A 10 point scorecard for evaluating a residential solar company in India
Choosing a residential solar company in India feels overwhelming when every vendor claims the best panels, the lowest price, and the fastest installation. Without a structured way to compare, homeowners in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Nagpur often end up swayed by whoever quotes cheapest or shows up first. We built this 10 point scorecard so you can evaluate any solar installer against verifiable quality signals, not marketing promises. Print it, share it with your family, and score every vendor before you sign.
TL;DR - Summary
- Why use a scorecard? - A structured 10 point evaluation framework removes guesswork from choosing a residential solar company. It forces vendors to prove claims around MNRE approval, engineering quality, pricing transparency, warranties, maintenance, and accountability before you commit.
- What does MNRE approval signal? - An MNRE approved solar company is listed on the government portal, which is a prerequisite for PM Surya Ghar subsidy eligibility. Verify the listing yourself on the MNRE portal before trusting a vendor's claim.
- How does engineering verification work? - Ask whether the company conducts a technical site survey, checks panel health with electroluminescence testing, and rates its mounting structure for wind resistance. These steps separate serious installers from assemblers.
- What about post installation accountability? - Score vendors on whether they own all warranties under one brand, offer a generation guarantee with financial penalties for underperformance, and provide scheduled maintenance with panel health checks.
- How should pricing be compared? - A transparent quote breaks down panels, inverter, structure, installation, approvals, and net metering costs separately. If a quote shows only one lump sum, you cannot tell where corners are being cut.
Why a scorecard matters
Most homeowners compare solar vendors by price alone. That approach hides critical differences in component quality, warranty depth, and post installation service. A vendor quoting 15% less may be using thinner mounting rails, skipping electroluminescence panel checks, or leaving you to handle DISCOM paperwork yourself.
A scorecard shifts the conversation from “how much” to “what exactly am I getting.” It also protects you from confirmation bias. When you score each vendor on the same ten criteria, the strongest option surfaces on evidence, not on a salesperson's confidence.
We designed this framework around the pain points we hear most often from families across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Nagpur. Every criterion maps to a real risk that causes regret after installation.
The 10 point scorecard
Use the decision matrix below to score each solar company you are evaluating. Rate every criterion from 1 (poor or absent) to 5 (strong, verified). A perfect score is 50. We recommend shortlisting only vendors who score 35 or above.
| Criterion | What to verify | Why it matters | Score (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. MNRE portal listing | Search the company name on the MNRE portal yourself | Required for PM Surya Ghar subsidy eligibility; signals regulatory compliance | |
| 2. Technical site survey | Does an engineer visit before quoting? Do they assess roof load, shading, and electrical panel? | Prevents wrong system sizing and unsafe installations | |
| 3. Panel quality verification | Ask about electroluminescence testing, wattpeak verification, and serial tracking of panels | Catches hidden micro cracks and batch variation before panels reach your roof | |
| 4. Mounting structure rating | Ask for wind speed rating, material type (galvanized iron vs Magnelis alloy), and anti corrosion warranty duration | Indian weather corrodes cheap structures within 5 to 7 years; structure failure voids panel warranties | |
| 5. Pricing transparency | Quote must itemize panels, inverter, structure, installation labor, approvals handling, and net metering cost separately | Lump sum quotes hide component downgrades and missing services | |
| 6. Warranty ownership | Does one entity own all warranties (panel, inverter, structure) or must you chase separate manufacturers? | Single point accountability means one call resolves any issue | |
| 7. Generation guarantee | Ask if the company guarantees minimum annual generation with a financial penalty for shortfall | Without this, underperformance costs you money with no recourse | |
| 8. Approvals and net metering support | Does the company handle DISCOM paperwork, net metering application, and subsidy documentation? | Homeowners who manage this alone face months of delays and rejections | |
| 9. Maintenance and cleaning plan | Ask about scheduled panel cleaning frequency, panel health checkups, and inverter monitoring | Dust reduces generation by 15 to 25% in Indian cities; unmonitored faults go undetected for months | |
| 10. Post installation service continuity | How long has the company operated? Do they have a local service team in your city? What is their Google rating? | Solar is a 25 year asset; a company that disappears after year two leaves you stranded |
How to use each criterion
MNRE portal listing
Do not take a vendor's word for MNRE approval. Visit the MNRE portal, search the company name, and confirm the listing is active. An MNRE approved solar company can process your PM Surya Ghar subsidy application. Without this, you may lose up to ₹78,000 in eligible subsidy.
We maintain an active MNRE listing with a rating of 4.9 and above. We handle the full subsidy application process so you do not have to navigate the portal yourself.
Technical site survey
A proper site survey happens before any quote is generated. An engineer should visit your roof, assess structural load capacity, check for shading from water tanks or adjacent buildings, and evaluate your electrical panel. If a company quotes you over the phone without visiting, that is a red flag.
Our process sends an engineer to your home within 2 days of booking. The survey determines whether a string inverter or micro inverter is the right fit, based on actual shading conditions, not a default recommendation.
