If a solar salesperson has already reached out, you might be thinking: “I don’t want to be a sucker for a sales pitch. I want the best option for my final out-the-door cost and realistic long-term options.”
That’s exactly why this overview exists. It helps you compare quotes, understand what drives pricing, spot red flags before you sign, and choose a solar installation company you can trust for design, install, activation, and long-term support.
Most people want a single number, but solar pricing is almost always project-specific. A quote that’s “accurate enough to trust” depends on real details like your energy usage, roof or site conditions, shading, electrical work, permitting requirements, and whether you’re adding a battery or EV charging.
Here’s the simplest way to think about solar cost without getting misled:
So instead of trying to find one universal price online, focus on getting a quote that clearly spells out what’s included, what could change, and who owns each step through activation. That’s how you compare prices fairly.
A simple way to check whether a quote is in a realistic ballpark is to ask the installer for:
Then use the checklist below to confirm you’re comparing full scope, not partial bids.
This checklist helps you compare bids based on the same scope (apples-to-apples), so the price you choose is much closer to the price you actually pay.
Ask Every Solar Installer to Confirm These Items in Writing:
If an installer won’t clearly answer these, that’s not you being “too picky.” That’s you protecting yourself. A quality solar installation company will be happy to provide this in writing.
If you want to understand your quote quickly, here are the most common factors that change the final number:
1) System Size and Production Goals
A system designed to offset a larger portion of your bill costs more, but it can also deliver more long-term savings.
2) Roof or Site Complexity
Multiple roof planes, steep pitch, shading, snow considerations, or structural concerns can change labor and materials.
3) Electrical Upgrades
Older main panels, required upgrades, long conduit runs, or trenching can raise the scope. A good quote identifies these early.
4) Equipment Choices
Panels, inverter type, monitoring, and optional add-ons (battery storage, EV charger) can change the total. If storage is part of your plan, make sure it’s clearly itemized so you can compare the full scope, not just the panel portion of the bid.
5) Permitting and Utility Coordination
Permitting, inspections, and interconnection paperwork are real “soft costs” that vary by area and project type. If a bid seems unusually low, it may be leaving these out, or planning to add them later.
Bottom line…solar quotes don’t always include the same things.
Two quotes can look like the same solar project, but they’re often not quoting the same scope.
Solar pricing isn’t like buying a product off a shelf. It’s more like pricing a construction project with design, permitting, scheduling, and utility coordination.
Gardner Energy focuses on designing systems carefully to maximize output and offset your power bill, which is part of why a real quote needs real project details.
If you want pricing that actually matches your site instead of a generic range, start here.
One of the biggest issues in solar is the fly-by-night bid. Some companies quote an attractive price upfront, then add “extras” later, like electrical upgrades, permitting fees, roof work, monitoring, or changes once installation begins. The result is a final out-the-door bill that ends up higher than expected, plus a project that feels stressful and unclear.
At Gardner Energy, we hate seeing people treated that way. Solar should feel like a smart upgrade, not a financial surprise. Get the full picture in writing before you decide, including what’s included, what could change, and how activation will be handled.
Being in business for over 20 years says a lot about how a company treats customers and their projects. Gardner Energy has been completing design-build renewable energy projects for over two decades and has been a NABCEP Certified Solar contractor since 2005.
Price matters, but the best deal is usually the project that:
This is where you want proof of process, not just promises, especially if your project requires documentation, coordination with multiple stakeholders, or operational scheduling.
1) Organized From Day One, Not Pressure-Driven
Gardner’s Get Started page routes you to their Pre-Construction team and helps you define scope (residential, commercial, industrial, governmental) plus what you need (solar, batteries, EV charger, service). That structure helps eliminate confusion early, which often prevents problems later.
2) Communication and Activation Are Treated as Part of the Job
A solar project is not “done” when panels are on the roof. It’s done when your system is activated and producing the correct power.
Here’s the kind of experience you should expect:
“The staff at Gardner did an excellent job designing, installing and activating our solar system. They kept us informed of the progress and completed the installation in a timely manner. After the net meter was installed Derek made sure that the system was producing the energy as it was supposed to.”
