The installer you choose matters more than the panel brand. A good installer on average panels beats a careless one on premium panels every time, because most solar problems are installation problems. Here are the questions worth asking before you sign anything, and what a good answer sounds like.
Are you registered on the PM Surya Ghar national portal? This is not optional. If they are not registered, you receive no subsidy at all regardless of installation quality. Ask them to show you the registration rather than accepting a verbal yes.
What is the exact make and model of the panels, and are they DCR-compliant? Domestic content requirements are mandatory for the subsidy. Get make, model and DCR status written into the quotation. A vague answer here is the single biggest warning sign in the entire conversation.
What inverter are you using, and what is its warranty? The inverter is the component most likely to fail or need replacement, typically around year ten to twelve. Panel warranties run twenty-five years; inverter warranties commonly run five to ten. Know which you are getting.
Is the DISCOM feasibility application included in your scope? It must happen before installation. Some quotations quietly exclude it.
Is net metering liaison included? This is the other commonly excluded item, and it is the step where most of the waiting happens. Get it in writing.
What structure are you using, and will it need elevated mounting? If your roof has a water tank or parapet casting shade, elevated mounting adds real cost. Better to know now than as a change order later.
Have you done a physical site survey? Any installer quoting a firm price without visiting your roof is guessing. A real survey checks shading through the day, roof structure, cable routing and meter location.
What generation should I expect, monthly, across a year? A good installer will give you a range and acknowledge seasonal variation. Anyone quoting a single flat number all year round either does not know or is overselling.
What is your workmanship warranty, separate from the manufacturer warranties? Ask what it covers and for how long.
Do you offer an annual maintenance contract, and what does it include? Compare this across quotes, since maintenance costs over twenty-five years are not trivial.
Who handles the subsidy claim paperwork, and when do I pay? Understand that the subsidy arrives after commissioning, typically thirty to forty-five days later, not upfront. Clarify how that affects your payment schedule.
Can I speak to two customers you installed for in my area? Recent, local, and ideally with systems at least a year old so they can speak to actual generation rather than first impressions.
Two red flags that should end a conversation. Pressure to sign today for a price that expires. And any promise of a subsidy amount they cannot document, particularly state top-ups in Haryana where the position is genuinely unclear.
One practical suggestion. Collect three quotes, and do not simply pick the cheapest. Lay them side by side on panel model, inverter model, warranty terms, and what is included in scope. Two quotes differing by Rs 40,000 are often quoting genuinely different products, and the cheaper one sometimes excludes the paperwork that makes your subsidy possible.
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Last updated 27 July 2026 · Reviewed by the RenSetu team