Path-Q Solar

How should I compare installation timelines when one quote depends on equipment that is not in stock?

Answer

Compare dates based on confirmed equipment availability and approval milestones, not optimistic estimates. Require the quote to identify substitute rights, schedule remedies, and the effect of delays on financing and pricing.

Key points

  • Separate estimated delivery, receipt, installation, inspection, permission to operate, and expected savings dates.
  • Ask whether the quoted model is reserved, orderable, backordered, or merely selected from a catalog.
  • Compare approved substitutes for compatibility, price, warranty, performance, and incentive treatment.

What it depends on

  • Inventory and supplier confirmation
  • Permitting and interconnection schedule
  • Contract delivery and delay terms
  • Equipment substitution provisions

Risks and trade-offs

  • A readily available product may have different performance, warranty, or compatibility characteristics.
  • A scarce product can delay operation and financing while preserving no firm delivery date.
  • Liquidated damages or cancellation remedies may be limited or absent.

Information you may need

  • Written availability or purchase confirmation
  • Critical-path schedule
  • Approved substitute list
  • Delay, price-lock, and cancellation terms

Your next step

What to do next

Request a milestone schedule with evidence of availability and a written substitute-and-delay clause, then compare the schedule risk rather than only the earliest promised date.

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SQ02276