Solar100 Malaysia Solar Proposal Risk Guide

What Are the Warning Signs of a High-Risk Solar Proposal?

Updated: July 2026

A high-risk solar proposal is not identified by price alone. The greatest concerns usually appear when the contracting company is unclear, technical responsibilities are unidentified, equipment and system capacity are vague, savings are presented as guaranteed, major costs are excluded, payment is heavily front-loaded or warranties are described without a practical Malaysian claim and replacement process.

Quick Answer Warning signs include an unverifiable company identity, payment to an unrelated account, no exact panel or inverter models, no distinction between panel DC capacity and inverter AC capacity, no roof or electrical inspection, guaranteed approval or savings, unexplained technical-study fees, unclear Solar ATAP responsibilities, large upfront payments, unrestricted equipment substitutions, missing workmanship or roof-leak coverage, no warranty-labour terms and no named Malaysian after-sales contact. One warning sign may require clarification; several combined warning signs may indicate a proposal should not be accepted without substantial revision and independent verification.

✓ SEDA-Related Standards Review

✓ SSM Registration Information Review

✓ Policy & Application Process Review

✓ After-Sales Support Assessment

✓ Consultation & Quotation Comparison

What Company Identity Warning Signs Should You Check?

The company receiving the contract and payment should be identifiable and connected to the quotation, invoice, project team and warranty obligations.

No full legal company name
No SSM registration number
Only a trading name is shown
No registered business address
No official company email address
No named project representative
No named after-sales representative
Quotation and invoice use different entities
Payment requested to an unrelated company
Payment requested to a personal account
Company refuses to issue an official receipt
Registration claims cannot be independently checked
Company has recently changed identity without explanation
Customer is pressured to pay before verification

Quotation Entity

The legal entity issuing the quotation should be clearly stated and should normally be the party responsible for the contract.

Invoice Entity

The invoice should identify the same project and explain any lawful difference between the seller, contractor and payment recipient.

Payment Recipient

The bank-account holder should be consistent with the contracting arrangement. An unexplained third-party recipient increases recovery and accountability risks.

Warranty Provider

The proposal should identify which company remains responsible for workmanship and warranty coordination after installation.

Identity Mismatch Is a Major Warning Sign: Do not assume that a salesperson, social-media page, installer team, quotation issuer and payment recipient are the same legal entity.

What Technical Responsibility Warning Signs Should You Check?

Solar installation involves design, electrical work, testing, commissioning and documentation. A proposal becomes higher risk when no qualified party is identified for these responsibilities.

No responsible RPVSP identified, where applicable
No registered electrical contractor identified
No competent person identified
No engineer or consultant identified when required
No party responsible for system design
No party responsible for electrical calculations
No party responsible for testing
No party responsible for commissioning
No party responsible for certification
Technical questions are answered only by sales staff
Installer refuses to provide licence or registration details
Subcontractors are used without accountability
The main contractor denies responsibility for subcontracted work
No correction process for technical defects

Technical Role	Low-Risk Proposal	High-Risk Warning Sign
System Designer	Named party prepares and supports the design	No one accepts responsibility for capacity or layout
Electrical Contractor	Registered contractor is identified	Electrical work is assigned to an unnamed installation crew
Competent Person	Appropriate responsible person is identified	No qualified person is named for supervision or certification
Testing Party	Tests, records and signatories are defined	Proposal only states that the system will be switched on

Sales Confidence Is Not Technical Accountability: A persuasive salesperson does not replace a documented designer, registered electrical contractor, competent person or responsible commissioning party.

What Site Assessment Warning Signs Suggest Higher Risk?

A detailed proposal should normally be based on relevant property and electricity information. A final fixed proposal prepared without meaningful assessment may rely on assumptions that later become variations or exclusions.

No recent electricity bills reviewed
No electricity tariff checked
No single-phase or three-phase confirmation
No Maximum Demand review where relevant
No physical or suitable remote roof assessment
No roof material identified
No roof-age or condition discussion
No shading assessment
No roof orientation review
No usable roof-area calculation
No electrical switchboard inspection
No meter-board assessment
No cable-route review
No inverter-location assessment
No installation-access assessment
No structural question for a questionable roof

Electricity Review

Confirm the tariff, consumption pattern, supply phase, demand and account information used for the recommendation.

