Direct answer
Line up kW, panel model, inverter model, battery usable kWh if any, mounting description, scaffolding, electrical upgrades, STC treatment, and warranty holders. A cheaper net price with thinner hardware or missing flashing notes is not a saving.
The parent pages are the installer checklist and the cost guide. This essay is the worksheet.
The columns
| Column | What “same” means |
|---|---|
| Nameplate kW and panel count | “6.6 kW” is not a personality |
| Panel SKU (CEC-listed) | Not “tier-1 equivalent” |
| Inverter SKU and architecture | String, hybrid, or micro |
| Battery usable kWh | Separate product, or absent on both |
| Mounting in words | Tin clamp, tile hook, tilt, ballast |
| Scaffold / travel / board | In or out on both quotes |
| STC | Gross, benefit, net — three numbers |
| Warranties | Who you call in year four and year eight |
If quote A dropped the scaffold because the house is single-storey and quote B included it for a two-storey tile roof, you are not comparing prices. See tile mounting and tin mounting.
Money lines people mix
STCs, state add-ons, and feed-in tariffs are different machines. Split them. Read STC vs state rebates. We will not invent a certificate price so you can “check their maths” against a blog.
“$0 upfront” is finance. Read the contract. See the FAQ.
Process
Collect two written quotes in the same week. Walk the roof with both scopes in hand. Ask who the named accredited designer and installer are. Look up the licences. If one quote cannot name the mounting method, it is not ready to sign.
We will not rank companies. We will not sell your email to a lead network.
Related: warranties, how solar works. Last reviewed 25 September 2026.
Same week, same roof, same columns
Collect two written quotes in the same week. Walk the roof with both. If one cannot name the mounting method, it is not ready. If one hides STC as a single “from” price, it is not comparable. See cost, rebates, installers, and warranties.
Thinner paper is a different job
Same kW, same SKUs, same mounting words, same inclusions, then money. Hide scaffolding or STC treatment and you are not comparing prices.
Carry this into the quote meeting
Same week, same columns, same roof walk. Hidden scaffold or hidden STC treatment is a different job.
Parent hubs and siblings are linked above. Last reviewed 25 September 2026. General information only.
More from the journal
- East-west vs north-facing roof: which is better? →
A clear northerly pitch still maximises annual energy in most of Australia. East-west can match morning and afternoon loads better. Shade beats both arguments.
- What maintenance does rooftop solar need? →
Look from the ground, keep gutters clear, and hire a professional if soiling is heavy or the inverter alarms. Do not walk a live tiled roof.
- Solar export limits in Australia →
A DNSP export cap is a connection condition, not a broken inverter. Ask what the quote assumed before you treat a feed-in tariff as a plan.