What to expect in a solar quote

The path to saving money with solar panels starts with getting a quote. But the quote itself can feel overwhelming. 

This guide breaks down each section of a home solar quote from equipment design to cost and long-term savings. Review your options with confidence and find the best fit for your home.

System design

Your solar quote will include a description of your solar system design, listing all the equipment included and rendering the design on an image of your roof, showing you how they’ll look and which direction the panels are facing. It’s a good place to ask about the ramifications of moving panels to another part of the roof..

Your quote will also include a list of equipment to be installed along with brand and model information. Panels might be described as “Tier 1” or “all black” without the specific brand and model.

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 your projected cost difference over 25 years with solar and without.

Why 25 years? Because that’s solar panels’ expected lifespan (or at least the length of their warranty). Panels can be useful beyond that point.

These savings estimates may assume you qualify for incentives and that the price of electricity will increase over time. Be sure to ask solar companies about those assumptions.

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

Cost

You’ll get an estimate of the cost of solar panels when you purchase them. Again, ask about any incentives included in the price and confirm your eligibility for yourself.

With a solar lease, you’ll have the cost of your lease payments laid out. Pay careful attention to your lease’s escalator, the set amount your lease payments will increase over time.

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, since panels’ production changes with the seasons. 

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 will change if 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.

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.

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, learn more about Palmetto's solar panel offerings or reach out for a free quote and savings estimate today.

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.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Palmetto does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors.