What we check in a solar proposal

Whether the proposal matches what you actually want from solar.

• If you tell us what matters — lower bills, backup power, selling the home, keeping things simple — the review uses that as the yardstick.
• If you are not sure yet, that is fine. We still read the proposal on its face and note where it seems to sell extras you may not need.
• An expensive add-on you never asked for, such as a battery when your power almost never goes out, is named in dollars.
• If the way you were sold shows pressure — a same-day close, or financing through your property taxes — the report flags that as worth a closer look before you sign.

Whether the yearly energy estimate is realistic for this roof.

• We remodel the system with an independent ZIP-level solar production model, using the tilt and direction described in the proposal.
• We compare that to the yearly kilowatt-hours the proposal promises, and flag estimates that run high.
• We check whether the estimate accounts for shade. Missing or unrealistic shading assumptions can make promised energy and savings look too high.

Whether the price fits the work, and what is bundled in.

• We check the price against the typical range for your ZIP, system size, and scope, and flag outliers with questions to ask.
• We identify bundled non-solar work — a new roof, a panel upgrade, an EV charger — so you see what you are really paying for solar.
• We flag extra cost that may not add value, such as a paid warranty that duplicates coverage you already have.

Whether the savings story depends on aggressive assumptions.

• We check the assumed yearly increase in electricity prices, sometimes called a utility-rate escalator. An unusually high increase can make long-term savings look larger than the evidence supports.
• We check system size against your usage. A system sized well past what you use may produce power you are never fully paid for.
• We check claimed incentives against their eligibility and timing requirements. An incentive that does not apply to your purchase can make the net cost look too low.

Whether the named hardware is current and matches the paper.

• Panels, inverter, and battery are checked against regulator-approved third-party equipment data.
• We flag discontinued or end-of-life models, and note country of manufacture when it is available.
• We compare the model specifications stated in the documents with available equipment data. This is a document review, not an inspection of the installed system.

The all-in cost of cash, loan, lease, or a power purchase agreement.

• We look for financing charges added to the purchase price, often called dealer fees, so you can understand what you would repay.
• We compare the interest rate with available market benchmarks and identify scheduled payment increases or a large final payment, sometimes called a balloon payment.
• We compute the all-in cost over the full term — and for a lease or power purchase agreement, what your options are when it ends.

Whether a battery can do what the proposal claims.

• We estimate whether the solar system could refill the battery on a typical day, using the production and battery details available.
• We check how long the battery could supply power, and whether the stated equipment supports backing up the whole home or only selected appliances.
• We check the battery is sized sensibly for the system — not oversold.

Whether the documents identify the company responsible for the installation and include its license number.

• We confirm the installer is named as the contractor of record on the proposal.
• We check whether a contractor license number is present and has a plausible format for the state. This does not confirm that the license is active.

Workmanship and equipment coverage, and whether extras duplicate it.

• We summarize the contractor's workmanship warranty and tell you whether it sits in the usual range.
• We flag any third-party warranty and spell out what it adds — or whether it duplicates coverage you already have.
• We compare the equipment warranties to what is typical for the hardware.

On the $99 plan: whether the contract matches the proposal you were shown.

• Whether the contract you are being asked to sign matches the proposal we reviewed: same system, same price, same terms.
• Whether your panels, inverter, and battery are named by brand and model, and whether the contract lets the installer swap in “or equivalent” equipment later.
• Whether the contractor of record and license number are on the document, and whether they match the company that sold you the system.
• Your right to cancel: whether the notice is there, and the period the contract itself states. If you have already signed, that sits at the top of your report.
• When each payment comes due, and whether the final payment waits until the system is switched on and approved.
• Who pays when the job hits surprises: permits, interconnection, change orders, and site conditions.
• Whether a production guarantee states what happens if the system produces less energy than promised.
• Whether arbitration and class-action waiver clauses are disclosed — how disputes would be handled, without a legal opinion on the terms.
• What happens when you sell your home or end a lease or power purchase agreement: transfer, early buyout, renewal, and removal costs.
• Whether cancellation fees are stated and the document identifies subcontractors or who is responsible for their work.
• Whether monitoring costs after a free period are disclosed, and whether the contract references how monitoring data is used.

Contract review comes with the $99 Bid + Contract Review. We report what the contract says and what it leaves out. We are not a law firm, and this is not legal advice.