Roof Review

Record material, condition, age, dimensions, orientation, drainage, shading and available installation area.

Electrical Review

Assess the switchboard, meter position, cable route, connection point, earthing and possible upgrade requirements.

Access Review

Identify scaffolding, lifting equipment, restricted areas, working hours, safety requirements and delivery access.

Remote Proposals Are Not Automatically High Risk: A preliminary remote proposal may be reasonable, but it should clearly state its assumptions and remain subject to proper site and technical verification before final commitment.

What System Design Warning Signs Should You Look For?

No total panel DC capacity
No total inverter AC capacity
DC and AC capacities are treated as the same figure
No panel layout
No string arrangement
No MPPT allocation
No single-line diagram
No connection-point information
No cable-route information
No shading-loss consideration
No clipping discussion
No export-control design where required
No battery or backup architecture despite backup claims
Future expansion is promised without technical limits
System size is based only on available roof space
System size is based only on reducing the bill to zero

Design Area	What Should Be Clear?	Warning Sign
System Capacity	Panel DC and inverter AC capacities are stated separately	Only one unexplained kW figure is shown
Roof Layout	Panel positions, orientations and exclusions are shown	Maximum panel count is promised without a layout
Electrical Design	Strings, MPPTs, protection and connection point are defined	No electrical design document is included or promised
Battery Backup	Battery, transfer equipment and protected loads are defined	“Hybrid inverter” is presented as automatic whole-house backup

A Large System Is Not Automatically a Better System: Oversizing without considering electricity use, programme conditions, export treatment, roof constraints and inverter design may weaken the financial and technical outcome.

What Equipment Warning Signs Should You Check?

Equipment descriptions should allow the customer to understand exactly what will be supplied and what warranty applies.

Only the panel brand is stated
Only the inverter brand is stated
No exact model numbers
No quantity of panels
No wattage per panel
No inverter quantity or AC capacity
No equipment datasheets
No product-warranty documents
No performance-warranty terms
No mounting-material description
No protection-equipment description
No monitoring-equipment description
“Equivalent model” substitutions are unrestricted
Used or refurbished equipment is not addressed
Product origin is described inaccurately
Equipment availability is promised without reservation terms

Exact Model The proposal should identify the manufacturer, model, quantity, capacity and applicable warranty.

Substitution Control Any alternative should meet agreed technical and warranty requirements and require prior written customer approval.

Local Support The proposal should identify the Malaysian warranty or distribution channel where relevant.

Availability The contract should explain what happens if the specified model is unavailable before installation.

Brand Reputation Does Not Define the Supplied Product: Different models from the same manufacturer can have different capacity, efficiency, functions, warranty periods and service arrangements.

Which Generation and Savings Claims Are Warning Signs?

Guaranteed elimination of the electricity bill
Guaranteed fixed monthly savings
Guaranteed approval or export income
No annual-generation figure in kWh
No calculation assumptions
No self-consumption assumption
No export assumption
No shading or system-loss allowance
No annual degradation allowance
No equipment-downtime allowance
No maintenance-cost assumption
No inverter-replacement assumption
Very short payback without supporting calculations
Future tariff increases are presented as certain
Financing costs are excluded from payback
Projected savings are presented as contractual guarantees

Claim	Reasonable Presentation	High-Risk Presentation
Annual Generation	Estimate supported by stated assumptions and losses	One large number with no modelling basis
Electricity Savings	Estimate based on tariff, usage and self-consumption	Guaranteed bill reduction regardless of future use
Payback Period	Calculation includes cost and stated assumptions	Very short payback presented without a calculation schedule
Export Value	Based on the applicable arrangement and stated assumptions	Exported electricity is presented as guaranteed high income

Forecasts Should Be Transparent: Actual results can change with weather, electricity consumption, tariffs, export treatment, degradation, downtime, system faults and maintenance.

