Two solar proposals for the same roof can look almost identical on paper and perform very differently ten years later. These five questions separate a well-engineered system from a quote built to win on price alone.
1. Is the System Sized to My Bills or My Roof?
Your monthly unit consumption — ideally across six to twelve months of bills — should decide the system size, not the space available on your roof. A system sized to the roof can overproduce for your needs; one sized to a single month’s bill can fall short in summer.
2. Which Exact Modules and Inverter Will Be Installed?
Ask for the make and model, not just “Tier-1 panels”. The equipment named on your proposal should be the equipment that arrives on site. At Fanels, we install only Tier-1, Make-in-India modules on every project, whatever the budget.
3. Who Actually Does the Installation?
Many solar companies sell the system and subcontract the work. If something goes wrong, you end up with several vendors pointing at each other. Ask whether the company’s own crew will install your system — and who you call afterwards.
4. Who Handles the Subsidy and Net Metering Paperwork?
The PM Surya Ghar subsidy and net metering approval both involve portal applications, inspections and follow-ups. A good installer files and tracks these for you, so your part is signing where required — not chasing a government website.
5. What Is Covered After Handover?
Get the warranties in writing, component by component. For reference, the systems we install carry:
- 12-year product warranty and 25-year performance warranty (80.7 percent output) on panels
- 5 to 10 years on the inverter, extendable to 20
- 25-year design life on the mounting structure
- 2 years of workmanship cover from Fanels
Also ask whether an operations and maintenance contract is available — and for how long.
The Short Version
A proposal that answers all five questions clearly is usually a sign of a company that plans to be around for the life of the system. See how we work across every segment, or send us a proposal you have already received and we will tell you what to check.