Solar-only
Match the array to site conditions, usage and utility rules.
HOME SOLAR + STORAGE
Compare solar proposals with the same production assumptions
Normalize system size, annual production, shading, degradation, utility rules, financing and warranties before comparing price.
Choose your route
Three ways to frame the project
Use the same home details and assumptions for every contractor so the proposals can be compared fairly.
Solar plus battery
Define backup loads, usable storage and operating mode.
Roof and electrification plan
Coordinate roof life, panel capacity, EV charging and future HVAC loads.
Installed scope
What a complete proposal should address
Not every item creates extra work, but every contractor should state whether it is included, excluded or not applicable.
- 01Utility-bill and interval-data review
- 02Roof, shade and structural assessment
- 03Array, inverter and production model
- 04Panel and interconnection work
- 05Permits, utility approval and inspection
- 06Monitoring, commissioning and warranty handoff
Cost drivers
Why local installed prices vary
- System size and equipment
- Roof complexity and condition
- Electrical upgrades
- Battery capacity
- Permitting and interconnection
CoolCompare does not present a national sticker price as your project price. ZIP code, property conditions, code requirements and proposal scope must be evaluated together.
Ownership viewProduction Utility Finance 10 years
Compare 5- and 10-year cost
Compare first-year kWh using the same assumptions.
Model export compensation, fixed charges and rate changes separately.
Compare cash, loan and lease/PPA terms without mixing headline payments.
Include degradation, inverter/battery assumptions, maintenance and financing.
Built for US homes
Your ZIP code changes the comparison.
Climate, utility rates, fuel availability, building codes, permit offices and incentive administrators vary across the United States. A national average is only an orientation point.
Heating and cooling loads, humidity control and equipment performance must match the home’s actual climate.
Use current electricity and fuel prices, rate structure and any demand-response or electrification program terms.
Ask who obtains permits, schedules inspections and documents required electrical, mechanical or structural work.
Check the installation year, ZIP code, system tier, income rules, funding status and official reservation process.
Quote checklist
Ask every bidder for the same six items
Comparable documentation makes price differences easier to understand and reduces hidden-scope surprises.
- 01Annual kWh estimate and modeling inputs
- 02Panel and inverter models
- 03Roof and electrical scope
- 04Cash price and financed price
- 05All warranty providers and terms
- 06Interconnection and incentive responsibilities
Official guidance
Verify the fundamentals
Incentives and eligibility can change by year, state, utility and system. Confirm current requirements before signing or purchasing.
US project questions
Answers to use before requesting bids
What should be included in a compare solar proposals with the same production assumptions quote?+
The quote should identify the exact equipment or materials, installation scope, permits, electrical or fuel work, commissioning, exclusions, schedule, payment terms and separate labor and product warranties.
How should I compare solar contractors?+
Give each contractor the same home details and ask for an itemized scope. Compare credentials, measurements, assumptions, cash price, financing, warranty and post-installation verification—not the headline price alone.
Can incentives reduce the project cost?+
Federal, state, Tribal, local and utility programs can differ by installation year, ZIP code, equipment tier, income and funding status. Verify eligibility with the official program administrator before signing or spending.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Start with ZIP code →