How to Choose the Right Solar Company for Your Home: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign
TL;DR: Solar installation is a 25-year decision. The company you choose determines hardware quality, installation smoothness, subsidy success, and long-term support. Ask these 7 questions before signing with any installer.
Solar installation is not like buying an appliance. You are making a decision that will sit on your roof and affect your home's electricity for the next 25 years. The Indian residential solar market in 2026 has strong, reliable installers — but also vendors who cut corners on components, structure quality, or post-installation service.
Question 1: Are You MNRE-Empanelled and Listed on the PM Surya Ghar Portal?
This is the non-negotiable first filter. MNRE empanelment is required for subsidy eligibility — if your installer is not registered on the portal, your subsidy of up to ₹78,000 will be rejected. Empanelment also signals baseline technical competence, equipment quality standards, and regulatory compliance.
How to Verify
Visit pmsuryaghar.gov.in and use the vendor search function. Ask for the company's empanelment registration number and verify it yourself on the portal.
Red Flag: Any company that dismisses the subsidy question or says “we will handle that later” without confirming empanelled status.
Question 2: Do You Focus on Residential Solar, or Do You Handle Commercial and Industrial Projects Too?
Residential and commercial installations require very different approaches. Commercial projects are larger, faster, and prioritise volume over detail. Residential work requires nuance — aesthetics, waterproofing integrity, wiring precision, and post-installation support matter far more.
What to Look For
Ask for a breakdown of their installed base — what percentage is residential vs commercial? Ask to speak with two or three recent homeowner references.
Red Flag: Cannot give specific residential references, or spends most of the conversation on commercial and industrial projects.
Question 3: What Panels, Inverters, and Mounting Structures Will You Use — and Can I See the Datasheets?
Ask specifically: What panel brand and model? Are they ALMM-listed? Mono PERC or TOPCon? What inverter brand and model, and what is the warranty? What is the mounting structure material, and what wind load is it rated for? ALMM-listed panels are mandatory for PM Surya Ghar subsidy eligibility.
What Good Looks Like
Named brands, ALMM-listed panels, inverter from Sungrow, Growatt, GoodWe, or Huawei with a minimum 5-year warranty, and a hot-dip galvanised iron structure with powder coating.
Red Flag: Vague answers like “good quality panels” or “tier-one inverter” without naming brands. Cannot or will not share datasheets.
Question 4: Who Handles DISCOM Coordination, Net Metering, and the Subsidy Application — Your Team or Me?
Getting a system commissioned involves feasibility application, net metering application, DISCOM inspection, commissioning sign-off, and subsidy documentation. Some installers manage all of this; others hand you a checklist and leave you to figure it out.
What to Ask
“Will your team handle the net metering application, DISCOM inspection coordination, and subsidy documentation from start to finish?” Get it in writing.
Red Flag: Vague about post-installation responsibilities. Says “the subsidy process is straightforward, you can manage it.”
Question 5: What Does Your After-Sales Service Model Look Like?
Dust accumulation alone can reduce solar output by 10–25%. Ask: Is an AMC offered? What is included and what does it cost? How do you log a service request? What are the response time commitments? Is there a local service team or does everything go through a national helpline?
What Good Looks Like
A structured AMC with monthly or quarterly cleaning, inverter health checks, and wiring inspection. Defined response times. A local service team. At Arkahub, monthly panel health checks and cleaning are included for the first four years as standard — not an optional add-on.
Red Flag: No structured AMC, no clarity on response times, service relies entirely on a national helpline with no local presence.
Question 6: Can You Give Me a Detailed, Itemised Quote — Not Just a Total Number?
A proper quote breaks down every component: panel brand, model, wattage, and quantity; inverter; mounting structure; cabling; earthing; installation labour; DISCOM liaison; and net metering costs. It also clearly states what is not included. You cannot meaningfully compare quotes unless you know what each one actually contains.
What to Ask
“Can you send a fully itemised quotation with panel model, inverter model, structure specifications, and a line-by-line cost breakdown?”
Red Flag: Resistance to providing itemised quotes, or quotes that list only total system size and a single price.
Question 7: What Exactly Does Your Warranty Cover — and Who Backs It?
There are three distinct warranty layers in a solar system:
- •Panel Product Warranty (10–12 years): Covers manufacturing defects. Backed by the panel manufacturer.
- •Panel Performance Warranty (25 years): Guarantees output — typically 90% at 10 years, 80% at 25 years. Backed by the panel manufacturer.
- •Inverter Warranty (5–10 years): 5 years is standard; premium brands offer 10 years. Backed by the inverter manufacturer.
- •Workmanship Warranty: Provided by the installer. Covers installation quality. Only as good as the installer's ongoing existence.
What to Ask
What are the panel product and performance warranty terms? What is the inverter warranty? What does the workmanship warranty cover, and how do you make a claim?
Red Flag: Verbal assurances of “lifetime warranty” without specifying what is covered, by whom, and under what conditions.
A Summary Checklist Before You Sign
| Question | What You Should Hear |
|---|---|
| MNRE empanelment | Confirmed registration number, verifiable on portal |
| Residential focus | Majority residential installs, references available |
| Component quality | Named brands, ALMM-listed panels, datasheets provided |
| DISCOM and subsidy handling | End-to-end managed by their team |
| After-sales service | Structured AMC, local team, clear response timeframes |
| Itemised quote | Full component breakdown, no bundled totals |
| Warranty clarity | Separate explanation of panel, inverter, and workmanship warranty |
Why Choosing the Cheapest Quote Is Often the Most Expensive Decision
- •The common pattern with the cheapest bids: non-ALMM panels, lighter mounting structures, unknown inverter brands, and no post-installation support
- •A system underperforming by 15% year on year costs far more in lost savings over a 20-year horizon than the upfront price difference
- •Industry experts recommend getting quotes from at least three qualified, MNRE-empanelled installers before deciding
How Arkahub Answers All Seven Questions
- •MNRE-approved, residential-only solar installer serving Bangalore and Hyderabad
- •End to end management: site assessment, system design, DISCOM coordination, net metering, installation, subsidy documentation, and maintenance
- •Monthly panel health checks and cleaning for the first four years — standard
- •Panel performance warranted for 25 years, inverter warranty 10 years, all components ALMM-listed
- •Most installations completed and commissioned within 14 days
Get started on your Solar journey today.
Request a call back from one of our experts to learn more about how you can achieve your saving goals with ArkaHub.
Frequently Asked Questions
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