What to Expect in a Solar Quote

It may seem obvious, but the first step to getting home solar panels is having a solar installer tell you exactly what they’re going to do. Like any major home improvement project, you start with a quote.

The good news is that getting solar panels isn’t terribly complicated for a homeowner, even if it’s unfamiliar. If you’re looking to reduce your energy bills and save money with solar panels, here’s what to expect in a quote.

(Every solar company quotes in slightly different ways and the same solar company might provide different quotes depending on the product they’re offering or the market you live in.)

System Design

Your solar quote should include a description of your solar system design, listing all the equipment included and rendering the design on an image of your roof.

A visual depiction lets you see whether panels will be visible and which direction the panels are facing. It will also give you the chance to ask whether you can move panels to another part of the roof without sacrificing production.

Your quote will also include a list of equipment to be installed. It may include the brand and model of essential equipment like solar panels and inverters, or it may include fewer details. Panels might be described as “Tier 1” or “all black” without the specific brand and model.

Most homes can meet their energy and savings goals with any number of solar panel brands and sizes. If you specifically want one brand or model of equipment, be sure to ask.

Savings Estimate

This is the main event for most people.

You’ll often see estimated savings broken out in two ways: total lifetime savings and savings over time.

Your estimated lifetime savings will be given as a single number, and your estimated savings over time might be represented as the difference in cost to you with solar versus 25 years of non-solar utility bills.

Why 25 years? Because that’s solar panels’ expected lifespan. They’re typically under a warranty for that long, guaranteeing that they’ll still produce a percentage of their expected capacity at that point (usually 80% or more). Solar panels can still be useful beyond that point, just with a lower output. 

These savings estimates often assume you can claim the federal tax credit, or other incentives. It’s smart to confirm your eligibility yourself.

If you’re looking for a solar panel lease, you’ll see an estimate of the cost of the lease compared to the cost of your utility bills over the length of the lease.

Savings estimates often rely on assumptions about how quickly your utility electricity will increase per year.

Cost

You’ll get an estimate of the cost of solar panels when you purchase them. This typically includes the federal solar tax credit and any other incentives you might qualify for. Again, confirm your eligibility for incentives with a tax professional.

With a solar lease, you’ll have the cost of your lease payments laid out.

Production Estimate

Your quote will also include an estimate of how much electricity your solar panels will produce. You might see an estimate for the entire year and for each month. Thanks to seasonal changes in solar production, solar panels produce less electricity when days are shorter. However, your summertime production may make up for slower winter months. 

A quote might also include estimates of how much electricity you produce each month compared to what you’ll buy from the grid. This depends on an estimate of your total electricity consumption, which can change with time as you add people, appliances, or an electric vehicle to your home.

Some solar companies, especially for solar leases, will provide a solar performance guarantee and reimburse you if your solar panels don’t produce at a specific level.

Offset

Your solar offset is how much of your electricity consumption you cover with power from your solar panels. In a solar quote it’s typically given as a percentage.

Explanation of Other Benefits

Besides your estimated savings, a solar quote will lay out other benefits from going solar. This might include climate benefits, like the amount of greenhouse gases your system would help avoid. Or, if your system includes a backup battery, trends in blackouts for your area.

Sample Bill

Your quote may show you what your utility electric bill after solar looks like, including grid consumption, grid exports, net metering credits used or banked, and any other additional fees your utility may collect.

Even during months when your electric bill reads $0 (where possible), you’ll still receive the bill saying so.

Warranties

There are a few different types of solar warranties. Manufacturers offer warranties on their equipment, like solar panels, inverters, and batteries. Your installer may offer a warranty against leaks in your roof caused by the solar panels and covering the workmanship of your installation.

You may have the opportunity to add warranties.

Terms and Conditions

Some solar quotes will include detailed terms and conditions detailing the finer points of any agreement, including key acknowledgements and responsibilities for the installer, homeowners, and, in the case of a solar lease, the system’s third party owner.

Company Information

A company might include information about itself, like its track record, customer satisfaction rating, or impact on customer savings.

Next Steps, Timeline, and Summary

A solar quote is just the starting point. Your quote will include next steps and a projected timeline, if you want to move forward.

After all that detailed information, you’ll get a summary of it all: the equipment, cost, savings, and next steps.

How Solar Works

Rooftop solar panels can save homeowners thousands of dollars over decades by helping them reduce their electricity bill spending. There’s a host of other benefits, too, including increased home value and, with a backup battery, resilience in the face of blackouts.

If you’re interested in seeing what solar looks like at your home and how much you could save check out Palmetto’s solar savings calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can you save with solar?

Solar savings depends on a lot of factors, from how much you pay for electricity now to your net metering policy to the amount of sunlight your roof receives. The best way to get an estimate of your savings is to reach out and get a quote.

How much does solar cost?

Solar panel cost varies by market and home. Larger systems on complex roofs will cost more than smaller systems with a simple design. Estimates for solar cost vary, but are often given around $3.00 per watt of solar capacity.