Path-Q Solar

Which sales claims about solar production should I verify independently?

Answer

Independently verify claims about annual production, bill savings, payback, energy-rate assumptions, system degradation, shading, battery performance, and export compensation. Ask for the underlying design and assumptions rather than relying on a headline percentage or savings figure.

Key points

  • Check the proposed layout, system size, shading analysis, and production model.
  • Separate energy production from bill savings; billing depends on rates, charges, timing, and export treatment.
  • Test payback and savings under conservative, expected, and adverse assumptions.
  • Confirm whether battery savings, backup operation, incentives, financing, and maintenance costs are included.

What it depends on

  • Site conditions and system design
  • Utility billing and export rules
  • Electricity use and future load changes
  • Financing, incentives, degradation, and operating costs

Risks and trade-offs

  • Optimistic production or rate assumptions can materially overstate savings.
  • A system may produce the forecast energy but still deliver different bill savings because of billing rules.
  • A short sales presentation may omit maintenance, roof work, financing, or replacement costs.

Information you may need

  • Production model and assumptions
  • Recent utility bills and interval data if available
  • Written savings calculation and financing terms
  • Equipment, degradation, maintenance, and export assumptions

Your next step

What to do next

Have an independent reviewer or competing installer reproduce the production and savings calculation using the same inputs.

Path-Q

Find the right next step

Answer a few questions and we’ll narrow your options.

Loading…

SQ00771