— Mark R.
That is what “done right” looks like: informed throughout, completed on time, and verified once the meter is in.
3) Depth Across Project Types
Many installers focus only on one category. Gardner Energy supports residential solar, commercial solar, and utility-scale solar, which is a strong signal of engineering depth and real project management capability.
If you want to see some projects, check out their portfolio.
A lot of people look into solar because they want to get the incentives, and they want more control over rising utility costs.
Here’s the catch: incentive rules and deadlines can change, and the details can depend on whether your project is residential or commercial. It is also normal for IRS guidance to evolve as laws change.
Best approach:
Is the Cheapest Solar Quote Usually the Best Deal?
Often, no. If a quote is missing electrical work, permitting, monitoring, or activation details, the final out-the-door cost can rise later.
What Should Be Included in an Out-the-Door Solar Quote?
At minimum: equipment, installation labor, permitting and inspections, interconnection support, monitoring, and clarity on any electrical or roof work.
Should I Add a Battery to My Solar Installation?
It depends on your goals. Batteries can add resilience and backup, but they increase upfront cost. Comparing solar-plus-storage bids requires even clearer scope and equipment details.
If you’re researching because you don’t want to rush into making a bad decision, you’re already making the right move. The goal is not to find the company with the slickest pitch. The goal is to choose the company that gives you the full picture, so your “solar savings” story doesn’t turn into a project you regret.
If you’re ready to get real numbers for your property or facility, Gardner Energy makes it simple to start. Share a few details through our Get Started form, or reach out directly at 801-689-2618 or estimating@gardner-energy.com and the team will take care of you.
Because you deserve solar done right.
Take the first step toward energy savings and sustainability today.
We partnered with Kay’s Creek Elementary School to build a sustainable learning environment for their students. We installed a 275 kW solar system utilizing a ballast roof mount. This complete design-build project leverages existing rooftop space to generate clean energy. The 275 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 16,589 trees. This project shows our commitment to providing sustainable solutions for educational institutions.
We partnered with Weber State University to install a new 950 kW parking lot solar canopy on their campus in Ogden, UT. This complete design-build project utilizes existing space to generate clean energy minimizing the university’s carbon footprint. The 950 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 57,308 trees, demonstrating a significant contribution to environmental sustainability.
We partnered with Wasatch Commons to install 96 solar panels on an existing carport. This solar system generates 33 kW of renewable energy and is tied into Enphase microinverters. This project was the result of Wasatch Common’s commitment to environmental accountability, and we look forward to future opportunities to help them reach their renewable energy goals.
We partnered with Wadman Corporation to install a grid tied 171 kW solar array at their Ogden, Utah headquarters. This project utilized the space primarily on their unattached garages to create an annual power production of 239,999 kWh. This was such a smooth project with Wadman Corporation that we have worked with them on several solar projects since.
We partnered with Weber State University to install a new 950 kW parking lot solar canopy on their campus in Ogden, UT. This complete design-build project utilizes existing space to generate clean energy minimizing the university’s carbon footprint. The 950 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 57,308 trees, demonstrating a significant contribution to environmental sustainability.
Our team installed a new 140 kW for Davis County School district at Bountiful Elementary School in Bountiful, Utah. This ballast roof system utilizes open space on their roof to generate clean energy. It is estimated that because Davis County School District has invested in this 140 kW system, they are offsetting their carbon emissions equivalent to planting 8,446 trees.
We partnered with Salt Lake Community College to design and build them a 143 kW solar system on a parking canopy. This innovative solution leverages existing space to generate clean energy, minimizing the college’s carbon footprint and providing shade and protection for vehicles. This project is estimated to offset emissions equivalent to planting 8,631 trees, contributing greatly to environmental sustainability.
We partnered with Davis County School District to install a new 40 kW ballast roof system at Sunburst Elementary School in Layton, Utah. This project utilizes space on the roof of the elementary school to generate clean energy for the school. In fact, this 40 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 2,413 trees. Sunburst Elementary is contributing significantly to both the knowledge and the environmental sustainability for it’s students.
