Path-Q Solar
What sales claims about solar production should I ask an installer to document?
Answer
Ask the installer to document the modeled production, assumptions, equipment, site conditions, degradation, losses, export treatment, and any guarantee or remedy if actual results differ. Verbal production claims should not be treated as commitments.
Key points
- Request annual and monthly production estimates and the modeling method or software used.
- Check assumptions for roof orientation, tilt, shading, weather, soiling, snow, downtime, wiring, inverter clipping, and degradation.
- Ask whether the figure is energy generated, energy delivered to the property, or energy financially credited.
- Require any production guarantee to define measurement period, exclusions, monitoring data, and remedy.
What it depends on
- Site survey and shading analysis
- Equipment and system design
- Load and export profile
- Weather and degradation assumptions
- Contractual guarantee terms
Risks and trade-offs
- A high production estimate may depend on optimistic assumptions or omit losses.
- A production guarantee may exclude events or provide limited compensation.
- Production does not equal savings when export compensation, tariffs, or financing differ.
Information you may need
- Production report
- Site and shading assessment
- Equipment specifications
- Loss and degradation assumptions
- Written guarantee and exclusions
Your next step
What to do next
Request a signed production report and compare its assumptions with an independent review or another installer's model.
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