Solar Contract Checklist: What Your Agreement Should Say

This is general guidance for homeowners and businesses in Punjab, not legal advice. For large commercial or industrial contracts, have a lawyer review the agreement.

Quotation, BOQ and contract: how they fit together

• The quotation is the offer: price, system size and validity.
• The BOQ (bill of quantities) lists every item, brand, model and quantity. Our guide to comparing solar quotations explains how to check it line by line.
• The contract (or signed order, or terms and conditions) sets out the obligations around that equipment: payment, timing, acceptance, warranties and what happens if something goes wrong.

For a home system, the "contract" may be a signed quotation with written terms attached. For a factory, it is usually a fuller agreement. Either way, the BOQ should be attached and referred to, so the equipment list cannot quietly change.

Diagram

What a solar contract should say

Scope

Every item by brand and model

Payment

Advance and milestones

Warranty

Manufacturer's and our own

The 12-point solar contract checklist

The sections below explain the clauses that cause the most trouble.

Scope, exclusions and your responsibilities

Most disputes start with "I thought that was included". The scope should list what the company does, and the exclusions should list what it does not. Common exclusions are roof repairs, civil work, long extra cable runs, DISCO charges and transport to distant sites. Our guide to what a lower solar quote usually leaves out shows the items most often moved to "later".

Your own responsibilities should be written too: giving access to the roof and inverter location, a safe place to store equipment, and any permissions from your housing society or landlord.

Exact models, and the substitution clause

The agreement should name the exact panel, inverter and battery models, not "Tier 1 panels" or "10 kW hybrid inverter". Because stock in Pakistan moves quickly, a model can become unavailable between signing and delivery. A fair substitution clause says:

• a substitute is offered in writing before delivery;
• it is of equal or better specification;
• any price difference is stated; and
• you can accept or refuse it.

At delivery, check labels and serial numbers against the BOQ. Our guide on how to check genuine solar panels explains how to verify serials.

Price, validity and taxes

Solar prices follow the dollar rate, import costs, taxes and stock, so most quotations are valid for only a short time. The contract should say:

• the price validity date;
• whether the price is fixed once the advance is paid and equipment is reserved;
• whether sales tax and other taxes are included. Businesses that need a sales tax invoice should ask for it here; see our guide to sales tax and duties on solar panels.

Our guide to why solar prices change explains the drivers. Quotes are valid for 3 days, and the price is locked once the 50% advance is received.

Payment milestones

Solar projects in Pakistan generally run on advance payment, because equipment must be bought before installation. What protects you is that each later payment is tied to a clear event. A typical structure looks like this, though the stages and amounts vary by project:

1. Advance on signing, to procure equipment.
2. A further payment on delivery of equipment to site.
3. A payment on completion of installation.
4. The balance on testing and commissioning.

Get a written receipt for every payment. Be cautious of a demand for full payment before any delivery with no written schedule.

Timeline: realistic and conditional

A contract should give an expected schedule, not a promise that ignores reality. Delivery and installation depend on timely payments, equipment availability and site readiness. The agreement should say what happens if either side causes a delay, for example if the roof is not ready or a payment is late. Be wary of a fixed completion date with no conditions at all.

Testing, commissioning and acceptance

"Finished" should mean tested and commissioned, not just panels on the roof. The contract should list the tests or refer to a commissioning checklist, and give you a written record of the results. Our guide on how we test and commission a solar system shows what those checks cover. Agree how small snags are listed and fixed after handover, so the final payment is not stuck over minor items.

Handover documents

Ask the contract to list the document pack you receive. A complete handover usually includes:

• the final BOQ with panel, inverter and battery serial numbers;
• a single-line diagram and panel layout;
• datasheets and user manuals for the main equipment;
• manufacturer's warranty documents for each product, in writing;
• the commissioning record;
• monitoring app login details, in your name;
• service contact details and the complaint process.

Keep these together. Our first 30 days with a new solar system guide explains what to check after handover.

Warranties and service

Two kinds of warranty belong in the agreement:

• Manufacturer warranties for panels, inverters and batteries. The contract should say each product's warranty is provided in writing, and how claims are made. Do not accept a vague "lifetime warranty" promise.
• The installer's own warranties on workmanship, structure and service, with their periods, what they cover and what is excluded.

