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Get a Free QuoteWith the residential ITC (Section 25D) expired, every dollar counts. Read the full 20-question checklist below.
The 2026 checklist every homeowner needs. No federal tax credit means every dollar of system cost matters. These questions separate trustworthy installers from the ones who cost you thousands.
Through 2025, the 30% federal residential tax credit (Section 25D) cushioned every solar purchase. A $30,000 system effectively cost $21,000 after the credit. If you overpaid by $3,000, the tax credit absorbed most of that mistake.
That safety net is gone. Section 25D expired December 31, 2025. In 2026, if you buy solar with cash or a loan, you pay the full sticker price. Every dollar of overcharge, every hidden dealer fee, every unnecessary upsell comes directly out of your pocket.
Third-party ownership models (leases, PPAs) can still benefit from the commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) claimed by the financing company, but only for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026. This makes understanding what you are signing more important than ever.
$0
Federal tax credit for homeowner purchases in 2026
July 4, 2026
FEOC/Section 48E deadline for TPO projects
20-30%
Typical hidden dealer fees on "low rate" solar loans
Organized into 5 categories. Print this page or bookmark it to bring to your installer meetings.
Questions 1-4
Why it matters
State-specific experience matters. Permitting rules, utility interconnection processes, and local incentives vary dramatically. A company with 500 installs in Texas may struggle with Massachusetts permitting.
Good answer
"We've been installing in [your state] for 5+ years with [X hundred] completed projects. Here are references in your area."
Red flag
"We're expanding into your state" or inability to name local utility interconnection contacts. New-market installers often underestimate timelines and make costly permitting mistakes.
Why it matters
Licensing protects you legally. Bonding ensures funds exist to complete your project. Insurance covers property damage and worker injuries on your roof. Without all three, you assume enormous personal liability.
Good answer
"Yes, here are our license numbers. Our general liability is $2M, and we carry workers' comp. I can send you certificates of insurance today."
Red flag
Hesitation, "we use subcontractors who are licensed," or "we're in the process of getting licensed." If they subcontract, who is responsible when something goes wrong?
Why it matters
NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) is the gold standard for solar installation professionals. While not legally required, it demonstrates that the installer has passed rigorous technical exams and commits to ongoing education.
Good answer
"Our lead installers hold NABCEP PV Installation Professional certifications. Here are their certification numbers."
Red flag
"NABCEP isn't necessary" or "our guys have years of experience." Experience matters, but certification proves verified knowledge of current electrical codes and best practices.
Why it matters
The solar industry has a high failure rate. If your installer disappears, your 25-year workmanship warranty is worthless paper. You need to know there is a backup plan for service and warranty claims.
Good answer
"Our workmanship warranty is backed by a third-party warranty administrator. Equipment warranties are directly from the manufacturer and are not affected by our business status."
Red flag
"Don't worry, we're not going anywhere" without any concrete backup plan. Also watch for companies that bundle all warranties under their own name with no manufacturer backing.
Questions 5-8
Why it matters
Panel quality varies enormously. A generic "400W Tier 1 panel" could be anything from a reliable Silfab to a no-name import with questionable warranty backing. The specific model determines efficiency, degradation rate, and real-world performance.
Good answer
"We're specifying Silfab SIL-440-BG [or specific model] because of their 0.40% annual degradation rate, 25-year product warranty, and domestic manufacturing for FEOC compliance."
Red flag
"We use Tier 1 panels" without naming the brand. Or specifying a brand you cannot find reviews for. Also be cautious if they won't let you choose between panel tiers.
Why it matters
If you are considering a lease, PPA, or Propel-style third-party ownership, the financing company must use FEOC-compliant (Foreign Entity of Concern-free) equipment to claim the Section 48/48E commercial ITC. Non-compliant panels can disqualify the entire financing deal, and the July 4, 2026 deadline for beginning construction adds urgency.
Good answer
"Yes, these panels are manufactured domestically and meet FEOC requirements. Here is the compliance documentation. Our financing partner has verified this."
Red flag
"What's FEOC?" or "that doesn't apply to residential." It absolutely applies to any third-party-owned residential system. An installer who doesn't understand FEOC compliance in 2026 is behind the curve.
