Understanding Your Solar Quote
Your proposal should give specifics in writing. Here's what to look for (FTC unless noted).
The system
- Size (kW) and expected production (kWh/year)
- Equipment brands and models (panels, inverters, battery)
Check: compare the production estimate with NREL's PVWatts for your address (DOE).
The price
- Full installation cost, including permit fees
- Price per watt: divide total by watts. For reference, LBNL's 2024 median for host-owned residential systems was $4.0/W ($3.5 cash, $4.7 loan-financed), gross before incentives (Oct 2025).
- Any financing fees
Guarantees and warranties
- Is there a production guarantee? What happens if output falls short?
- Equipment and workmanship warranties
Savings estimates
- What utility rate and rate-increase assumptions are used? FTC: future rates are hard to predict.
- What export compensation is assumed?
- Does it count tax credits? The federal 25D credit doesn't apply to expenditures made after Dec 31, 2025, and the IRS treats an expenditure as made when installation is completed (IRS) — a quote for a 2026 installation should not include it.
For leases/PPAs
- Monthly payment or $/kWh, escalators, term, early termination fees, transfer rules, end-of-term options
Ask for time
A legitimate installer will give you time to review. Pressure to sign immediately is a red flag.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Advice, "Solar Power for Your Home" — https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/solar-power-your-home (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Energy, "Homeowner's Guide to Solar" — https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- Barbose et al., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, "U.S. Distributed Solar and Storage: 2025 Data Update" (October 2025) — https://emp.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/Distributed%20Solar%20%26%20Storage-2025%20Data%20Update.pdf (accessed Oct 20, 2026); data viewer: https://emp.lbl.gov/tracking-the-sun
- IRS, "FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under Public Law 119-21 (OBBB)" — https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
SolarMatchup is a free service: you submit one request and we match you with one installer. Their proposal is an estimate, not a guarantee — use this guide to read it carefully and ask questions before you sign. Savings, if any, depend on your usage, utility rates, and local rules.
Last reviewed 2026-10-20.
Get one quote from one installer
Request a free quote. SolarMatchup sends your request to exactly one local installer and never resells it. We don't guarantee savings or incentive eligibility. Results depend on your home, usage, rates and financing.