What should I look for in a solar quote?

There are many options for solar quotes available in the market. Some provide exceptional value and can help you make an educated decision, while others are misleading and don't comply with Clean Energy Council requirements. 

This article is a short overview on what to keep an eye out for when requesting a quote.

What is the Clean Energy Council?

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) is the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia. Its Solar Code of Conduct is authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and aims to lift the bar higher than the minimum requirements set by government and regulations, and bring about a better standard of service within the solar and storage industry. 

Retailers and installers who are accredited by the CEC to sell solar are required to include the following pieces of information on quotes:

• A site-specific design: This should include a diagram of the proposed panel layout, tilt of the panels, orientation of the panels and expected losses due to shading.
• A performance estimate: The average daily performance estimate in kilowatt hours (kWh) for each month of solar generation.
• Full specifications of the system: Including the manufacturer, model, quantity and power rating of the solar modules and the inverter/s.

While these may seem like "standard" requirements, it’s not uncommon for companies to overlook these details and focus solely on discounting prices. The CEC also requires that this information be available in writing – and while many companies favour phone calls to secure a sale, it’s important that you ask for the information in a formal quote.

UPowr is a New Energy Tech Approved Seller, and when you request a quote from us, we provide the above information (and more). 

Savings estimates

When people purchase a solar system, they usually do it for a combination of economic and environmental reasons. However, because it's not a CEC requirement to display savings estimates, there is no set "industry practice" on how to calculate and display this information. 

When viewing savings estimates on quotes, here's what we recommend: 

• Check the energy rates: Make sure the rates used in the calculation are what you are currently paying, or will be paying once you get solar. It’s important to check both the rate of energy consumed from the grid, as well as the feed-in tariff. 
• Check the self-consumption percentage: The average household uses approximately 30% of the energy produced by their solar system. Many households can use more with deliberate behaviour change. If you're provided a quote with higher than 50% self-consumption, you should ask why this assumption is being made. Self-consumption is a key part of calculating savings, and as most people want to see a high savings amount, it can be to the benefit of the provider to boost this percentage. 

See how we develop the savings and generation estimates that you see on our quotes. 

Installation costs

A solar quote should clearly list any additional costs that are required to complete the installation. This may include:

• Switchboard upgrades
• Switchboard alterations 
• Meter board upgrades
• Lifting equipment required for double-story or more properties
• Asbestos removal
• Tilt frames
• Tile variations (especially if you have terracotta tiles) 
• Travel charges

Unfortunately, many of these costs can be left out of the initial quote. Make sure you ask for these costs to be included before you accept the quote.