Sample report Check my quote
A cedar and glass home on the coast at sunset with solar panels on its roof.

Solar quote review

Sample household, Surrey, BC

Scope
Three quotes compared
Review
Full review
Date
November 12, 2026

Independent review. No installer pays us.Sample. The household, installers and quotes are invented.

Quote A, Example Solar Co. (invented)

Do not sign this version

5 things to fix before signing, 9 to ask about, 3 that check out.

Financed as quoted, the payments add up to $61,669. Over 25 years the panels would save about $37,443 on bills, with rates rising 3% a year.

FigureThe quote saysOur checkWhat it means
Years to pay back 9.5 19.3 9.8 years longer, with rates rising 3% a year. At flat rates it is 25.1 years.
First-year saving $2,950 $1,131 $1,819 a year less. Surplus power is paid at 10 cents, and 17% of this system's output would be surplus.
Power in a year 10,400kWh 9,240kWh The quote promises 13% more than this roof is likely to make.
Price per watt $3.63 Usual in BC$2.50 to $3.30 $2,860 over the top of the usual range for a system this size.

The quote that holds up

Checks out Quote B, Sample Sun Electric (invented)

1 of the 3 quotes has something to fix before signing, and 1 more needs answers in writing.

On our numbers Quote B has both the lowest solar price per watt ($2.97) and the shortest payback (14.6 years).

Do these first

  1. Quote A. Please redo the savings and payback under Rate Schedule 2289, BC Hydro's current self-generation rate.
  2. Quote C. Please confirm the price holds while I wait for your written answers and for BC Hydro approval.
  3. Quote A. Please show how the first-year saving was calculated: kWh used on site, kWh sold, and the rate for each.
Solar Second LookSample report: invented household and quotesPage 2

Three quotes, side by side

Every line uses one method for all 3 quotes. Solar-only price takes out batteries and extra electrical work, so the price per watt compares like with like.

LineAExample Solar Co.inventedBSample Sun ElectricinventedCDemo Rooftop Powerinvented
Total price$31,900$27,400$36,200
Solar-only price$31,900Same as the total$20,900Less $6,500 battery. GST is extra$33,800Less $2,400 electrical panel upgrade
System size8.8 kW20 panels7.04 kW16 panels10.56 kW24 panels
Price per watt$3.63Fix: Fix before signing$2.97OK: Checks out$3.20OK: Checks out
Power in a year10,400 claimedFix: Fix before signing9,240 kWh expected7,500 claimedOK: Checks out7,392 kWh expected11,600 claimedOK: Checks out11,088 kWh expected
First-year saving$2,950 claimed$1,131 on our numbers$940 claimed$923 on our numbersNot stated$1,340 on our numbers
Payback9.5 years claimedFix: Fix before signing19.3 years on our numbers17 years claimedOK: Checks out14.6 years on our numbers16 years claimedAsk: Ask about this18 years on our numbers
Rebate$5,000 claimedAsk: Ask about thisWording: "guaranteed"$5,000 claimedOK: Checks outWording: "subject to BC Hydro approval and available funding"$5,000 claimedOK: Checks outPre-approval step mentioned
Deposit at signing50%Ask: Ask about this10%OK: Checks out25%OK: Checks out
Workmanship warranty2 yearsAsk: Ask about this10 yearsOK: Checks out5 yearsOK: Checks out
Our verdictFix: Fix before signingDo not sign this version5 to fix, 9 to ask, 3 check outOK: Checks outThe numbers hold up0 to fix, 0 to ask, 8 check outAsk: Ask about thisGet these answers in writing first0 to fix, 2 to ask, 6 check out

Fix before signing Ask about this Checks out Payback on our numbers assumes rates rise 3% a year and surplus is paid at 10 cents per kWh.

Solar Second LookSample report: invented household and quotesPage 3

Price against the BC benchmark

Quote A sits at $3.63 a watt, $2,860 above the top of the usual range for 8.8 kW. Quote B is at $2.97. Dollars per watt, installed, before rebates.

Solar-only price per watt of the three quotes against published BC and Canadian rangesQuote A is $3.63 per watt, Quote B is $2.97 per watt, Quote C is $3.20 per watt. The range used in this review is $2.50 to $3.30. BC Hydro, BC, undated: $2.00 to $3.00. energyhub.org, BC, 2023: $2.52 to $3.17. Green Building Canada, BC, 2025: $2.50 to $3.30. Green Building Canada, BC, 2026: $2.60 to $3.27. IEA PVPS, Canada, 2024: $2.30 to $3.90. Green Building Canada, Canada, 2026: $2.40 to $3.50. City of Victoria permits, middle half of 26 declared values: $1.94 to $2.38.Range used in this review, $2.50 to $3.30$1.50$2.00$2.50$3.00$3.50$4.00BC Hydro, BC, undatedBC Hydro, BC, undated: $2.00 to $3.00 per wattenergyhub.org, BC, 2023energyhub.org, BC, 2023: $2.52 to $3.17 per wattGreen Building Canada, BC, 2025Green Building Canada, BC, 2025: $2.50 to $3.30 per wattGreen Building Canada, BC, 2026Green Building Canada, BC, 2026: $2.60 to $3.27 per wattIEA PVPS, Canada, 2024IEA PVPS, Canada, 2024: $2.30 to $3.90 per wattGreen Building Canada, Canada, 2026Green Building Canada, Canada, 2026: $2.40 to $3.50 per wattCity of Victoria permits, middle half of 26 declared valuesCity of Victoria permits, middle half of 26 declared values: $1.94 to $2.38 per wattQuote B, Sample Sun Electric (invented): $2.97 per wattB$2.97Quote C, Demo Rooftop Power (invented): $3.20 per wattC$3.20Quote A, Example Solar Co. (invented): $3.63 per wattA$3.63
Bars are published ranges. A light tick marks the source's average or median where it gives one. The gold band is the range this review grades against. Declared permit values often leave out tax and can sit below contract prices, so read the permit bar as a floor.

