Questions to ask about solar and backup power
Clarify critical loads, backup expectations and electrical scope before comparing equipment.
Define resilience goals
- List circuits and equipment that truly need backup.
- Decide whether the goal is outage resilience, energy savings or both.
- Gather recent utility usage and existing equipment information.
Compare designs
- Ask how long critical loads are expected to run under stated assumptions.
- Confirm panel, inverter, battery and electrical-upgrade scope.
- Review warranties, monitoring and service responsibilities.
This guide is a planning checklist, not a substitute for professional inspection, code requirements or emergency services. Request help finding a local provider →