The residential solar quote comparison sheet every Indian homeowner should use
You have three solar quotes on your kitchen table. One looks cheap, another promises the moon, and the third sits somewhere in between. The numbers blur together because each vendor formats their proposal differently, buries exclusions in footnotes, and uses generation assumptions you cannot verify. This is exactly where most Indian homeowners lose money, not because they chose solar, but because they could not compare solar quotes fairly. We built this comparison sheet so you never sign a proposal you do not fully understand.
TL;DR — Summary
- Why compare beyond price? — Headline cost hides differences in component quality, warranty depth, generation assumptions, and scope of approvals. A quote that looks cheaper may exclude net metering paperwork, use a lower grade inverter, or inflate expected units per month.
- What should the sheet cover? — A proper comparison sheet scores each quote across seven categories: system sizing, panel and inverter specs, mounting structure, generation assumptions, warranty terms, approvals and paperwork scope, and post installation maintenance.
- How do generation assumptions mislead? — Some vendors quote peak lab output instead of real world city averages. Always ask for the assumed CUF (capacity utilization factor) and whether monsoon months are factored in. We disclose the panel efficiency reduction curve for the full warranty period upfront.
- What role do warranties play? — A 25 year panel warranty means little if the structure corrodes in 10 years or the inverter fails without coverage. Compare inverter warranty, structure warranty, and whether one company owns all warranties or splits accountability across manufacturers.
- How does this help us serve you better? — We designed our quoting process around transparency, disclosing component specs, generation methodology, and full scope of work, so that when you place our quote next to any other, the comparison favors clarity over confusion.
Why sticker price misleads
A 5 kW system quoted at ₹2.4 lakh and another at ₹2.8 lakh look like a simple choice. But the cheaper quote might use a galvanized iron structure with a 10 year warranty, while the pricier one includes a Magnelis alloy structure warranted for 25 years against corrosion. The cheaper quote might exclude DISCOM paperwork. The pricier one might bundle net metering approval, subsidy filing, and grid connection.
Price per watt is a useful starting filter, but it tells you nothing about what happens in year 8 when the inverter fails, or year 12 when rust weakens the mounting frame. The comparison sheet below forces every quote into the same structure so hidden gaps surface before you sign.
The seven category comparison sheet
Print this table or copy it into a spreadsheet. Fill one column per vendor quote. Leave no cell blank; if a vendor does not mention a line item, mark it "not stated" and ask them to clarify before you proceed.
| Category | Line item | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| System sizing | Total capacity (kW) | Confirm whether the quoted kW matches your load assessment, not just your roof area |
| System sizing | Number of panels | Divide total wattage by individual panel wattage; verify the math adds up |
| System sizing | Roof area used (sq ft) | Ask if walkway and maintenance clearance is included in the layout |
| Panels | Panel brand and model | Check if the panel is BIS certified and listed on the MNRE portal |
| Panels | Panel wattage per unit | Higher wattage per panel means fewer panels for the same capacity |
| Panels | Panel warranty (product and performance) | Product warranty covers defects; performance warranty covers degradation rate over time |
| Inverter | Inverter brand and type | String inverter or micro inverter; confirm the recommendation is based on your roof's shading analysis |
| Inverter | Inverter warranty (years) | Industry standard is 5 to 10 years; we offer 10 year inverter warranty |
| Inverter | Waterproof rating | A waterproof inverter can mount outdoors without a shelter; ask for the IP rating |
| Structure | Material type | Galvanized iron, hot dip galvanized, or Magnelis alloy; each has a different corrosion lifespan |
| Structure | Wind rating (km/h) | Standard structures handle about 120 km/h; ours are tested to 180 km/h |
| Structure | Structure warranty (years) | Typical is 10 to 12 years; we warrant our structure for 25 years against corrosion |
| Generation | Estimated monthly units | Ask for the CUF assumed and whether monsoon dip is factored in |
| Generation | Generation guarantee | Does the vendor guarantee minimum output? We pay ₹7 per unit of shortfall under Arkashield |
| Generation | Degradation disclosure | Ask for the year by year efficiency reduction curve, not just the year 1 number |
| Warranty accountability | Single point or split | If the panel maker, inverter maker, and installer are three different entities, who do you call when something fails? |
| Approvals scope | DISCOM net metering filing | Is this included or does the homeowner handle it separately? |
| Approvals scope | PM Surya Ghar subsidy filing | Does the vendor file the subsidy application on your behalf? |
| Approvals scope | Grid connection coordination | Confirm whether the vendor manages the meter change and inspection |
| Maintenance | Post install cleaning included | How many cleanings per year, and for how many years? |
| Maintenance | Panel health checks | Does the vendor offer periodic EL testing or inverter monitoring? |
| Maintenance | Inverter monitoring frequency | We monitor every 5 minutes; ask competitors for their monitoring interval |
How to score each category
Assign each line item a simple score: 1 for missing or vague, 2 for partially covered, 3 for clearly stated and strong. Total the scores per vendor. The vendor with the highest total is not automatically the winner, but the one with the lowest total almost certainly deserves more questions before you proceed.