The contract should also say how to register a complaint and what response to expect. Our solar warranty guide explains product and performance warranties, and our guide to solar system insurance covers storm, theft and fire risks that warranties usually exclude.

Net billing responsibilities

If you plan to export to the grid, write down who does what:

• who prepares and submits the application and documents to your DISCO;
• who pays DISCO charges, meter costs and any NEPRA fee;
• what happens to the project and payments if approval takes longer than expected.

Under the current rules, systems of 25 kW or below need DISCO approval, while larger systems pay a NEPRA fee of Rs 1,000 per kW. Approval is the DISCO's decision, so no installer can honestly guarantee it or its timing. Our net metering and net billing guide covers eligibility and limits.

Solar Works Pakistan prepares and submits the net billing application and documents to your DISCO as part of the project.

Changes, cancellation and disputes

• Changes. Any change after signing, such as an extra panel row, a battery or a longer cable run, should be agreed in writing with its price before the work is done.
• Cancellation. The contract should say what happens to the advance if you cancel after equipment is ordered, and what you are owed if the company cannot deliver.
• Disputes. A simple clause on how disagreements are raised and settled, and which law applies, saves time later. For large projects, take legal advice on this clause.

Red flags in a solar agreement

• Blank spaces, or terms that say "as discussed".
• No brand or model, or "equivalent" with no consent rule.
• Savings, payback or generation written as a guarantee.
• Warranty periods promised verbally but missing on paper.
• Full payment demanded before delivery.
• A fixed completion date with no conditions, or no timeline at all.
• No mention of earthing, protection or commissioning.

How Solar Works Pakistan sets out its agreements

Our process starts with a site survey, which is normally free, and in-house engineering design. The quotation and BOQ name the brand, model, quantity, specification and warranty of each main item once equipment is selected. Projects generally run on an advance-payment basis, with milestones set to suit the project's size, procurement and installation stages. Small projects can normally be completed in about a week, subject to payment, stock and site readiness; larger projects follow a project-specific schedule.

We complete the tests needed for safe commissioning before handover, then train you on the system, inverter and monitoring app and hand over the project documentation. Manufacturer warranties are. Our own warranties are a 3-year structure warranty and a 1-year service warranty under the applicable project terms, and we target sending service personnel within 48 hours of a registered complaint. After the first year, service is chargeable, and a maintenance contract is available if you want one. See how after-sales service works, what happens during a site survey, our solar installation services and, for factories, industrial and commercial solar.

Get today's price or a free site survey

Send us your bills and any quotation or draft agreement you want to compare.

• WhatsApp or call: 0336 666 4321
• Email: info@solarworks.pk
• Head office: Main Boulevard, Sargodha Rd, Block F FDA City, Faisalabad
• Lahore branch: 2nd Floor, Jeff Heights, Gulberg, Lahore
• Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily

We serve all of Punjab. You can also contact us online.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a written contract for a home solar system?

Yes. Even for a home system, a signed quotation with written terms and the BOQ attached protects both sides. Verbal promises about equipment, timelines or warranties are hard to enforce later.

What should a solar installation agreement include?

Scope and exclusions, the exact equipment list, price basis and validity, payment milestones, a conditional timeline, testing and acceptance, the handover document pack, warranties, net billing responsibilities, and rules for changes and cancellation.

How should solar payments be split?

Usually an advance on signing to procure equipment, then payments tied to delivery, installation and commissioning. The exact split varies by project; what matters is that each payment is linked to a clear event and receipted.

Can the installer change the panel model after I sign?

Only if the contract allows it. A fair clause requires your written consent, equal or better specification and a stated price difference.

Should a solar contract guarantee savings?

No. Savings depend on weather, dust, shading, your usage and the tariff. An honest agreement may include an estimate with its assumptions, but not a guarantee.

Who is responsible for net billing approval?

Approval is the DISCO's decision. The contract should say who prepares and submits the documents, who pays the fees and what happens if approval is delayed.

Is this checklist legal advice?

No. It is a practical guide to what a solar agreement usually covers. For large or complex contracts, ask a lawyer to review the terms.

Sources

1. Net billing approval threshold and NEPRA fee are carried over from our net metering and net billing guide, which lists its own sources, including the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations, 2026, SRO 251(I)/2026: https://ke.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/8.-NEPRA-Prosumer-Regulations-SRO-251I2026-09-02-26.pdf