What’s Behind a Solar Proposal? Reading the Fine Print Before You Sign

Introduction

Not all solar proposals are created equal. In 2025, the commercial solar market is booming—and with it comes a wide range of proposal formats, pricing strategies, and fine print. Before signing a contract, it's essential to understand exactly what you’re agreeing to. A well-structured proposal should be transparent, comprehensive, and aligned with your financial and operational goals.

Why Proposal Review Matters

A solar proposal is more than just a quote—it’s a preview of your installer’s professionalism, clarity, and long-term approach. Strong proposals build trust and protect your investment. Weak or vague ones? They leave you exposed to cost overruns, system underperformance, or missed incentives.

Key Elements of a Transparent Solar Proposal

A reliable solar proposal should include:

• System Size and Equipment Specs: Panel type, inverter model, racking system, and warranty coverage

• Financial Breakdown: Installation costs, incentives applied, tax credits, and net cost after benefits

• Production Estimates: Year-one and lifetime kWh output based on realistic site conditions

• Savings Projections: Utility rate assumptions, escalation factors, and lifetime savings forecast

• Payback Period and ROI: How long it takes to break even, and what return you can expect

• Timeline and Milestones: Design, permitting, interconnection, construction, and activation

If any of these elements are missing or unclear, ask questions before moving forward.

Questions to Ask Before Signing

To fully vet your solar proposal, ask:

• Are the energy savings based on actual load data or assumptions?

• What utility rate schedule is being used in the financial model?

• Are equipment and labor warranties clearly defined?

• Who handles permitting, utility coordination, and incentive applications?

• Is this a fixed-price contract, or could there be change orders later?

• What happens if the system underperforms or is delayed?

You deserve clear, confident answers—not vague assurances.

Red Flags in Solar Proposals

Be cautious if your proposal:

• Uses unrealistic savings or utility rate escalation (e.g., >5%/year)

• Doesn’t account for system degradation over time

• Excludes key soft costs like permitting, trenching, or interconnection fees

• Leaves out incentives, rebates, or bonus credits you may be eligible for

• Doesn’t show site layout, shading analysis, or performance modeling

• Pushes for a signature without time to review

These are signs the provider may be cutting corners—or inflating your expectations.

How Surge Builds Trust Through Transparent Proposals

At Surge, every proposal is customized, complete, and fully backed by data. We:

• Use your actual utility data and rate schedule to model savings

• Provide full breakdowns of system cost, incentives, and tax benefits

• Include equipment datasheets, layout plans, and shading assessments

• Guarantee our pricing and performance estimates with signed service terms

• Answer every question you have—before you sign anything

We believe trust starts with clarity and ends with great results.

TL;DR Summary

• A solar proposal should clearly outline costs, savings, system specs, and warranties

• Always read the fine print and ask tough questions before signing

• Surge delivers honest, data-backed proposals that help you make confident solar decisions