THE SHORT ANSWER
Ask who will perform the work, what equipment and installation are included, how production and savings were estimated, and who handles service. Get material answers in writing before comparing totals.
Who is responsible for the work?
Ask which company signs the contract, which company installs the equipment, and whether subcontractors will be used. Verify the applicable license and insurance with the relevant authorities or providers. A certification and a contractor license are different credentials.
DOE recommends researching and interviewing several installers and checking credentials, including those of subcontractors. DOE installer-selection guidance. Ask for relevant experience with the kind of roof, storage arrangement, or system you are considering.
What exactly is included?
Request an equipment list with model numbers, a proposed layout, roof-work scope, wiring and electrical work, monitoring, installation responsibilities, and any exclusions. Identify who handles permits, inspections, utility interconnection, and commissioning.
If the proposal includes storage, ask which loads or circuits it supports and what additional equipment is required. “Battery-ready,” “backup,” and “whole home” should lead to a specific written explanation of the proposed configuration.
EXPLORE RELEVANT EQUIPMENT
Put your plan to work.
Residential solar panels
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Batteries & storage
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Inverters
Explore category →Category illustrations, not tested product recommendations. Verified products and merchant offers will be added as the catalog develops.
What assumptions drive the estimate?
Ask for the electricity-use history, roof conditions, shading, equipment, and losses used to estimate production. Separate the production estimate from the financial analysis. Electricity generated is not automatically electricity bought back at the same value as retail electricity.
Request the utility tariff, export treatment, financing terms, and incentive assumptions behind any savings claim. Ask what changes if consumption shifts, the system produces less than estimated, or a proposed incentive does not apply. See our current Arizona incentive sources rather than carrying an older federal-credit assumption into a quote.
What is the full cost and obligation?
Compare cash price, financed total, interest, fees, payment schedule, and any lease or power-purchase terms separately. Ask what happens on sale of the home, early payoff, cancellation, or a delayed installation. Obtain explanations for terms you do not understand before signing.
A monthly-payment comparison can obscure different ownership arrangements or equipment scopes. Put comparable proposals side by side and mark missing answers. For decisions about your specific contract or tax position, use the appropriate qualified adviser.
Who handles the problem after installation?
Distinguish equipment warranties, installation workmanship, roof-related responsibilities, and any performance commitment. Ask who diagnoses a fault, pays for access and labor, handles a manufacturer claim, and supports monitoring.
Discuss roof maintenance and future equipment removal or reinstallation. Ask what happens if the installer stops trading and keep the relevant contacts and documents. A warranty term is more useful when you understand the service path it provides.
A practical proposal-comparison sheet
| Compare this | Ask for this evidence |
|---|---|
| Installation responsibility | Contracting entity, installer, subcontractors and credentials |
| Equipment and scope | Models, layout, included work, backup configuration and exclusions |
| Estimate quality | Production assumptions, utility rates, incentive basis and scenarios |
| Total commitment | Cash/financed totals, obligations, warranty terms and service route |
Bring roof information, utility-use history, and a clear list of your priorities to each conversation. Our panel guide and backup-load guide help you define that scope. AZSP’s installer directory is planned separately; this guide does not imply an installer referral or endorsement.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed October 22, 2026. The examples are planning illustrations, not results from product testing. Manufacturer instructions apply to the specified equipment.