Buying · Faisalabad, Lahore, Punjab
How to Read and Compare Solar Quotations (BOQ Checklist)
Short answer
A good solar quotation names every main item by brand, exact model, quantity and specification, states who gives each warranty and for how long, and lists what is not included. If two quotations do not specify the same things, you are not comparing like with like, and the lower total may simply be leaving things out. Use the checklist below to put any offers, including ours, side by side.
Why the total price is the wrong place to start
Most solar quotations in Pakistan differ in three ways: the equipment, the work included, and what is left out. A quote that says "Tier 1 panels, 10 kW hybrid inverter, structure and wiring" can hide a different panel brand, a lighter structure, thinner cables, missing protection or no earthing. None of that shows up on day one. It shows up as faults, low output or a structure that needs repair.
A BOQ (bill of quantities) is the line-by-line list of everything in the system. A detailed BOQ protects you because it turns a promise into a document you can check on delivery.
Compare quotes line by line
Equipment
Brand, exact model, quantity, datasheet
Work
Structure, cabling, protection, earthing
After-sales
Warranties, service target, net billing file
The BOQ checklist, line by line
Go through each quotation with this list. Mark each line as "specified", "vague" or "missing".
| Item | What a clear quotation should state | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panels | Brand, exact model, wattage, quantity, panel type (for example N-type, bifacial) | "Tier 1", "A-grade" or "585 W" with no brand or model |
| Panel serial numbers | That serials can be checked against the manufacturer on delivery | Refusal to share serials before installation |
| Inverter | Brand, exact model, capacity in kW, single or three phase, on-grid or hybrid | "10 kW hybrid" with no brand or model |
| Battery (if any) | Brand, model, chemistry, nominal and usable kWh, quantity | Only Ah or "5 kW battery" with no usable energy |
| Structure | Type (L2, L3, elevated or custom), material, gauge or section, coating, anchoring method | "Standard structure" with no material or gauge |
| DC cables | Size (mm²), brand, type, approximate length | "Wiring included" |
| AC cables | Size, brand, from inverter to distribution board | Undersized cable for the inverter's output |
| Protection devices | DC and AC breakers, surge protection devices, isolators, enclosure, brand | Protection not listed at all |
| Earthing | Number of earth pits or the earthing method, and what is earthed | No mention of earthing |
| Connectors and accessories | MC4 connector brand, conduits, cable trays, labels | Mixed or unbranded connectors |
| Monitoring | Wi-Fi dongle or data logger included, app named | Monitoring "optional" with no price |
| Net billing paperwork | Whether application, documents and meter work are included, and who pays DISCO charges | Silence on paperwork |
| Warranties | Manufacturer's warranty per product, plus the installer's own structure and service warranties | Verbal warranty promises |
| Payment milestones | Advance amount and later stages, tied to delivery, installation and commissioning | Full payment before delivery with no schedule |
| Timeline | Expected schedule, subject to payment, stock and site | A fixed completion date with no conditions |
| Exclusions | Civil work, extra cable runs, roof repairs, transport, DISCO fees | No exclusions listed at all |
Panels: brand, model and serials
Ask for the exact model, not just a wattage. On delivery, check that the labels and serial numbers match the quotation, and verify them with the manufacturer where possible. Our guide on how to check genuine solar panels explains how.
Battery: usable kWh, not just "kW"
Batteries are often quoted by voltage and Ah, or a vague "kW". What matters for backup is usable energy in kWh after the recommended depth of discharge. If one quote gives only Ah and the other gives usable kWh, ask both to state usable kWh.
Structure, cables and protection
These are where low quotes usually save money. Compare structure type and material using our structures guide, cable sizes and brands using our solar cables page, and protection using our breakers and protection page and earthing and surge protection guide.
Net billing paperwork
New connections now come under net billing rules; see our net billing guide. Check whether the application, documents and meter process are included and who pays DISCO charges. We prepare, submit and follow up the full net billing application for our customers.
Warranties listed per item
Every main item carries its own manufacturer's warranty. The quotation should say that each product's manufacturer's warranty is listed on the quotation, and how claims are made. Separately, check the installer's own warranties. At Solar Works Pakistan, our structure warranty is 3 years, and our 1-year service warranty covers service in the first year, including breaker replacement, under the applicable project terms. After the first year, service is chargeable.
Red flags in a solar quotation
- No brand or model for panels, inverter or battery.
- "Same quality as" or "equivalent brand" without naming it.
- Battery quoted only in Ah, with no usable kWh.
- No line for protection devices or earthing.
- A price far below other detailed quotes with fewer lines in the BOQ.
- Savings or payback presented as a guarantee. Generation depends on weather, dust, shade and use; any estimate should show its assumptions.
- Pressure to pay in full immediately, or a large advance with no written schedule.
- No site survey before a firm price for anything beyond a very simple roof.
- Brand-relationship claims you cannot check. Ask how the equipment is sourced and how warranty claims will be handled in practice.
How to compare two quotations fairly
- Line them up. Put both BOQs in one table using the checklist above.
- Fill the gaps. Ask each company to specify anything vague or missing on the quotation.
- Match the scope. Make sure both include the same structure type, protection, earthing, monitoring and paperwork. Add the cost of anything one leaves out.
- Compare total cost, then value. Only then compare prices. Our solar installation cost guide explains what drives each part.
- Check the company. Ask who designs the system, who installs it, and who answers service calls after handover. Our guide to choosing a solar company lists the questions to ask.
What a Solar Works quotation includes
Our quotations follow a site survey and in-house design. Where the equipment has been selected, the BOQ identifies the brand, model, quantity, capacity or specification and warranty for each main item, along with relevant project specifications. We avoid vague lines once exact equipment has been chosen. Payment terms are set out for each project, generally on an advance basis with milestones that suit the project size. Read what happens during a free site survey, see typical solar system prices, or how we deliver projects on our solar installation services page.
Get today's price or a free site survey
Send us your bills and we will arrange a survey and a detailed quotation you can compare with any other.
- WhatsApp or call: 0336 666 4321
- Email: info@solarworks.pk
- Head office: Main Boulevard, Sargodha Rd, Block F FDA City, Faisalabad
- Lahore branch for central Punjab
We serve customers throughout Punjab, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily, and site surveys are normally free. You can also contact us online.
Frequently asked questions
What is a BOQ in a solar quotation?
A BOQ, or bill of quantities, lists every item in the system with its brand, model, quantity and specification. It lets you check that what is delivered and installed matches what you paid for.
Why are two solar quotations for the same kW so different?
Usually because they include different equipment or a different scope. Structure, cables, protection, earthing, monitoring and paperwork are often where quotes differ. Compare line by line before comparing totals.
What should a solar quotation say about warranties?
It should state that the manufacturer's warranty for each panel, inverter and battery is listed, and explain how claims are made. It should also state the installer's own structure and service warranties.
Should a quotation include panel serial numbers?
Serial numbers are usually confirmed on delivery rather than in the first quotation. The quotation should name the exact model, and you should be able to check serials against the manufacturer before installation.
Is the lowest solar quotation a bad idea?
Not always, but a low price with a vague BOQ is a warning sign. Ask the company to specify every line. If the price is still lower with the same scope and equipment, it may be genuine value.
How do I get a quotation I can compare fairly?
Ask every company for a site survey and a written BOQ that covers each line in the checklist above. With Solar Works, start by sending your bills on WhatsApp 0336 666 4321; site surveys are normally free.