A solar contract locks in the price, equipment, timing and who fixes problems later. These 15 questions, with the reason each one matters, help you uncover gaps while you can still change the deal or walk away. Before you sign a solar contract, ask the questions that expose what the quote does not say: who does the work, what can change the price, what happens if approvals or timing go wrong, and who you deal with when something fails. The 15 questions below follow the order you would naturally raise them, and each comes with the reason it matters. Ask for the answers in writing, ideally added to the contract itself.
Have the right documents in front of you
The questions work best when you can check each answer against paper. Before the conversation, make sure you have:
- The full written quote, with exact panel and inverter models
- The contract terms and conditions, not just the summary page
- A system design or panel layout drawing for your roof
- The warranty documents for the panels, inverter and workmanship
- Any finance agreement, if you are not paying outright
If an installer is reluctant to hand over the full terms and conditions before you sign, treat that as your first answer.
The 15 questions
- Who will physically install the system? Ask whether the crew are employees or subcontractors, and whether the people designing and installing it are accredited with Solar Accreditation Australia. Accreditation is required for the STC discount, and knowing who is on your roof tells you who is accountable for the work.
- Is this price final, and what could change it on installation day? Some contracts allow variations for roof access, cable runs or switchboard work discovered later. You want the list of possible variations and their prices in writing now, not a surprise invoice once the panels are up.
- What is excluded? Ask for every exclusion in one list: meter changes, switchboard upgrades, asbestos handling, tree trimming, removal of old equipment. Exclusions are where a low quote often catches up with a higher one.
- Can the equipment be substituted? If the contract allows "equivalent" panels or inverters when stock runs short, ask for a clause saying any change needs your written approval. Otherwise the brand you chose may not be the brand you get.
- How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due? A modest deposit with the balance due on completion keeps the installer motivated to finish properly. Be wary of paying most of the price before the system is installed and switched on.
- When will installation happen, and what if it is delayed? STC values step down each 1 January. If a delay pushes installation into the new year, find out who absorbs the lower discount: you or the installer.
- Who applies for network approval, and is there an export limit? Your local network must approve the connection and may limit how much you can export. The contract should say who lodges the application and what happens to the price or design if approval comes back with conditions.
- How was the generation estimate calculated? Ask which orientation, tilt, shading and weather data were used. An estimate specific to your roof shows the system was actually designed rather than picked from a price list.
- Where will the inverter be mounted, and why there? Inverters prefer shade and good airflow. A spot in full afternoon sun can reduce output and shorten its life, and a location far from the switchboard adds cabling.
- Can a battery be added later, and how? Ask whether the inverter is a hybrid or whether a future battery would be AC-coupled, and what extra work that would involve. The answer helps you avoid paying twice for equipment when your needs change.
- Who holds the workmanship warranty, for how long, and what does it cover? Roof leaks, loose cabling and failed isolators fall under workmanship, not the manufacturer. Ask how a claim is lodged and how quickly someone attends.
- Who registers the manufacturer warranties? Some manufacturers require product registration. Find out who does it and ask for confirmation once it is done.
- What monitoring will I have, and whose name is the account in? If the installer controls the monitoring login, you may lose visibility of your own system if the relationship ends.
- What paperwork will I receive at handover? Expect the electrical compliance certificate, a system diagram, commissioning results, warranty documents and the connection approval. You will need them for warranty claims, insurance and any future sale of the home.
- What are my cancellation rights? Ask what it costs to cancel before installation and whether a cooling-off period applies. If the sale began with an uninvited visit or call, extra consumer law protections apply.
How to judge the answers
Good answers are specific, match the paperwork and are given without pressure. Weak answers tend to be vague, verbal only, or quickly steer the conversation back to price.
| Topic | A reassuring answer | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Price changes | Possible variations listed with prices | "We will sort that out on the day" |
| Installer | Named crew and accreditation numbers provided | "We use a range of contractors" |
| Timing | A target date and a clear position on STC step-downs | No date until a deposit is paid |
| Warranty | Written workmanship terms and a claims process | "The manufacturer handles all of that" |
| Monitoring | Account set up in your name at handover | Access only through the installer |
Get the answers into the contract
A helpful answer in conversation is worth little if the contract says something else. Ask the installer to add the key answers as special conditions, or to confirm them in a signed letter attached to the contract. Pay particular attention to the installation timeframe, equipment models, variation prices and the workmanship warranty term. If the answers change your view of the deal, it is far easier to walk away before signing than after.
The installer selection guide covers the background checks worth doing alongside these questions, and common installation mistakes shows what poor answers can lead to. If you are using finance, compare the total amount repayable with paying outright using the solar finance guide.
Next steps
Print the questions, take them to every quote meeting and compare the answers alongside the prices. As a reference point, the New Residential Solar System listed in the market starts from $5,490 for a 6.6 kW system installed, after STCs; that price is indicative and confirmed after a site assessment. To hear clear answers to all 15 questions for your own home, request a free assessment from Blue Energy Solar.
Frequently asked questions
Can I negotiate the terms of a solar contract?
Often, yes. Reasonable requests such as a smaller deposit, a firm installation window, a named inverter model with no substitutions, or written variation prices are commonly accepted by established installers. Put each change in writing and have both parties sign or initial it. If an installer refuses every change, even small ones, consider how they might respond to a warranty claim later.
What if the installer cannot answer a question straight away?
That is not necessarily a bad sign. Detailed questions about network approval, export limits or roof structure sometimes need a check with the design team. What matters is that the answer comes back in writing within a reasonable time and before you sign. Be cautious if the answer never arrives, or only arrives after a deposit has been paid.
Should someone else review a solar contract before I sign?
For a straightforward residential system, a careful read against these questions is usually enough. If the contract includes finance, a lease, a power purchase arrangement or unusual cancellation fees, it can be worth having an independent person read it, such as a trusted adviser or a legal practitioner. NSW Fair Trading also publishes general guidance on your consumer rights.
Please Login or Sign up to be able to comment