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Solar Contract Checklist: 15 Details to Confirm Before You Sign
Use this solar contract checklist to review price, equipment, financing, production, permits, warranties, cancellation, and roof work before signing.
Quick answer
A solar contract should make the system, total cost, financing, expected production, permits, utility interconnection, roof work, warranties, cancellation rights, and service responsibilities understandable before you sign. Never rely on verbal promises that are absent from the written agreement.
Confirm exactly what is being installed
The agreement should identify system size, panel and inverter models, battery equipment if any, layout, mounting approach, monitoring, electrical upgrades, and excluded work. Attach the final proposal rather than relying on a generic product description.
Separate price from financing
Review the cash price, deposit schedule, financed amount, APR, loan term, total payments, dealer fees, and any conditional payment change. A low monthly payment does not replace a complete cost disclosure.
Make performance claims specific
Ask for annual kWh production, shade and loss assumptions, export-credit assumption, utility rate plan, and any production guarantee in writing. Savings forecasts should state what is estimated rather than presenting future utility costs as certain.
Know the exit and service path
Review cancellation rights, change-order rules, schedule, permits, inspections, roof responsibility, workmanship warranty, manufacturer warranties, and the contact for repairs. Keep a signed copy of every document and change.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask before signing a solar contract?
Ask about total cost, financing, system size, annual production, roof work, permits, utility approval, warranties, cancellation, and future service.
Should solar savings be guaranteed in a contract?
Be cautious with broad savings guarantees. Verify the production and utility assumptions, exclusions, and remedy in the written terms.
Can a solar contract be changed after signing?
Change orders can happen when site conditions differ. Require every change in scope, price, and schedule to be documented in writing.
Primary sources
This guide was written for homeowners and reviewed against the following government and research resources. Programs and utility rules can change, so verify current details before making a financial decision.