Questions to Ask a Solar Installer Before You Sign (2026 Checklist)

Updated October 2026 by Wolf River Electric, a solar company headquartered in Isanti, Minnesota.

This is our full checklist, grouped by the stage of the decision. If you are still choosing between a local installer and a national chain, start with how to choose a solar company.

Choosing an installer in your state? See our state guides: best solar companies in Minnesota, best solar companies in Wisconsin and best solar companies in Iowa.

What should you ask about the company?

• Are you licensed as an electrical contractor in my state? Solar is electrical work. Ask for the company’s license number and look it up yourself. In Minnesota, use the Department of Labor and Industry’s License and Registration Lookup.
• Will your own employees do the install, or a subcontractor? Some companies sell the job and hand it to a crew you never meet. If a subcontractor will do the work, ask for its name and license.
• Can I see your insurance? Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation for everyone who will work on your home, including any subcontractor.
• Is anyone on your team NABCEP certified? The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners runs the main national certification for solar installers and designers. Learn more at nabcep.org.
• How long have you been in business, and who honors the warranty if you close? Size alone is no guarantee. SunPower, once one of the best known national brands, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 5, 2024.
• Where can I read reviews from homes near me? Look for recent Google reviews, not only testimonials on the company’s own site.

What should you ask about the quote and the price?

• Did you size this from 12 months of my bills? A good quote shows your yearly use, the system’s expected yearly production in kWh and how much shade the estimate assumes.
• What is the price per watt before incentives? Divide the price by the system size in watts. A $29,300 quote for a 10 kW (10,000 watt) system is $2.93 per watt. As of October 2026, most Minnesota homes we install run about $2.70 to $3.15 per watt, and Wisconsin homes about $3.00 to $3.30. See our Minnesota solar cost guide and Wisconsin solar cost guide.
• What does the price include? Permits, the utility application, monitoring and any electrical panel upgrade should be listed. At Wolf River Electric, a panel upgrade is priced separately, at about $4,500 to $6,000 when a home needs one.
• Which incentives did you count? The 30% federal tax credit for homeowner-owned solar ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. If a salesperson still counts it on a cash or loan purchase, ask them to put it in writing. Leases and prepaid leases can still pass along the 30% commercial credit for a limited time. Read what changed with the solar tax credit.
• Which utility credit rules did you use? Credits depend on your utility. As of October 2026, Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards pays $0.05 per kWh for 10 years on 2026 enrollments in Minnesota, and Focus on Energy pays $600 per kW, up to $2,400, for Wisconsin homeowners who buy their system.

What should you ask about the equipment and your roof?

• Which panels, inverter and battery are you installing, and why? Get the brand and model of each, not just “premium panels.”
• Microinverters or a string inverter? Ask how each panel is monitored and what app you will use to see production.
• Is my roof ready for solar? If the roof needs replacing soon, do it first. If it needs work later, the panels have to come off and go back on. Our removal runs about $250 per panel and reinstalling about $300 to $350 per panel, as of October 2026, plus any new racking parts, permits and engineering. See solar panel removal and reinstall.
• Can I add a battery or a generator now or later? Backup power is easier to plan at the start. A single whole-home battery runs about $11,800 to $22,000 installed, the low end with a prepaid lease plus our 10% discount and the high end buying outright. See home battery backup.

What should you ask about warranties and service?

• Who covers what? Panel, inverter and battery warranties come from the manufacturer. Ask that they be registered in your name. The workmanship warranty comes from the installer. Ask what it covers, including roof leaks at the mounts, and for how long, in writing.
• Who do I call if production drops? Ask how monitoring alerts are handled and how fast a crew can come out.
• Where is your nearest office? A problem in year 10 needs someone close by.
• How long will it take? The install itself usually takes a few days. Permits and utility approval set the overall schedule, so ask for a written timeline.

What should you ask about financing and the contract?

• Is the price higher with a loan than with cash? Ask for the loan rate, the term and any dealer fee in writing. In March 2024, the Minnesota Attorney General sued four solar lending companies, alleging that hidden fees raised what borrowers paid by 15% to 30%.
• If it is a lease, what are the terms? Ask for the monthly payment, any yearly increase and what happens if you sell the house.
• How much is due at signing, and when is the rest due? Know the payment schedule before you sign.
• Can I meet you first? Never e-sign a contract before you meet the installer, in person or on a video call.
• Can I cancel? If you sign at home, the FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule usually gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel for a full refund on sales of $25 or more. The seller must tell you about this right and give you two copies of a cancellation form.

What are the red flags when hiring a solar installer?

• “Sign today or the price goes up tomorrow.” A good partner gives you time to compare.
• A promise of the 30% homeowner tax credit on a system you buy in 2026.
• “Free solar” or “no cost” claims.
• No license number, or a subcontractor the company will not name.
• A quote with no production estimate, or one not built from your bills.
• Pressure to e-sign before you have met anyone from the company.

The checklist at a glance

How does Wolf River Electric answer these questions?

• Licensed in all operating states, and a NABCEP-certified company.
• Our own crews do the installs, and we stay with you for service after the system is on.
• An employee-owned company headquartered at 100 Isanti Parkway NE in Isanti, Minnesota, with offices in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Marion, Iowa (visits by appointment only).
• Certified Tesla, FranklinWH, Enphase, REC and SPAN installer, and an authorized Generac dealer.
• Quotes built from 12 months of your bills, with permits and utility paperwork handled for you.
• Financing and a prepaid lease.

See how home solar installation works with us, or read our Google reviews.

Common questions about hiring a solar installer

Can I cancel a solar contract after I sign?

Often, yes, if you signed at home. The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel most home sales of $25 or more for a full refund. Read your contract for the cancellation terms before you sign.

What should I ask about solar financing?

Ask for the loan rate, the term, any dealer fee and whether the cash price is lower. For a lease, ask for the monthly payment, any yearly increase and what happens when you sell.

How many solar quotes should I get?

Three is a good number. Ask each company to use the same 12 months of bills, then compare price per watt, what is included and the warranties.

Ready to ask us? Get a free quote built from your own bills.

Sources: U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Cooling-Off Rule; Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, License and Registration Lookup; Minnesota Attorney General lawsuit against solar lenders (March 2024); EnergySage on the SunPower bankruptcy; Xcel Energy Solar*Rewards and Focus on Energy (October 2026); Wolf River Electric price list and contract data (October 2026).