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Generally, solar quotes will show the final out of pocket price you need to pay the installer, with the Federal Government’s STC solar rebate deducted from that cost.

On a written solar quote, look for a line item that details the STC incentive, including:

• Number of STCs your system is eligible for
• Dollar value of each STC
• Total STC discount off the full price

It’s worth noting that the STC price can fluctuate so if you do receive a solar quote and don’t go ahead with it immediately, there is a chance that your STC discount will have changed and could alter your installation costs.

Some installers take a different approach so check to see what their policy is about STC price fluctuations.

Read more about solar rebates here

When you receive your solar quotes they should cover the entire cost for both parts and labour to have the system installed.

Also check if your solar quotes include the cost and management of all the application forms required by your state, your electricity network operator and your electricity retailer, such as your feed-in-tariff application. Many installers will do all this for you and detail it in their solar quote.

If you don’t notice a clear statement that parts, installation and approvals are all covered under your solar quote then it’s best to flag it with your installer so you don’t run the risk of being stung for hidden charges you didn’t budget for. Get it all in writing to be sure.

If you’ve received solar quotes you might be scratching your head at the difference in price for what’s essentially the same sized system. Infact, it’s not uncommon for solar quotes to differ by THOUSANDS of dollars.

So what gives?

To start you need to make sure you’re comparing apples with apples.

When putting together your solar quote your installer will consider the following:

• Roof type – a tin roof can be a simpler install than a clay or terracotta tile roof.
• Roof design – If you have a big area of roof facing north then your install will be simpler than if your roof has lots of facets facing different directions.
• Number of storeys – a single storey home is easier to access than multiple stories.
• Whether you have single or 3 phase power – 3 phase inverters can cost a bit more than their single phase equivalent.
• Installer costs and warranty – larger, more reputable, solar providers tend to have their own Service Department to help if anything were to go wrong with your system. Some even provide their own warranty on top of the manufacturer’s warranty on the system components and that added service can come at a cost.

Components & their warranties – Panels and inverters can vary in cost depending on their quality and manufacturer guarantee. This will likely be the main factor impacting price between your 3 solar quotes.

As you can see, the quality of components and their warranty should be  the biggest factor affecting the cost of your system.

Larger well established solar providers tend to offer more comprehensive, longer term  guarantees on their workmanship compared to small independent operators. That additional layer of protection often comes with a premium price.

While we’re definitely not saying you shouldn’t go with a smaller installer, the ‘man with a van’ just might not offer the same level of guarantee on their services that you might otherwise get from a larger outfit. But they may be able to give you a fantastic install at a very reasonable price. Equally, there are definitely larger companies out there who are known for poor after sales service.

If you’re going with a smaller installer, just make extra sure you buy components with generous warranties and well established Australian operations with a history of doing business in Australia. This will help protect you should your system have a fault that your solar installer won’t cover you for.

Do your own research on the solar panels and inverter your installer has recommended in your solar quote and decide for yourself if they meet your criteria.

Because the solar quotes you get via Solar Market are zero obligation you can request them any time. The sooner the better really.

Only after you have an accurate idea of what solar might cost can you make an informed decision on whether it’s something that you need for your home and family.

There’s nothing wrong with knowing where you stand.

In terms of when you should install: every second of sunshine counts. The sooner you’re offsetting your energy costs and producing your own electricity, the sooner you’re reaching your system’s payback period and the sooner you’re turning a profit on your system.

Don’t forget STC incentives reduce every calendar year so you’re getting less from the Government the longer you wait.

Remember! Getting solar quotes doesn’t mean you have to put your money down tomorrow. It just means you’re fully informed and able to decide if a solar system helps you meet your energy and financial goals.

Solar batteries are starting to make financial sense as they come down in price.

What they offer in terms of energy independence and maximising the energy your solar panels produce has a lot of Aussie homeowners very excited and looking to get solar quotes with a battery of their own.

A 10kWh battery (or thereabouts) is a popular choice for Australians looking to get even more out of their solar system, providing enough capacity to power your home for hours.