What Application and Approval Warning Signs Should You Check?

The proposal should distinguish the provider’s preparation and coordination responsibilities from decisions made by utilities, regulators or other approving parties.

Approval is described as guaranteed
No applicable programme is identified
No application responsibility is assigned
No customer-document requirements are listed
No technical-document requirements are listed
No technical-assessment requirement is discussed
Study fees are hidden or described vaguely
No response plan for application queries
No process if capacity is reduced
No process if the application is rejected
No responsibility for document corrections
No registered electrical-contractor documents mentioned
No competent-person documents mentioned
No testing or commissioning records mentioned
No Form G or Form H responsibility stated where applicable
Customer is asked to sign incomplete forms

Identify the Arrangement

Confirm which programme, self-consumption or grid arrangement is being proposed.

Identify Required Studies

Confirm whether a technical assessment or other study may apply and who pays for it.

Assign Document Responsibility

Separate customer documents from the provider’s technical, contractor, testing and certification documents.

Define Unsuccessful Outcomes

State the design, price, refund and cancellation process if the application cannot proceed as proposed.

No Private Company Controls Official Approval: A provider may prepare and coordinate the submission, but should not represent an external approval decision as unconditional or guaranteed.

What Pricing and Payment Warning Signs Suggest Higher Risk?

Price is valid only if payment is made immediately
Large deposit required before verification
Full payment required before equipment delivery
Most payment required before testing
No milestone definitions
No official invoice
No official receipt
No tax treatment stated
No breakdown of official fees
No list of excluded costs
No refund terms
No cancellation terms
No variation-order process
Installer may change price without customer approval
Financing cost is not disclosed
Payment account does not match the contracting entity

Payment Area	Lower-Risk Approach	Higher-Risk Warning Sign
Deposit	Reasonable amount with written refund conditions	Large non-refundable payment before assessment
Equipment Payment	Linked to documented order, reservation or delivery	Payment demanded without model or delivery evidence
Installation Payment	Linked to verified physical progress	Nearly full payment required before work begins
Final Payment	Linked to testing, commissioning and complete handover	No amount retained for defects or missing documents

Urgency Can Prevent Proper Verification: A limited promotion may be genuine, but pressure to pay immediately should not prevent the customer from checking the company, equipment, scope, exclusions, warranties and payment account.

What Roof and Installation Warning Signs Should You Check?

No pre-installation roof-condition record
No roof photographs
No mounting method described
No waterproofing method described
No responsibility for broken tiles or sheets
No roof-leak responsibility
No workmanship-warranty period
No structural consideration for a questionable roof
No wind-load consideration
No corrosion consideration
No drainage clearance
No safe maintenance access
No cable-support description
No protection or earthing description
No scaffolding or lifting allowance
No process for correcting installation defects

Existing Defects Cracks, leaks, corrosion and damaged roofing should be recorded before installation.

Installation Damage The proposal should state who repairs damage caused by mounting, walking, drilling, cabling or equipment handling.

Roof Leakage Coverage, response time, investigation, repair responsibility and exclusions should be written.

Future Roof Work The likely cost and responsibility for removing and reinstalling the system should be addressed.

“No Roof Penetration” Should Be Explained: Different roof types use different mounting methods. The provider should explain the actual attachment and waterproofing approach rather than rely on a broad marketing claim.

What Warranty and After-Sales Warning Signs Should You Check?

Warranty is described only verbally
No written workmanship warranty
No roof-leak warranty
No Malaysian warranty contact
No responsibility for warranty registration
No claim-submission responsibility
No diagnosis responsibility
No warranty-labour terms
No transport-cost terms
No removal or reinstallation terms
No expected replacement lead time
No after-sales response target
No monitoring support terms
No support arrangement if the installer closes
Product warranty is presented as complete system coverage
Long warranty claims are unsupported by written documents

Warranty Area	What Should Be Clear?	Warning Sign
Product Warranty	Covered defects, period and claim procedure	Only a warranty-year number is shown
Workmanship Warranty	Covered installation defects and correction duty	No written installer responsibility
Warranty Labour	Diagnosis, access, transport, removal and reinstallation	Customer is told all warranty work is “free” without detail
After-Sales Support	Contact, response process and applicable charges	Customer is told to contact the manufacturer directly

A Long Warranty Is Not Enough: Practical value depends on local support, claim administration, replacement stock, labour coverage and the financial ability of the responsible company to honour its obligations.

