Why our quote might be higher than the other one you got
Two solar quotes for the same house can be thousands of dollars apart. Here is what usually explains the gap, what to check on each quote, and how to compare them fairly.
It happens all the time. You get three quotes for solar or a battery, and one is noticeably cheaper than the rest. Sometimes ours is the higher one. We would rather explain why than pretend price is the only thing that matters, so here is what usually sits behind the difference.
None of this means the cheaper quote is a bad one. It means the two quotes are often pricing different jobs, even when the system size on the front page looks the same.
1. What is actually in the price
The biggest gap between quotes is usually what has been left out. A low headline price can turn into a higher final bill once the installer is on the roof and finds things that were never priced. The common ones are:
- Switchboard work. Many older Perth homes need RCDs, a new main switch or more space in the board before solar or a battery can be connected safely. We inspect and price this upfront rather than adding it on the day.
- Roof type and access. Tile, Colorbond, Kliplok, double storey and steep roofs all take different mounting gear, time and safety equipment. A quote that doesn’t ask about your roof hasn’t priced your roof.
- Cable runs. The distance from the inverter to the switchboard, and from the roof to the inverter, changes the cable size and the labour. Long runs cost more.
- Western Power and Synergy paperwork. Connection applications, meter changes and export settings take time to do properly. We handle them and include them.
- Removal and disposal. If you are upgrading an old system, someone has to take it down and dispose of it properly.
If one quote includes all of this and another doesn’t, they are not the same price for the same job.
2. The equipment on the quote
A 10kW system is not just a 10kW system. Panels, inverters and batteries vary a lot in quality, warranty and how well the manufacturer supports them in Australia. Two things worth checking:
- Who stands behind the warranty. A 25-year panel warranty is only as good as the company that has to honour it. Look for brands with a local Australian office, not just an overseas email address.
- Whether the brand is named. “Tier 1 panels” or “premium inverter” without a model number gives the installer room to swap in whatever is cheapest on the day. Every quote we send lists the exact brand and model.
Everything we install is on the Clean Energy Council approved list, which is required to claim STCs and the battery rebate.
3. Who does the work, and how long they take
Some of the cheapest prices come from businesses paying installers per job, which rewards speed over care. A rushed install can look fine from the street and still have loose connections, poorly sealed roof penetrations or isolators that let water in. Those problems show up years later, often after the installer has moved on.
Our installs are done by licensed electricians who are accredited for solar and battery work, under our electrical contractor licence EC15355. We take the time to do the cabling, labelling and testing properly, and that time is in the price.
4. Design, not just a panel count
A good quote is designed around your bill, your roof and your plans. That means looking at when you use power, whether a battery or EV is coming, how much Western Power will let you export, and which roof faces will actually produce. A cheap quote often skips this and offers the same package to every house in the street.
Sometimes the right design is a little bigger or a little smaller than what another company quoted. We will explain why, and show you the numbers both ways if you want to see them. Our guide to sizing solar in Perth covers how we work it out.
5. What happens after the install
Solar and batteries are meant to run for 10 to 25 years. Over that time you may need a fault found, a setting changed for a new tariff, or a warranty claim lodged with the manufacturer. It helps a lot when the company that installed it is local, still trading and answers the phone.
We have been doing this across Perth and regional WA for more than 2,000 installs, with a 4.9 star rating from over 150 Google reviews. When something goes wrong, you call us and we come out.
How to compare quotes fairly
Put the quotes side by side and check each of these. If a quote is vague on any of them, ask the installer to put it in writing.
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Exact panel, inverter and battery brand and model, not just “tier 1” |
| Price basis | Whether the price is before or after STCs and battery rebates, and including GST |
| Switchboard | Whether any upgrade or RCDs are included, or listed as a possible extra |
| Roof and access | Roof type, storeys and any surcharges stated clearly |
| Approvals | Western Power application and meter change included |
| Installer | Who will be on your roof, and their licence and accreditation |
| Warranty | Workmanship warranty from the installer, plus product warranties with an Australian contact |
| Variations | What could change the price after you sign, and how much |
Have a cheaper quote already?
Send it to us. We will go through it line by line and tell you honestly whether it covers the same job. If it does and the price is better, we will say so. If something is missing, we will show you what it is, so you can make the decision with all the information in front of you.
Common questions
Why are solar quotes so different for the same size system?
Usually because they include different things. Switchboard upgrades, roof access, cable runs, approvals and equipment quality can add up to thousands of dollars, and some quotes leave them out of the headline price.
Is the cheapest solar quote a bad idea?
Not always. The important thing is to check that it covers the same equipment and the same scope of work. If it does, it may simply be a better price.
Will you match a competitor's solar quote?
We don't price match blindly, but we are happy to review another quote and tell you honestly how it compares to ours, line by line.
What should a solar quote include?
The exact panel, inverter and battery models, whether rebates and GST are included, any switchboard work, roof and access details, Western Power approvals, the installer's licence, and the warranties.
