Every quote, lined up the same way
The reason solar quotes are hard to compare is that every company presents them differently. We force them into one format, so the gaps and the markup become visible.
The Six Criteria
What we line up in every comparison.
These are the categories where quotes genuinely differ — and where a cheaper headline price usually hides something.
Equipment & Efficiency
Panel brand, wattage, efficiency rating, and inverter type. A quote using premium equipment isn't automatically better — but you should know which tier you're being sold, because it changes both output and the warranty you receive.
What we pull out of each quote
- Panel manufacturer, model, and wattage
- Efficiency rating and degradation curve
- Inverter type — string, micro, or hybrid
- Whether battery storage is included or optional
Price Per Watt
The one number that lets you compare quotes of different sizes fairly. Total system cost divided by total rated watts. Without it, a bigger system always looks like a worse deal and a smaller one always looks cheaper.
What we pull out of each quote
- Total system cost before incentives
- Rated system size in watts (DC)
- Resulting price per watt
- How the quote compares to your area's typical range
Production Estimate
How much electricity the system is actually predicted to generate at your address, accounting for roof pitch, orientation, and shade. This is where an optimistic sales estimate and a realistic engineering estimate diverge most.
What we pull out of each quote
- Estimated annual production in kWh
- Assumptions about roof orientation and pitch
- Shade analysis method — satellite, on-site, or none
- Percentage of your current usage it offsets
Workmanship & Warranty
Two separate warranties matter. The manufacturer covers the hardware; the installer covers the roof penetrations and the labor. The second is the one most likely to be thin, and it's the one that protects your roof.
What we pull out of each quote
- Product warranty length on panels and inverter
- Workmanship warranty on labor and roof
- Who honors the warranty if the installer closes
- Roof penetration and flashing method
Financing Terms
A monthly payment is a marketing number. What matters is the total cost of the loan, the interest rate, and whether a dealer fee has been added to the system price to buy down the rate.
What we pull out of each quote
- Cash price versus financed price
- Interest rate and loan term
- Total cost over the life of the loan
- Any dealer fee or origination fee included
Installer Credentials
The company installing the system matters as much as the hardware. Licensing, insurance, and a real local track record are the difference between a smooth install and a warranty you can't collect on.
What we pull out of each quote
- State contractor license, verified
- Liability and workers' comp insurance
- Years operating in your area
- Whether they subcontract the install or use their own crew
Also Flagged
The details that show up later as surprises.
Battery Storage
We flag whether storage is included, optional, or absent — and whether the quoted battery is sized to actually carry you through an outage.
Interconnection & Permits
Permit fees, utility interconnection applications, and inspection scheduling should be spelled out, not discovered later as add-ons.
Contract Terms
Cancellation windows, deposit requirements, and escalation clauses. If a quote doesn't state them plainly, that's worth asking about.
Why It Stays Neutral
We have nothing to sell you.
An installer comparing their quote to a competitor's has an obvious conflict. We don't sell panels, don't install systems, and don't earn a commission on which quote you pick — so the format stays honest.
That's also why we show you the criteria above rather than hiding them. If you understand how to read a quote, you don't need us to tell you which one is best.
See the full process
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