Why one national price is not enough
Labor markets, permitting, roof type, electrical work, system size, equipment, installer overhead and local interconnection requirements all affect a quote. A national average can provide context, but it cannot tell you whether a particular scope is fair.
Separate the price into layers
| Layer | Record this | Common hidden issue |
|---|---|---|
| Solar system | DC watts, cash price, price/W | Comparing differently sized systems by total price |
| Battery | Usable kWh, power, installed add-on price | Battery bundled into solar price/W |
| Site work | Roof, trenching, panel or service work | Allowances that become change orders |
| Financing | APR, fees, term, total payments | Dealer fees hidden behind a low rate |
Ask for both cash and financed terms
A financed price can be significantly higher than the cash price because of lender or dealer fees. Compare the APR, amount financed, total of payments, prepayment terms and any assumptions about a future lump-sum payment. Do not treat a low monthly number as the project price.
Production is part of price
A cheaper system that produces materially less energy is not automatically a better value. Compare design, shade assumptions, inverter clipping, degradation and year-one production alongside price.
Your quote-comparison worksheet
- Cash price
- DC system size in watts
- Price per watt
- Year-one estimated production
- Panel and inverter models
- Roof and electrical work included
- Financing fees, APR and total payments
- Workmanship, roof and equipment warranties