Why it matters
Microinverters (Enphase) optimize each panel independently and are better for shading or complex roofs. String inverters (SolarEdge) are cheaper but a single point of failure. The right choice depends on YOUR roof, not the installer's preferred vendor relationship.
Good answer
"Based on your roof layout and shading analysis, we recommend [specific type] because [specific reason related to your home]. Here is the shade report."
Red flag
"We always use [brand X]" without any reference to your specific roof conditions. One-size-fits-all inverter recommendations suggest the installer is optimizing for their margin, not your production.
Why it matters
Proper sizing requires your actual 12-month electricity usage, roof orientation, shading analysis, and local solar irradiance data. An oversized system wastes money; an undersized system leaves you paying the utility.
Good answer
"We pulled your 12-month usage from your utility account [or analyzed your bills]. With your south-facing roof at 25-degree pitch and minimal shading, a 9.2 kW system offsets 95% of your annual usage."
Red flag
"Based on your roof size, you need..." (sizing by roof area ignores your actual usage). Also watch for "we recommend our most popular 10 kW package" without reference to your specific consumption.
Questions 9-12
Why it matters
Price per watt is useful for comparison, but the total installed cost is what you actually pay. Some installers quote low $/W but add fees for electrical upgrades, critter guards, monitoring, or permit costs. Get the all-in number.
Good answer
"Your total installed cost is $27,360 for a 9.12 kW system. That's $3.00/W and includes panels, inverters, racking, electrical work, permitting, and utility interconnection. There are no additional fees."
Red flag
A quote that only shows $/W without a clear total. Or a total that is suspiciously low, then reveals "additional costs" for standard items like permits, electrical panel upgrades, or monitoring equipment.
Why it matters
Solar loan dealer fees are the industry's dirtiest secret. A "1.49% APR" loan often has 20-30% dealer fees baked into the loan principal. On a $30,000 system, that is $6,000-$9,000 in hidden fees you are financing at interest. Your $30,000 system becomes a $36,000-$39,000 loan.
Good answer
"This loan has a [X]% dealer fee, which adds $[amount] to your financed total. Your actual effective APR including the dealer fee is [Y]%. Here's the comparison with and without the fee."
Red flag
"There are no fees" on a loan below 4% APR. That is mathematically impossible in 2026. Also watch for "the rate buy-down covers it" or any answer that does not give you a specific dollar amount for the dealer fee.
Why it matters
Each financing type has radically different ownership, tax, and savings implications. With the residential ITC (Section 25D) expired, cash and loan purchases get no federal credit. Lease and PPA can still benefit from the commercial Section 48/48E ITC claimed by the system owner (the financing company), which may translate to lower monthly costs for you.
Good answer
"Here's a side-by-side comparison of your options. With cash/loan, you own the system but pay the full cost with no federal credit. With a PPA, [financing company] owns it and their 30% ITC savings pass through as lower rates to you."
Red flag
"You'll get the 30% tax credit on this loan." That is false. Section 25D expired December 31, 2025. If an installer tells you there is a residential ITC in 2026, walk away immediately.
Why it matters
A PPA escalator increases your payment annually, typically 1-3%. A 2.9% escalator on a $0.12/kWh PPA rate means you pay $0.16/kWh by year 10 and $0.21/kWh by year 20. If utility rates do not rise as fast as the escalator, you end up paying more for solar than for grid power.
Good answer
"This PPA has a 0% escalator. Your rate is locked at $0.11/kWh for the full 25-year term." Or, "The escalator is 1.5% annually. Here's a year-by-year table showing your PPA cost vs. projected utility rates."
Red flag
"The escalator is just 2.9%, and utility rates go up 4% per year." That 4% assumption is a guess. The escalator is a contractual certainty. Also watch for PPAs that do not clearly state the escalator rate in the contract summary.
Questions 13-16
Why it matters
A production guarantee is the most important number in your contract. It tells you exactly how much electricity the system will generate per year. Without it, the installer has no accountability if the system underperforms.
Good answer
"We guarantee 12,450 kWh in Year 1, documented in Section [X] of your contract. This is based on PVWatts modeling with your specific roof orientation and verified shading data."
