What Your Solar Installer Should Explain Before You Sign Anything
Solar proposals can look reassuring at first glance—but the details matter.
Most solar regret doesn’t come from bad intentions.
It comes from assumptions that never got spelled out.
The proposal looked clean. The savings numbers looked great. The system seemed straightforward. Then the first bill arrived. Or the roof needed work. Or the battery didn’t power what they thought it would.
None of this means solar was a mistake. It usually means expectations weren’t aligned.
Here’s what every installer should explain clearly before you sign—especially in California.
1. What happens if your roof needs work later
Solar doesn’t make your roof immortal.
Ask, plainly:
What does it cost to remove and reinstall panels for reroofing?
Is that price locked in or “market rate later”?
Does your warranty change if another roofer touches the system?
If this isn’t discussed up front, homeowners often assume it’s included. It usually isn’t.
2. What your warranties actually cover (and who honors them)
There are three different warranties, and they are not interchangeable:
Manufacturer warranties (panels, inverter, battery)
Installer workmanship warranty
Ongoing service or monitoring support
If the installer disappears, manufacturer warranties still exist—but labor often doesn’t. That distinction matters.
3. What your battery will and will not power
A battery does not automatically mean “whole-home backup.”
Your installer should explain:
Which circuits are backed up
How long the battery can realistically run them
What happens during multi-day outages
Whether future expansion is possible
If the answer is vague, expectations will be wrong.
4. Why your utility bill probably won’t be $0
Under PG&E’s current rules, most solar customers will still see:
Fixed monthly charges
Non-bypassable charges
Occasional grid usage costs
Solar dramatically reduces energy charges, but it doesn’t erase your relationship with the utility. Anyone implying otherwise is oversimplifying.
5. What the production numbers really mean
Terms like “100% offset” or “120% production” sound definitive. They’re not.
Those numbers are based on:
Estimated annual usage
Weather averages
Assumed household behavior
Current utility rules
They are modeling tools—not guarantees.
6. What’s included vs assumed in the price
Before signing, make sure you know whether the proposal includes:
Electrical panel upgrades
Trenching or long conduit runs
Monitoring access
Permits and interconnection fees
Smart meters or utility-required equipment
If it’s not listed, don’t assume it’s included.
7. What paperwork you should keep forever
After install, you should receive and save:
Permit set and electrical diagrams
Inverter and battery serial numbers
Permission to Operate (PTO) documentation
Warranty paperwork
These matter years later—especially if you sell your home or need service.
A final thought
Good installers aren’t hiding information.
But not all information is obvious the first time you read a proposal.
You should feel comfortable asking questions. And you should get straight answers—without pressure, urgency, or vague reassurances.
If something doesn’t make sense before you sign, it won’t make more sense after.
References
PG&E – Understanding Solar Billing and NEM 3
https://www.pge.com/en/account/billing-and-assistance/understand-your-bill/solar-bill.html
California Public Utilities Commission – Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3)
U.S. Department of Energy – Homeowner’s Guide to Solar
https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-solar-energy