Why Solar Quotes Can Look So Different

If you’ve collected multiple solar quotes, you’ve probably noticed something unsettling:

They don’t look anything alike.

Different prices. Different system sizes. Different assumptions. Sometimes even different explanations of how solar works.

That doesn’t automatically mean someone is being misleading—but it does mean solar quotes aren’t always apples to apples. Understanding why they differ makes it much easier to evaluate them clearly.

Not All Quotes Are Built From the Same Starting Point

The biggest reason solar quotes vary is simple:

They’re often designed using different assumptions.

Quotes can differ based on:

• How much historical usage was reviewed

• Whether future energy needs were considered

• How conservative (or aggressive) the design approach is
  
  

Two quotes can look very different even when both are built in good faith—because they’re answering slightly different versions of the same question.

System Size Is a Design Choice, Not a Fixed Number

Solar systems aren’t standardized packages.

One quote might aim to offset:

• A portion of your usage

• Most of your usage

• As much as your roof and utility rules allow
  
  

Another may take a more conservative approach.

Larger systems aren’t automatically better, and smaller systems aren’t automatically cheaper in the long run. What matters is whether the size aligns with your goals and expectations.

Equipment Choices Matter (Even When They Look Similar)

Quotes may include different:

• Solar panels

• Inverter types

• Monitoring platforms
  
  

Even when equipment looks comparable on paper, performance characteristics and warranties can vary.

Sometimes quotes look less expensive simply because fewer details are explained upfront.

Clarity matters more than brand names.

Ownership vs. Lease Changes the Structure Entirely

One of the most common reasons quotes look dramatically different is because they’re built on different structures.

A quote may assume:

• System ownership

• A solar lease

• A long-term service agreement
  
  

Each structure changes how value is measured:

• Monthly cost

• Responsibility for maintenance

• What happens if production varies
  
  

Comparing a lease quote to an ownership quote without context is like comparing rent to a mortgage—they’re solving different problems.

Production Estimates Are Projections, Not Guarantees

Solar quotes rely on production modeling.

Those models can vary based on:

• Shading assumptions

• Weather data sets

• How conservative the estimator is
  
  

Most quotes present a single estimated production number, not a range. That number represents a modeled expectation—not a promise of identical output every year.

This is where the structure of the agreement matters.

Many solar lease agreements include production guarantees, meaning:

• The system is expected to meet a defined annual production level

• If production falls meaningfully short, the agreement may provide compensation or adjustments

• The risk of underproduction is reduced for the homeowner
  
  

A quote promising unusually high production isn’t automatically “better”—it may simply be optimistic.

What matters more is whether the agreement explains what happens if actual production doesn’t perfectly match the estimate.

Reliable solar proposals don’t just show a number—they explain how variability is handled.

Utility Rules Shape What’s Possible

Solar doesn’t operate independently of the grid.

In Virginia, utilities like Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company set:

• System size limits

• Net metering rules

• How credits are applied
  
  

Quotes that don’t clearly account for utility requirements may look appealing upfront—but create confusion later.

Some Quotes Optimize for Speed, Not Clarity

Not every quote is designed to be fully understood.

Some are built to:

• Look simple at first glance

• Minimize explanation

• Close quickly
  
  
  

Clear quotes usually take longer to walk through—but they tend to reduce surprises after installation.

Complexity isn’t the problem. Unexplained complexity is.

How to Compare Solar Quotes More Effectively

Instead of focusing only on price, consider asking:

• What assumptions were used to size this system?

• What usage data was reviewed?

• Is this an ownership or lease structure?

• How is production variability handled?

• How does this interact with my utility?
  
  

The best quote isn’t the cheapest—it’s the one that most accurately reflects how your home actually uses energy.

The Takeaway

Solar quotes look different because they’re solving different versions of the same problem.

When you understand what’s driving those differences—system size, structure, assumptions, production modeling, and utility rules—it becomes much easier to compare options without feeling rushed or pressured.

Clarity, not speed, leads to better solar decisions.

VirginiaSolar.org was created to give Virginia homeowners clear, unbiased information about solar—so decisions are made with confidence, not pressure.

Our Help Desk and resource library are here whenever you want to go deeper or ask questions.