How To Choose A Solar Company For Installing Your Solar System?
Finding a solar company is the 1st step to installing a solar system. Solar system installation is a complex task. Therefore, you need to contact experts for quality installation services. The number of DISCOM-empanelled vendors in the country is increasing steadily with the government’s push for installing solar systems.
As the number of solar companies rises, selecting the right solar installation company is becoming complex for the customers. You can exercise intelligent discretion when choosing a solar company.
If you are searching for “how to choose the right solar company?”, you are in the best place to get the answer.
Here are some of the factors you must consider to select the best solar company for installing your solar system:
1. Locally Owned
A company that is located close to your location is preferable compared to a company with headquarters elsewhere. In this case, you can avail faster installation and response to any queries and issues. Additionally, you have to pay less cost as transportation fees.
2. Strong Reputation
Reputation is a good indicator of the quality of products and services provided by a solar system installer. So, you need to find the reviews of a solar company from Google or you can directly contact a customer who installed a solar panel with your solar vendor (if possible).
At Das Energie, we make this work easy as we onboard only installers with a good reputation and positive customer feedback. Therefore, you don’t need to spend time on this. Just give us a call!
3. Client References
If you know someone who installed solar panels, you can contact them for feedback on their solar installation company. This is one of the easiest ways to find the answer to “How to choose a solar panel installer?”
You can also visit the solar installation location to check the performance of the solar system, the quality of installation and power production yourself.
4. Have their Installation Crew
You must prefer a solar company that has an in-house team for installing solar systems. It is much easier to guide and control an in-house team than a team of sub-contractors. A solar company would find it difficult to hold sub-contractors accountable.
Moreover, since sub-contractors are mostly temporary workers, the quality of the services offered by the company will also vary. If a company employs good sub-contractors, it will get good reviews. But, if the sub-contractor is less experienced, the quality of installation can be compromised. Therefore, you should go with a solar company with its installation team.
5. Use of High-Quality Equipment
A solar company must use top-quality equipment in the solar system. Important components in a solar system include solar panels, solar inverter, batteries, charge controller, ACDB, DCDB, earthing, mounting structure, and wires.
All these must be of good quality. It is best to use products manufactured by reputed companies. You can read our blog to learn about the best solar panels in India.
6. Financial Strength
The financials of a solar company must be strong. It ensures that it can honour its obligations and discharge its duties without any issues. If possible, review their financial statements, check their cash flows, and evaluate their access to credit.
On the other hand, a poor financial state can lead to delays in completing the project and could even lead to its termination.
7. Experience
Experience is one of the most important yardsticks for measuring the ability of a solar company. We recommend going with a company that has at least 5 years of experience in installing solar systems. When a solar company has experience, you can rest assured that the company will have the required expertise to install the solar system.
8. Licensing and Certifications
A solar company must have the necessary qualifications to install your solar system. In India, you must get your solar system installed by a DISCOM-empanelled vendor.
If DISCOM has empanelled a solar company, it means the company follows the guidelines laid down by the government for installing solar systems. Installation by a DISCOM-empanelled vendor is also important if you want to take advantage of government subsidy schemes such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
9. Warranty
It is crucial to check the duration and coverage of the warranty offered by the solar company. The warranty will cover the quality of the solar installation as well as the health of the individual components. A comprehensive warranty ensures that you don’t have to unnecessarily pay for repairing the solar system and that it lasts for a long time.
10. Cost
The cost of installing a solar system depends on the cost of the individual components and the complexity of the task. You must compare quotations offered by multiple vendors and the quality of components they would install at that cost.
To help you in this task, we at Das Energie onboarded solar vendors across India to help you find the best option at the best price. All our solar installers are DISCOM-empanelled and have been thoroughly verified before getting on board.
11. Financing Options
You can pay for the solar system in lumpsum or want to pay for it in instalments. Sometimes, an installer can offer additional discounts if you pay the total amount in a single payment.
If you cannot pay the whole amount at once, you can also repay it as a loan. But to do so, you must have good financing options in front of you.
Therefore, you have to discuss with your solar company about the different ways in which you can pay for the solar installation.
You can also check with the banks for the availability of loans. For example, the website of PM Surya Ghar has a section dedicated to financing options available under the scheme.
12. Timeframe
Enquire about the time the solar company will take to install the solar system. It is best to be on the same page regarding the timeframe and to avoid any confusion. Clarity regarding the installation timeline will help you plan your day accordingly.
13. After-Sales Service and O&M Support
Maintenance of the solar system is critical for its performance and longevity. It includes identifying and rectifying problems, dealing with problems for which you contact them, and cleaning the solar panels.
You can sign a solar annual maintenance contract (AMC) so that the solar company reviews the solar system periodically. To know in detail what a solar AMC should include, read our blog on the topic.
14. Tie-Ups with Equipment Suppliers
Ask the solar company about its partnership with equipment suppliers such as manufacturers of solar panels, solar inverters, transformers, wires, earthing materials, etc. If they have a good partnership, it will ensure that the cost is more affordable and the installation is seamless.
You can learn about India’s top solar brands by reading our blog on top solar companies in India.
15. Transparency
A solar company must be transparent about the details of the solar installation. You need to ask them about the quality of the solar equipment they will use. A solar company must be willing to share details such as the brand name and capacity of the solar panel and the solar inverter, the duration of installation, and the costs of the equipment used.
If you find that a company is not willing to share such information, or it is not responsive to your queries, you can treat it as a potential red flag.
16. Contract Terms
You have to sign a contract with the solar company to initiate the solar installation. The contract will contain the details of the solar installation. Make sure to go through the terms and conditions thoroughly before putting the pen on the dotted line. If you want any revisions in the contract, consult your solar company for the same.
17. Services Offered
Be clear about the services which you are signing up for. For example, will regular maintenance, repair, and cleaning of the solar system be part of the deal? How long will be the warranty period? Do a thorough check on the services that will be part of the contract.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Solar Installation Company
When you are looking for “How to compare solar companies?”, you have to ask these questions before making a decision:
- How many years of experience do you have?
- What does your warranty cover and how long is it?
- Are you empanelled with my DISCOM?
- Can you share some photos of solar systems you have installed?
- What are the different ways to make the payment?
- Will repair, maintenance and cleaning of the solar panels be covered by the contract?
- Will you offer a discount if I pay the full amount at once?
- From which companies do you source your equipment?
- Do you have your team of technicians or have contractual workers?
While figuring out how to choose a solar company, it is important to compare different solar vendors. The solar market is full of diverse options for products such as solar panels, solar inverters, and mounting structures. Every solar vendor has a catalogue of products it offers.
To get access to such a wide variety of options, you can contact Das Energie Private Limited. We have built an online marketplace where we have partnered with DISCOM-empanelled vendors. Based on your requirements and budget, we will suggest one of them and provide you with a solar quotation.
We thoroughly vet our vendors before onboarding them. We have solar experts on our platform. You can get answers to all your queries to them before choosing a vendor to install your solar system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the things to consider while selecting a solar company are its experience and track record, portfolio, reputation, cost of installation, and after-sales service.
The most important qualification for a solar company in India is to be DISCOM-empanelled. It ensures that a customer can take advantage of government schemes that the government runs to subsidise solar installations.
A solar company should have at least 5 years of experience in installing solar systems. Because it is best to assign an experienced installer for the best services.
Yes, several banks provide loans for installing solar systems. Additionally, you can ask the solar installer if they have a partnership with any financial institutions to provide solar loans.
You can find the names of DISCOM-empanelled vendors on PM Surya Ghar’s official website. There, you will also get their contact information.