Red flag
"We estimate about 12,000 kWh" without the word "guarantee." Estimates are not enforceable. Also beware guarantees buried in fine print that define "underperformance" as less than 80% of the estimate.
Why it matters
A guarantee without a remedy is meaningless. You need to know the specific compensation: do they pay you for lost kWh? Repair or replace equipment? Provide a credit on future service? The remedy must be in writing.
Good answer
"If production falls below 90% of the guarantee in any year, we will diagnose the issue within 15 business days and either repair the system or compensate you at your utility rate for the lost kWh."
Red flag
"We'll come out and take a look" with no specific timeline or compensation. Also watch for guarantees that only trigger after 2+ consecutive years of underperformance, giving them years to ignore the problem.
Why it matters
All solar panels degrade over time. Standard panels lose 0.4-0.55% of capacity per year. A 10 kW system producing 13,000 kWh in Year 1 will produce roughly 12,350 kWh in Year 10 and 11,375 kWh in Year 25. Your savings projections must account for this decline.
Good answer
"These panels have a 0.40% annual degradation rate, guaranteed to produce at least 87.4% of rated power at year 25. Here's your 25-year production schedule showing the decline curve."
Red flag
Savings projections that show flat or increasing production over 25 years. Physics says panels degrade. If the proposal does not account for degradation, the savings numbers are inflated.
Why it matters
Real-time monitoring lets you verify your system is working. Without it, a panel could fail or an inverter could trip and you would not know for weeks. You should have direct access to your own monitoring dashboard, not depend on the installer to check for you.
Good answer
"You'll have the Enphase Enlighten [or SolarEdge] app with real-time panel-level monitoring. Both you and our operations team receive alerts if production drops below expected levels."
Red flag
"We monitor the system for you." You should always have your own access. Also beware of monitoring that requires a paid subscription or that the installer can revoke if you switch service providers.
Questions 17-20
Why it matters
Permitting and interconnection are the biggest sources of delays. A good installer manages the entire process. If they expect you to pull permits or file interconnection paperwork, that is a red flag for either inexperience or cutting corners.
Good answer
"We handle everything: structural and electrical permits, HOA architectural review submissions, utility interconnection application, and final inspection scheduling. You don't have to call anyone."
Red flag
"We install it and you handle the utility paperwork." Or "permitting usually takes 2 weeks" in a state where it routinely takes 6-8 weeks. Unrealistic timelines suggest inexperience with local processes.
Why it matters
PTO is when your system is legally allowed to produce electricity and send power to the grid. The timeline from contract signing to PTO varies by state from 6 weeks to 6 months. An honest installer gives you a realistic range, not an optimistic best-case.
Good answer
"In [your state], our average timeline is [X] weeks from contract to PTO. Design takes 1-2 weeks, permitting takes [Y] weeks, installation is 1-2 days, and utility interconnection takes [Z] weeks. Here's a Gantt chart."
Red flag
"You'll be generating power in 2-3 weeks." Unless you are in an extremely fast-permitting jurisdiction, this is unrealistic. In most Northeast states, permitting alone takes 3-6 weeks.
Why it matters
The workmanship warranty covers the installation itself: roof penetrations, wiring, racking, and mounting. This is separate from equipment warranties. Roof leaks from poor flashing are the most common solar installation complaint, and they are only covered by the workmanship warranty.
Good answer
"Our workmanship warranty covers all installation-related issues for 25 years, including roof penetrations, wiring, racking, and any leak that results from our work. It's transferable if you sell your home."
Red flag
A workmanship warranty shorter than 10 years, or one that excludes roof leaks. Also watch for warranties that are voided if you have another contractor work on the roof.
Why it matters
Solar systems run for 25+ years. You will eventually need service: a failed microinverter, storm damage assessment, squirrel chewing through wiring. The installer's post-install service capability is as important as the installation itself.
Good answer
"We have a dedicated service team. You can call or submit a ticket online. For production issues, we respond within 48 hours. For emergency issues like exposed wiring, we respond same-day. Service calls within the warranty period are free."
Red flag
"Call the manufacturer directly for equipment issues." An installer that deflects post-install support to manufacturers is telling you they will not be there when you need them.
If you hear any of these statements during a sales pitch, proceed with extreme caution or walk away.
