Home / Guides

How to read a solar quote

Updated 29 October 2026

Two quotes for the "same" system can be thousands of dollars apart for good reasons, or bad ones. These are the things a quote should spell out.

1. Itemised price. System price, STC discount, any state rebate and the amount you pay, each on its own line.
2. Panel brand, model and quantity. A model number you can look up, not just "tier 1 panels".
3. Inverter brand and model. Including its size and whether it can run a battery now or later.
4. Battery details. Usable capacity in kWh, whether it gives backup power in a blackout, and whether it's on the approved list for the rebate.
5. Warranties and who holds them. Product warranties come from the manufacturer. The workmanship warranty comes from the installer and is only as good as the business behind it.
6. Export limit. Your network may cap how much you can send to the grid, which affects what a bigger system is worth.
7. Paperwork and timing. Who lodges the grid connection, who arranges the electrical certificate and meter change, and the install date.

Questions worth asking

• Who will physically do the install: your own staff or a subcontractor?
• How long has the business traded under its current ABN?
• What happens if a panel or the inverter fails in year six?
• Is the price fixed if the install date moves into next year?

Your rights

If a salesperson sells to you at your home, the Australian Consumer Law gives you a 10 business day cooling-off period for most unsolicited agreements. Take the time to read the quote.