Before you get a solar quote, do this first.
Installers want to give you the proposal before you understand your house. That's not an accident — it's the whole strategy.
When you don't know your own numbers, they set the assumptions. Your usage, your offset, your payback timeline — all of it gets shaped by whoever gets to you first.
Here's what to know before you talk to anyone:
1. Your actual all-in $/kWh
Not the number on the rate card — the real amount you pay per kilowatt-hour when delivery, supply, and fees are all in. This is the number solar savings are measured against.
Check your bill2. What your bill can and can't be offset
Fixed charges, minimum bills, and demand fees don't disappear with solar. See what '100% offset' actually means for your utility bill before a salesperson frames it for you.
See bill reality3. Whether your panel is the real bottleneck
If your electrical panel is maxed out, solar installation gets complicated and more expensive fast. An installer who doesn't check this before quoting is cutting corners.
Check panel capacity4. What a normal $/W looks like in WNY
Price-per-watt is the only honest way to compare quotes. If you don't know the band, you can't tell whether $3.20/W is fair or $4.80/W includes a hidden dealer fee.
Run the $/W checkTakes about 20 minutes. Changes every conversation you have after.
Start with your bill