Panel quality verification
Panels can have invisible micro cracks from shipping or manufacturing. Electroluminescence (EL) testing reveals these defects before installation. Wattpeak verification confirms that each panel delivers its rated output. Serial tracking ensures traceability if a warranty claim arises years later.
Our Arka Assured process includes EL and human inspection of every panel, wattpeak verification against spec, and serial tracking. This is not standard in the industry. Most vendors install panels straight from the box without independent checks.
Mounting structure rating
The mounting structure holds your panels for 25 years or more. Standard galvanized iron corrodes in coastal and humid climates within a decade. Ask for the wind speed rating (120 km/h is typical; 180 km/h is engineered grade) and the anti corrosion warranty period.
We use a Magnelis alloy structure rated to 180 km/h winds, with a 25 year anti corrosion warranty. Every bolt is epoxy sealed. This is the only structure warranty of its kind in the residential solar category in India.
Pricing transparency
A trustworthy quote separates each cost component. You should see line items for panels, inverter, mounting structure, installation labor, approvals handling, net metering charges, and any applicable taxes. Systems in the 3 kW to 5 kW range typically cost between ₹1.3 lakh and ₹3 lakh across most Indian cities, before subsidy.
If two quotes differ by 20% or more for the same system size, the cheaper one is likely using lower grade components or excluding services like approvals handling. Our quotes itemize every component and service so you can compare fairly.
Warranty ownership
Many solar companies assemble components from different manufacturers. When something fails, you are told to contact the panel maker, the inverter maker, or the structure supplier separately. This creates a runaround that can take weeks.
We own every warranty ourselves. Panels, inverter, and structure are all branded under one name. One call handles any issue, regardless of which component is involved. Our warranty periods are 30 years on panels, 10 years on inverters, and 25 years on the mounting structure.
Generation guarantee
Ask every vendor: “If my system generates less than promised, what happens?” Most will not have a clear answer. A generation guarantee with a financial penalty forces the company to stand behind its performance claims.
Our Arkashield guarantee pays you back at ₹7 per unit of shortfall if your system underperforms the guaranteed minimum. This aligns our incentive with yours: we lose money if your system does not deliver.
Approvals and net metering
Residential solar in India requires DISCOM approval, net metering registration, and subsidy documentation under PM Surya Ghar. Each step involves paperwork, portal submissions, and follow ups. Homeowners who handle this alone report delays of 2 to 4 months.
We manage the entire approvals process in house, from DISCOM application to net meter commissioning to subsidy claim filing. You should not have to learn the bureaucracy to go solar.
Maintenance and cleaning
Dust, bird droppings, and pollution reduce panel output significantly in Indian cities. Panels need professional cleaning at regular intervals. Beyond cleaning, periodic health checks using thermal imaging or performance monitoring catch faults early, before they compound into generation losses.
Our inverter monitors system performance every 5 minutes. We offer scheduled panel cleaning and health checkups so your system maintains output year after year.
Service continuity
Solar is a multi decade investment. The company you choose must be around in year 10 and year 20. Check how long the company has operated, whether it has a local service team in your city, and what its Google rating looks like across locations.
We have served over 1,000 families across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Nagpur. We are rated 4 and above on Google in every city we operate in. Our roadmap includes expansion to 12 or more cities within two years, backed by investors including Kae Capital, Sparrow Capital, and Antler.
Scoring and decision rules
After scoring each vendor, compare totals. A vendor scoring below 25 out of 50 is likely a local installer with limited accountability. Vendors between 25 and 34 may offer decent installation but lack post installation depth. Vendors at 35 and above demonstrate the engineering, transparency, and service continuity that a 25 year asset demands.
Pay special attention to criteria 6, 7, and 9 (warranty ownership, generation guarantee, and maintenance). These three separate companies that install and disappear from companies that stay accountable for decades.
If two vendors score similarly, break the tie on pricing transparency. The vendor whose quote you can read line by line is the one less likely to surprise you after signing.
Common traps to avoid
Cheapest quote wins is the most common trap. A quote that is 20% below market usually means thinner mounting rails, no panel testing, no approvals support, and no generation guarantee. The savings evaporate when you pay for repairs or lost generation in year 3.
Another trap is trusting brand names on individual components without checking who owns the warranty. A vendor may use a well known panel brand but take no responsibility if that panel underperforms. Ask: “If this panel fails in year 8, do I call you or the manufacturer?”
Finally, do not confuse speed with quality. A company that promises installation in 2 days without a site survey is skipping steps that protect your roof and your investment.
Use this scorecard before every conversation with a solar vendor. Share it with your family so everyone evaluates on the same criteria. The right solar company will welcome the scrutiny. The wrong one will try to rush you past it.
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FAQs
How to verify and score a residential solar company before you sign.
How do I find an MNRE approved solar company in India?
How do I verify if a solar company is genuinely MNRE approved?
Still have questions?
We may be answer a few more questions. Go to our Learn section to know more to find answers to more questions in our Learn section.
