Buyer's guide
What a fair solar quote looks like
Two solar quotes for "the same" system can be tens of thousands of rand apart. Usually the difference is in what's left out. Here's what a complete Cape Town quote should list, so you can compare installers line by line.
Every line a quote should include
- 1
Inverter: brand, model and size (kW)
Make sure the quote says single-phase or three-phase, and that it matches your main breaker.
- 2
Batteries: brand, capacity (kWh) and quantity
Check that the battery is listed as compatible with the inverter.
- 3
Solar panels: brand, wattage and number of panels
Multiply the two to get the array size. Ask how the panels are split into strings.
- 4
Mounting for your roof type
Tile, IBR, corrugated, Klip-Lok, flat-roof tilt frames: each needs different brackets. Asbestos roofs shouldn't be drilled; ask for a re-sheeting quote instead.
- 5
Cabling with lengths
PV cable (red, black and earth), battery cable and AC cable from the inverter to your DB. The distances to the inverter change the price.
- 6
Solar DBs and protection
A PV combiner (PVDB) and an AC distribution board (ACDB) with the right breakers and surge protection.
- 7
Labour
Bigger systems with more panels and batteries take more days on site. The labour line should grow with the job.
- 8
SSEG registration with the City of Cape Town
Engineer sign-off and the application. Every grid-connected system must be registered; it's needed to get credit for power you export.
- 9
VAT shown clearly
Know whether each price is excluding or including VAT before you compare.
Warning signs
- One price with no breakdown of equipment
- No brand or model named for the inverter, batteries or panels
- No mention of SSEG registration or a certificate of compliance (COC)
- A battery size that doesn't match the inverter or your actual usage
- Prices that only hold if you sign today
How we quote
- Our system builder sizes your system from your City of Cape Town electricity bill, roof type and cable distances.
- Packages show a starting price, and your full itemised quote lists every line above.
- SSEG engineer sign-off and registration are included as their own line, so nothing turns up later.
- Commercial systems are quoted after a site visit and metering, so the system matches how you actually use power.