.
• Can't confirm who will install the system and their accreditation.
• Asks for a large deposit before network approval.
• Makes guarantees about savings or payback.
• Approaches you uninvited at your door or by phone and pushes for a decision.

Australian Consumer Law gives you a cooling-off period if you agree to buy from an unsolicited salesperson, and protects you against misleading claims.

Before you sign

Read the contract carefully. Check that it matches the quote, including product models, system size, price, payment schedule, STC arrangements, warranties and timelines. Check what happens if network approval is refused or limited, if the installation is delayed or if the roof or switchboard needs extra work. Ask about the deposit and when the balance is due; paying the balance after satisfactory installation and commissioning is common.

Questions to ask every installer

Asking each company the same questions makes quotes easier to compare. Ask how they sized the system and what usage data they used. Ask why they chose each product, and what alternatives they considered. Ask who will design and install the system, and for their accreditation numbers. Ask whether the price includes switchboard work, meter changes, monitoring with consumption metering and any extras such as tilt frames. Ask how long network approval and installation usually take in your area, and what happens if approval comes back with an export limit. Finally, ask how they handle faults and warranty claims after installation, and who you would call. Write down the answers; the way a company responds to questions tells you a lot about how it will treat you after you've paid.

Getting a second opinion

If two quotes differ sharply in their recommendations, ask each company to explain the other's approach. A good installer will discuss trade-offs honestly rather than dismissing competitors.

Key points

Prepare your usage data, get several detailed quotes, and compare designs, products, warranties and companies, not just price. Insist on exact product models, a roof layout and generation estimates, treat savings claims with caution, watch for pressure tactics and read the contract before you sign.