4 min read
Published by QUOTES AND DEALS · Updated
14 September 2026
· Sources & editorial policyTHE SHORT ANSWER
Compare the installed cash price for the same scope, add any excluded work and then subtract separately confirmed incentives. Compare finance costs separately. There is no reliable final price without knowing the property and what is included.
What should I ask the provider to price?
Use a written scope with the equipment models, installation, roof access, electrical work, metering and connection responsibilities. Identify allowances and exclusions. Ask who confirms the final scope after the site assessment and how any variation will be approved.
A worked example: compare like with like.
Illustration only, not a market price or rebate estimate: Proposal A shows $9,000 after incentives but excludes $1,200 of access work and $800 of switchboard work. Its comparable cost is $11,000 if those are the only extras. Proposal B is $10,500 after incentives with both items included. On that scope, B is $500 lower. Different equipment, assumptions or unresolved exclusions still need to be checked.
What if the quote only shows a weekly payment?
Ask for the cash price and the finance agreement separately. Record the deposit, payment amount, number of payments, fees and any final payment. Confirm whether quoted incentives have already been deducted; subtracting them a second time makes a comparison misleading.
What can change the result?
Keep unknown items visible rather than entering zero. Ask which price assumptions depend on roof access, switchboard condition, backup hardware or approval of a rebate. A written answer is more useful than assuming that two packages include the same work.
Sources & further reading
Australian Government Solar Consumer Guide ↗General information, not a site-specific design or an eligibility decision. Confirm requirements with the relevant authority and your installer.
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