ProcessUp to date · Jan 15, 2026
Competitive Procurement
The practice of obtaining 3+ quotes from different solar installers and comparing them on price, equipment quality, warranty terms, and company reputation before making a decision.
Why It Matters
Solar prices vary 30-50% between installers for identical systems. Getting multiple quotes is the single best way to save money on a solar installation.
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Related Terms
Cost Per Watt
The standard metric for comparing solar installation prices, calculated by dividing total system cost by its DC wattage. US average is $2.50-$3.50/W before incentives (2024).
Soft Costs
Non-hardware expenses in a solar installation: permitting, inspection, interconnection fees, customer acquisition, labor, overhead, and profit margin. Soft costs are ~65% of US residential solar prices.