7 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Solar Quote

Key Takeaways:
Solar quotes for the same Malaysian house can swing by RM10,000 or more, and the gap rarely reflects a real bargain. Before signing, work through seven questions on credentials, equipment, contract, and after-sales. They take around 15 minutes per installer and separate the ones who will still be around in year 10 from the ones who won't.

The most reliable predictor of a bad solar experience in Malaysia isn't the cheapest installer, it's the gap between what the salesperson promises verbally and what the contract actually guarantees. With Solar ATAP replacing NEM on 1 January 2026,  dozens of new installers have entered the market. Most are legitimate. Some are not.

This guide gives you seven questions to separate them, before you sign anything.

Each question comes with what a good answer sounds like and red flags to walk away from.

Why Cheap Quotes Can Get Expensive

Quote differences of RM10,000 or more for a similar house is normal in Malaysia. The gap usually reflects real differences in installer credentials, brand tier, inverter quality, and after-sales support. A RM5,000 saving today can cost you RM20,000 in year four if your inverter fails and the company has shut down.

The seven questions below cover the four areas that matter: company, equipment, contract, and after-sales.

1. How Long Have You Been Installing Solar in Malaysia, and Can I See Recent Projects?

The Malaysian solar market is full of new entrants chasing the post-NEM rush. Track record matters because the panel and inverter warranties you're signing run 10 to 25 years. You want a company likely to be around in year 12 when something fails, with documented Malaysian residential installations you can actually verify.

Good answer: At least two to three years of Malaysian residential track record, with named recent projects, real installation photos, and willingness to connect you with past customers.

Red flag: A brand-new company with no local residential installations to show, only overseas references, or generic stock photos in place of real project work.

2. Who Holds the LEW Licence on This Job?

Every solar installation in Malaysia must be signed off by a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) under Suruhanjaya Tenaga rules, with at least a Chargeman B0 licence. Some cheap installers share one LEW signature across multiple jobs, which means the person legally liable for your installation never visits your home. An unlicensed installation can void your home insurance entirely.

Good answer: The installer gives you the LEW's name, registration number, and licence class without hesitation, all verifiable on the Suruhanjaya Tenaga website.

Red flag: Vague answers or refusal to name a specific person.

3. Do You Have Experience With My Roof Type in My State?

A Selangor installer with 50 jobs in Klang Valley understands tile-roof leak risk in a way a newer entrant doesn't. Roof material (concrete tile, metal deck, asbestos), pitch, and orientation all change the installation method, and so does local rainfall and humidity.

Good answer: Specific examples of similar installations in your state with the same roof type, plus a willingness to do a physical site survey before finalising the quote.

Red flag: Quotes issued from satellite imagery alone, no examples of your roof type, or unfamiliarity with your local council's building approval process.

4. Which Exact Panel and Inverter Brand and Model?

A generic "Tier-1 monocrystalline" description is not a specification. For panels, you want the brand (LONGi, Jinko, Trina, and JA Solar are the four mainstream Tier-1 BloombergNEF-classified brands in Malaysia), the model series, and wattage. For inverters, the brand (Huawei, Sungrow, SMA, Fronius, Goodwe), the model, and whether it's a string or hybrid unit.

Good answer: Exact model numbers in the contract, plus a clause that any substitution requires your written approval.

Red flag: Quotes that list "or equivalent" next to brand names, or resist naming a specific model.

5. What Are the Panel, Inverter, and Workmanship Warranties?

Solar warranties in Malaysia have three layers. The panel product warranty (typically 10–25 years) and performance warranty (25 years, guaranteeing at least 80% output by year 25) sit with the manufacturer. The inverter warranty runs five to ten years and also sits with the manufacturer. The workmanship warranty is only as good as the company that issued it.

Good answer: Each warranty named in writing with duration and exclusions with panel at 25-year performance and 12–25-year product, inverter at least 10 years, workmanship at five years minimum.

Red flag: "Everything has 25-year warranty" without elaborating on the three layers, or a workmanship warranty under two years.

6. What's the Payment Schedule, and Is Solar ATAP Included?

A reasonable payment schedule looks like this:

Anything above 50% upfront is a financial risk. Legitimate installers have supplier credit lines and don't run on customer cash flow.

The Solar ATAP application is mandatory paperwork that some installers quietly bill as an add-on. Without registration through the Energy Commission and SEDA Malaysia portals, you don't earn export credits, and the TNB bidirectional meter swap also needs to be coordinated post-commissioning.

Good answer: Milestones tied to documented stages, a written performance guarantee covering at least 80% of expected output in year one, and the full Solar ATAP application, commissioning, and TNB meter swap included in the quoted price.

Red flag: Demands for 100% payment before equipment arrives, the application listed as a separate line item, or an expectation that you'll file paperwork yourself.

7. What's Included in Maintenance, and What Happens If You Close Shop?

A solar system needs cleaning every six to 12 months and an annual electrical inspection. Skipping these can lead to panel output dropping by 10–20% within three years. Annual maintenance at RM500 to RM1,000 per year billed separately adds up to RM12,500 to RM25,000 over 25 years.

Panel and inverter warranties last 10–25 years. Most Malaysian solar installers haven't been in business that long. The manufacturer warranty can survive an installer closing, but the labour to remove a faulty unit, ship it for inspection, and reinstall the replacement falls on you unless someone else carries it. The workmanship warranty is worth nothing if the company that issued it ceases to exist.

Good answer: A maintenance package included for the full workmanship term, covering panel cleaning (twice yearly in dusty areas like Klang Valley), annual inspection, monitoring, and repair labour. Plus practical guidance on direct manufacturer claims, named third-party O&M options, and in the case of Rent-to-Own plans, a structure where the installer carries workmanship risk for the full plan term as part of the monthly fee.

Red flag: Maintenance as "optional add-on", one year of free maintenance followed by silence on years two through twenty five, or no fallback plan if the company is sold or wound up.

How to Score Your Quotes

Run every quote through the seven questions. Five or more clear, in-writing good answers means a strong candidate to sign with. Three or four good answers means ask for clarification before signing. Two or less, or any outright red flag means walk away regardless of price.

The whole exercise takes about 15 minutes per installer. That's cheap insurance for an RM18,000 to RM35,000 investment meant to last 25 years.

For a deeper look at what solar should cost for a landed home in Malaysia, read our complete guide to residential solar panel costs. For a no-capital alternative, see how Rent-to-Own compares to outright purchase.

The Cheapest Insurance in the Process

Solar is one of the few home upgrades that pays back over time, but only if the installation is done properly and the company is still around when you need them. An RM5,000 cheaper quote means nothing if the inverter fails in year four and the installer has closed down. These seven questions are the cheapest insurance you'll buy in the entire solar process.

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