Path-Q Solar

How should I compare two solar quotes that use different assumptions about how much exported electricity will be compensated?

Answer

Rebuild both quotes using the same production, consumption, export, tariff, degradation, financing, and incentive assumptions, then compare cash flows under conservative and alternative export values. Do not compare headline savings or payback periods until the export assumptions are normalized.

Key points

  • Separate energy used on-site from energy exported.
  • Use the applicable export rules and show whether compensation is fixed, variable, capped, or uncertain.
  • Check system size, shading, degradation, escalation, battery behavior, and operating costs.
  • Compare total cost, annual bill impact, payback, and long-term cash flow rather than one advertised metric.

What it depends on

  • Current export compensation and bill structure
  • Comparable production and load assumptions
  • System price, financing, maintenance, and degradation
  • Tax, rebate, and interconnection treatment

Risks and trade-offs

  • A quote can appear superior solely because it assigns retail value to exports.
  • Long-term export changes may materially alter the result.
  • A larger system may have higher modeled savings but lower value per additional panel.

Information you may need

  • Both proposals' production and export assumptions
  • Hourly or monthly load data
  • Tariff and export terms
  • Full installed price and financing terms
  • Incentive and degradation assumptions

Your next step

What to do next

Ask both installers for an identical, editable assumptions sheet and compare results using at least a conservative export scenario.

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SQ01461