"You'll get the 30% federal tax credit"
Reality: The residential solar ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. There is no federal tax credit for homeowner-purchased solar in 2026. Any installer who tells you otherwise is either dishonest or dangerously uninformed. The commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) exists but only applies to third-party system owners like leasing companies, not to you as the homeowner.
"This price is only good today"
Reality: High-pressure sales tactics are the hallmark of predatory solar companies. A legitimate installer will give you time to review the proposal, compare quotes, and ask questions. Solar panel prices are set by supply chains, not by whether you sign today.
"We handle everything, don't worry about the details"
Reality: You are signing a contract worth $25,000-$40,000 for equipment that will be on your roof for 25+ years. The details are exactly what you should worry about. Transparency is a sign of confidence; vagueness is a sign of something to hide.
"Everyone in your neighborhood is going solar"
Reality: Social proof pressure is a classic sales technique. Even if neighbors have solar, their system, financing, and situation are different from yours. Make your decision based on your energy usage, your roof, and your finances, not peer pressure.
"Solar pays for itself in 3-4 years"
Reality: Without the federal ITC, typical payback periods range from 8-16 years depending on state, utility rates, and financing. A 3-4 year payback claim in 2026 is either using outdated math that includes the dead tax credit, or inflating utility rate escalation assumptions.
Bookmark this page or print it (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) to bring to your solar installer meetings. Having these 20 questions ready will set you apart from the average buyer and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Use Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to print, or Ctrl+D / Cmd+D to bookmark.
How to Compare Solar Quotes (8-Point Framework)
Side-by-side comparison methodology for evaluating multiple proposals.
Predatory Solar Contracts: 9 Red Flags
Identify the worst contract traps before you sign.
The Solar PPA Escalator Trap
How annual escalators can make your PPA more expensive than grid power.
Solar Panel Scams to Avoid in 2026
Common scams targeting homeowners in the post-ITC landscape.
Solar Installation Process Guide
Step-by-step walkthrough from contract to PTO.
FEOC Solar Deadline: What You Need to Know
Why the July 4, 2026 FEOC deadline affects your financing options.
Solar Panel Warranty Guide
Understanding product, performance, and workmanship warranties.
Ask "What is the total installed cost, and are there any additional fees?" In 2026, with no federal residential tax credit (Section 25D expired Dec 31, 2025), every dollar of system cost is out of your pocket or financed. Getting the all-in number upfront prevents surprises and lets you accurately compare quotes.
Get at least 3 quotes from different installers. Compare them on total cost (not just $/W), equipment quality, warranty terms, production guarantees, and financing transparency. The cheapest quote is rarely the best value.
NABCEP certification is not legally required in most states but is the industry gold standard. It proves the installer has passed rigorous technical exams covering system design, installation, and safety. Certified installers typically deliver higher-quality installations with fewer issues.
Dealer fees are charges the solar installer pays to the loan provider to "buy down" your interest rate. They are typically 15-30% of the system cost and are added to your loan principal. A $30,000 system with a 25% dealer fee becomes a $37,500 loan. Always ask for the effective APR including dealer fees.
No. The residential solar ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. If you purchase solar with cash or a loan, there is no federal tax credit. However, if you use a lease, PPA, or third-party ownership model, the financing company can claim the commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026, and pass savings to you through lower payments.
FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) compliance means the solar equipment is not manufactured by companies controlled by adversarial foreign governments. For third-party-owned systems (leases, PPAs), FEOC-compliant equipment is required for the financing company to claim the Section 48/48E ITC. Non-compliant equipment can disqualify the entire deal. The deadline for beginning construction is July 4, 2026.
Look for a workmanship warranty of at least 10 years, with 25 years being the gold standard. This warranty covers the installation itself: roof penetrations, wiring, racking, and mounting. It is separate from equipment warranties (panels and inverters). Make sure the workmanship warranty is transferable if you sell your home.
An estimate is a projection with no enforcement. A guarantee is a contractual commitment with a specific remedy if the system underperforms. Always insist on a written production guarantee that specifies the annual kWh output and what happens (repair, compensation, or credit) if the system falls short.
Get a transparent solar quote from NuWatt Energy. We answer all 20 questions before you even have to ask.
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