Where the 36 sources come from

  • BC Hydro and the BC Utilities Commission15
  • Federal data: NRCan, Statistics Canada, the Canada Energy Regulator5
  • Province of BC and Consumer Protection BC5
  • City permit records, Victoria and Vancouver2
  • IEA national survey of solar in Canada1
  • Published cost guides and press5
  • Manufacturer and trade warranty documents3
Solar Second LookSample report: invented household and quotesPage 4

Production and payback

Worked for Quote A: 8.8 kW, 9,240 kWh a year expected, against 14,500 kWh of household use from the hydro bill.

Summer surplus earns less

BC Hydro nets each two-month bill. Power used at home is worth 12.7 cents. Surplus is paid at 10 cents.

1,562 kWh sold at 10 cents, 17% of output

Household useSolar used at homeSurplus sold

Solar production against household use in each two-month billing period, Quote AJan to Feb: production 647 kWh, use 3,480 kWh. Mar to Apr: production 1,663 kWh, use 2,610 kWh. May to Jun: production 2,356 kWh, use 1,740 kWh, surplus 616 kWh. Jul to Aug: production 2,541 kWh, use 1,595 kWh, surplus 946 kWh. Sep to Oct: production 1,478 kWh, use 2,030 kWh. Nov to Dec: production 554 kWh, use 3,045 kWh.01,0002,0003,0004,000Jan to Feb: household use 3,480 kWhJan to Feb: production 647 kWhJan to FebMar to Apr: household use 2,610 kWhMar to Apr: production 1,663 kWhMar to AprMay to Jun: household use 1,740 kWhMay to Jun: production 2,356 kWh, of which 616 kWh is surplus616May to JunJul to Aug: household use 1,595 kWhJul to Aug: production 2,541 kWh, of which 946 kWh is surplus946Jul to AugSep to Oct: household use 2,030 kWhSep to Oct: production 1,478 kWhSep to OctNov to Dec: household use 3,045 kWhNov to Dec: production 554 kWhNov to DecHousehold useSolar
kWh in each two-month billing period.

Payback takes twice the claim

Savings start at $1,131 a year. The quote's 9.5 years needs about $2,830 a year.

19.3 years with rates rising 3%, 25.1 if they stay flat

Cumulative bill saving over 30 years against the net cost, Quote ANet cost after rebate is $26,900. Savings reach it after 19.3 years if rates rise 3% a year and after 25.1 years if rates stay flat. The quote claims 9.5 years.$0$10k$20k$30k$40k$50kYear 051015202530Panel warranty endsNet cost after rebate, $26,900Rates rise 3% a yearRates stay flatPaid back in 19.3 years with rates rising 3% a year19.3 yearsPaid back in 25.1 years at flat rates25.1 yearsThe quote claims payback in 9.5 yearsQuote says 9.5
Cumulative bill saving, with panels losing 0.5% of output a year.

Surrey is at the low end for BC sun

NRCan puts Surrey at 997 kWh per kW a year. This review uses 1,050 from an address-level estimate, a little above NRCan's town figure.

Typical yearly solar yield by place, kWh per kW of panelsCranbrook: 1,217. Kelowna: 1,132. Victoria: 1,091. Prince George: 1,056. Vancouver: 1,007. Surrey: 997.CranbrookCranbrook: 1,217 kWh per kW a year1,217KelownaKelowna: 1,132 kWh per kW a year1,132VictoriaVictoria: 1,091 kWh per kW a year1,091Prince GeorgePrince George: 1,056 kWh per kW a year1,056VancouverVancouver: 1,007 kWh per kW a year1,007SurreySurrey: 997 kWh per kW a year997
Yearly yield in kWh per kW of panels, south-facing. Source: NRCan, photovoltaic potential by municipality.
Solar Second LookSample report: invented household and quotesPage 5

On the roof

Quote A puts 20 panels of 440 W on the south-facing roof. This is how a layout of that size sits around a skylight and two vents.

A dark shingle roof seen from straight above, with a skylight and two vents. Panel layout drawn on a roof photo20 panels in three rows on the south-facing roof plane, set back from the roof edges and kept clear of a skylight and two vents.
Illustration drawn from the panel count and sizes in the quote on a generated image. We review documents. We do not visit or measure the roof.
20 panels × 440 W
8.8 kW of panels, the size Quote A is priced on.
South, 25°
The way the roof faces and its slope, as used in the production estimate.
9,240 kWh a year
Expected from this layout, against 10,400 in the quote.
Solar Second LookSample report: invented household and quotesPage 6

Questions to send your installer

Each finding in the report comes with a question, written so you can paste it into an email. These go to Example Solar Co. (invented).

  1. Please redo the savings and payback under Rate Schedule 2289.
  2. Please show how the first-year saving was calculated: kWh used on site, kWh sold, and the rate for each.
  3. What electricity price increase and export rate did you assume to get your payback figure?

The sample stops here

The full report for these three quotes runs to 24 pages. Its contents:

  1. The short version1
  2. Your quotes side by side2
  3. What your quotes say3
  4. Rebate and rule checks5
  5. Contract and sales practice6
  6. Quote A in detail7
  7. Quote B in detail12
  8. Quote C in detail15
  9. What the quotes do not show17
  10. Emails to send your installers18
  11. What we could not check21
  12. What to do next, in order22
  13. What we assumed and where the numbers come from22
  14. Plain words23
  15. About this review24

For each quote: what we found; the price, like for like; power and savings under today's BC Hydro rate; is this the right size; financing and payment stages.

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