Here are a few popular options for solar batteries around the 10kWh size so you can begin researching the various technologies available and in the market today:

As a very rough guide, in Australia solar batteries cost around $1,240 per kWh of storage. So you would expect to pay about $12,400 for a 10kWh solar battery. But this is just a guide. Battery prices vary a fair bit.

You can expect battery prices in Australia to drop over the coming years as uptake increases and manufacturing costs decrease. That said there are a number of factors that affect the cost of batteries including supply and demand as the world decarbonises, and foreign exchange rates, so definitely expect fluctuations.

The absolute best way to get an accurate quote on a 10kWh solar battery is to get a couple of solar battery quotes from local solar installers. Why not start right now? Request free solar battery quotes from two installers and start comparing your options!

If you’ve requested solar quotes and spoken to a number of installers here’s what you’re going to want to do:

1. Compare and Consider Your Options.

You’ll probably have different installers recommending their own suite of preferred solar panels and inverters with their own unique selling points, including:

• Affordability
• Performance
• Warranty

You’ll want to take your time and comb through a few reviews on both the solar panels and inverter being recommended to see what other people are saying about them and form an opinion about which solar quote best suits your needs.

If you’re still unsure about your solar quotes (maybe you feel it’s not worth getting the better inverter or you don’t like the warranty on your panels) contact your installer to let them know. They may be able to explain their choice or adjust what they are offering you, including more affordable or higher quality options, once they’re aware of your concerns.

As well as reading up on the solar panels and inverter your installers are recommending, also read up on the solar installers themselves! Have a look online to see what others are saying about their work.

2. Read the Terms and Conditions

This might seem like a no brainer, but be sure you know what you’re signing when purchasing your solar system!

You’ll want to know if you could be up for any additional costs due to unforeseen work.

Things like switchboard repairs / upgrades and mounting surface issues can occur and may not be factored into your original quote unless your installer has visited your home to inspect it personally before quoting. Your solar quote should have terms that outline your liability for these costs.

Beyond that, you’ll want to know:

• Payment terms
• If your STC certificates will be handled by your installer
• The kind of property access you’ll need to provide your installer
• Your right to terminate the installation contract
• Any guarantees attached to their install

3. Book In Your Installation!

Once you’re totally up to speed with each solar quote it’s simply a matter of choosing the one you like best!

Contact your installer to find out how you can proceed and organise a date for installation. They’ll be thrilled to hear from you!

It’s usually only a few weeks before your solar system can be installed and you’re enjoying the benefits of lower energy bills.

Maximising solar self consumption refers to adapting when you use electricity to match when your solar panels are producing energy, thus minimising the amount of solar electricity being exported to the grid.

Maximising solar self consumption gets you the most financial benefit out of your system. Here’s why:

The cost of you buying a unit of electricity (known as a kilowatt hour or kWh) from the grid is far greater than the amount that you can sell that unit of electricity produced by your solar panels back to the grid through your feed-in tariff. Like, a lot greater!

By shifting your energy usage to when your solar system is producing electricity while cutting back what you need to buy from the grid, you further reduce the payback period on your solar system,increasing your Return on Investment (ROI).

Here are some ways you can maximise your solar self consumption:

1. Change Your Usage Habits

Running your major appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine and air conditioner at the middle of the day when your solar system is being most productive is a really effective way to use more of the energy you produce.

Even if you’re not home during the middle of the day there’s nothing stopping you from setting up timers on your appliance so they start up on their own when you want them to. 

2. Cool or Warm Your Home Slowly

Instead of blasting your air conditioner when you get home from work and the sun is starting to set, have it set to a timer to gently cool your home over a couple of hours before you get home. Also, it’s much nicer to return to a cool home than a hotbox!

The same goes for your heater if you have electric heating, such as a reverse cycle air conditioner.

3. Get a Solar Battery

When your solar system is connected to a battery, excess electricity you’re not using to power your home during the day is automatically fed into your battery to be stored for use later. When the battery is full, only then will excess solar electricity be exported to the grid.

This means you can tap into the power stored in your battery at times when your solar system isn’t producing enough power to meet your usage, like a cloudy afternoon, or at night when your solar panels aren’t working at all!