Advice
Solar and battery quotes: look beyond the headline saving.
The assumptions to compare when considering solar panels, battery storage and the way your household uses electricity.
Start with the roof and the household.
Available roof space, orientation and shading affect a solar proposal. So does when you use electricity. Share recent usage information and discuss expected changes, such as an electric car, before comparing systems based only on panel count.
Separate generation from savings.
Electricity generated and money saved are not the same measure. A proposal should explain estimated generation, how much you expect to use at home, and the tariff assumptions. Export income should be identified separately rather than folded into an unexplained annual saving.
Compare storage as an option.
A battery changes when stored electricity can be used, but it adds cost and its usefulness depends on the household and tariff. Ask for comparable proposals with and without storage. Check the equipment specification and what the quoted capacity actually describes.
Ask what is included in the installation.
Review access arrangements, roof work, cable routes, equipment location, commissioning and handover. Ask the installer to identify required approvals and any exclusions. Do not assume that a standard solar or storage system includes power-cut backup without an explicit design specification.
Keep the comparison inspectable.
Ask for the assumptions behind any payback estimate and compare like-for-like scopes. A useful proposal makes it possible to see how changed consumption or tariffs affect the result. The Voltline estimator uses fictional installation prices and does not calculate guaranteed savings.
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