Pay special attention to the warranty accountability row. A system where one company owns every warranty (panel, inverter, structure) means one phone call when something goes wrong. A system assembled from three different manufacturers means three separate claims processes. We own all warranties ourselves because we are a product company, not an assembler.
Generation assumptions to question
The most common trick in a solar quote is inflated generation. A 5 kW system in Bengaluru might realistically produce 550 to 650 units per month across the year, accounting for monsoon, cloud cover, and panel degradation. If a vendor quotes 750 units per month without explaining their CUF assumption, that number is suspect.
Ask every vendor three questions about generation. First, what CUF are they assuming? Residential rooftop systems in most Indian cities operate at a CUF between 13% and 17%, depending on location and orientation. Second, does the estimate include monsoon months or only peak summer? Third, what is the assumed degradation rate per year?
We disclose the full efficiency reduction curve for the entire warranty period. If a vendor only shows you year 1 output, they are hiding the long term picture.
Subsidy and approvals scope
PM Surya Ghar provides ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above. This subsidy meaningfully reduces your effective cost, but only if the paperwork is filed correctly and on time.
Some vendors quote a "subsidy adjusted price" but leave the actual filing to you. Others include the filing but not the DISCOM coordination for net metering. Your comparison sheet should have separate rows for subsidy filing, DISCOM application, meter change coordination, and grid inspection scheduling. If any of these are marked "homeowner responsibility" in the quote, factor in the time and complexity you will need to invest.
We handle the full approvals chain, from subsidy application through DISCOM filing to grid connection, as part of our standard scope.
Structure and durability matter
Your panels sit on a metal frame exposed to rain, heat, and coastal or industrial air for decades. A standard galvanized iron structure begins showing corrosion in 8 to 12 years in many Indian cities. Our Magnelis alloy structure carries a 25 year anti corrosion warranty and is tested to withstand 180 km/h winds. Every bolt is epoxy sealed.
When comparing quotes, ask for the structure material, the wind load rating, and the warranty period. If a vendor does not specify these, the structure is likely a commodity component sourced for cost, not performance.
Warranty depth, not just length
A 25 year panel warranty sounds reassuring until you read the fine print. Product warranties cover manufacturing defects. Performance warranties cover how much the panel degrades over time. These are two different commitments, and both matter.
Inverter warranties in the market range from 5 to 10 years. We offer a 10 year inverter warranty. Structure warranties range from 5 to 12 years in most quotes. We warrant ours for 25 years. The critical question is accountability: if the panel maker, inverter maker, and structure supplier are three separate companies, resolving a warranty claim becomes your coordination problem. We own all three warranties under one roof.
Maintenance and monitoring
Dust, pollution, and bird droppings reduce panel output by 15% to 25% if panels are not cleaned regularly. Ask each vendor whether post installation cleaning is included, how many sessions per year, and for how many years.
Panel health checks matter too. EL (electroluminescence) testing can detect micro cracks invisible to the naked eye. Inverter monitoring catches performance drops before they become failures. We monitor inverters every 5 minutes and conduct periodic panel health checks as part of our service commitment.
If a vendor's quote ends at installation with no mention of maintenance, you are buying hardware without a service relationship. Solar is a 25 to 30 year asset. Treat the maintenance commitment as seriously as the installation itself.
Red flags in any solar quote
Watch for these warning signs when reviewing proposals. A quote that bundles everything into one lump sum without breaking out panels, inverter, structure, installation, and approvals separately is hiding something. A generation estimate without a stated CUF or degradation curve is optimistic at best. A warranty that references the original manufacturer instead of the installer means the installer is not accountable. A price that is dramatically lower than the industry range for that system size (for example, a 5 kW system quoted well below ₹2.4 lakh) likely cuts corners on components or excludes critical scope.
Industry price ranges for on grid systems currently run from about ₹1.3 lakh to ₹1.6 lakh for 3 kW, ₹2 lakh to ₹2.4 lakh for 4 kW, ₹2.4 lakh to ₹3 lakh for 5 kW, and ₹4 lakh to ₹5 lakh for 8 kW. Use these as sanity checks, not as targets.
Putting the sheet to work
Request detailed written quotes from at least two vendors. Transfer every line item into the comparison sheet. Score each row. Circle any cell where a vendor wrote "not applicable" or left the item blank. Call them back and ask specifically about those gaps.
The goal is not to find the cheapest system. The goal is to find the system where you understand exactly what you are paying for, what is included, what is excluded, and who is accountable for the next 25 years. We built our quoting process to survive this kind of scrutiny because we believe transparency is a competitive advantage, not a risk.
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