How Can You Classify Solar Proposal Risk?

Risk Level	Typical Indicators	Suggested Response
Lower Risk	Verified company, clear design, exact equipment, defined scope, balanced payments and written warranties	Continue detailed comparison and contract review
Moderate Risk	Some missing details, assumptions or exclusions that can be corrected in writing	Request a revised proposal before paying or signing
High Risk	Identity mismatch, vague system, guaranteed claims, major upfront payment and no accountable technical or warranty party	Pause the transaction and independently verify all material claims
Unacceptable Risk	False documents, misleading identity, unauthorised payment recipient or refusal to provide basic written information	Do not proceed and preserve all records of the communication

Risk Is Cumulative: One missing detail may be correctable. Multiple connected concerns—such as an unclear company, vague equipment, guaranteed savings and an urgent large deposit—create a substantially higher overall risk.

What Should You Do When You Find Warning Signs?

Pause Payment

Do not make a deposit until the contracting entity, payment recipient and proposal scope have been verified.

Request Written Clarification

Ask the provider to correct missing company, technical, equipment, payment and warranty information.

Verify Independently

Check registrations, company information, technical parties, equipment documents and warranty channels independently.

Compare Equivalent Proposals

Obtain alternatives using the same system capacity, equipment expectations, scope, warranties and payment structure.

Revise the Contract

Ensure important representations become written contractual obligations rather than sales promises.

Walk Away When Necessary

Do not proceed when a provider refuses reasonable verification, written clarification or accountability.

Do Not Rely on Deleted or Temporary Messages: Preserve the quotation, contract, equipment schedule, warranty claims, payment instructions and important representations in durable written form.

What Should You Ask Before Accepting a Solar Proposal?

What is the exact legal name of the contracting company?
What is its SSM registration number?
Does the payment account belong to the contracting entity?
Who is the responsible RPVSP, where applicable?
Which registered electrical contractor will perform the work?
Which competent person will supervise or certify the installation?
Has the roof been assessed?
Has the electrical installation been assessed?
What are the exact panel and inverter models?
What are the total panel DC and inverter AC capacities?
Where is the panel layout?
What assumptions support the generation estimate?
What assumptions support the savings estimate?
Which services are included?
Which services and fees are excluded?
Is a technical assessment likely to be required?
Who pays technical-study and utility fees?
What happens if a lower capacity is approved?
What happens if the application is rejected?
Can equipment be substituted without written approval?
What triggers each payment?
How much is payable before equipment delivery?
How much is retained until testing and handover?
Who is responsible for roof damage or leakage?
How long is the workmanship warranty?
Does warranty coverage include labour?
Who handles future warranty claims?
What Malaysian after-sales support is available?
What documents will be provided at handover?
What are the cancellation and refund terms?

High-Risk Solar Proposal Final Checklist

Unclear legal company identity
Unrelated payment recipient
No official invoice or receipt
No responsible technical parties
No meaningful site assessment
No accurate electricity review
No exact equipment models
No DC and AC capacity distinction
No system layout or design
Guaranteed approval
Guaranteed bill elimination
Unsupported savings or payback
Hidden technical-study fees
Unclear application responsibility
Large upfront payment
No milestone-based payment schedule
Unrestricted equipment substitutions
No roof-condition record
No roof-leak responsibility
No workmanship warranty
No warranty-labour terms
No Malaysian support contact
No testing and commissioning scope
No handover-document list
No cancellation or refund procedure
Pressure to sign immediately

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What Is Solar100’s Role in Proposal Risk Comparison?

Solar100

Supports solar-provider discovery
Helps customers organise initial project information
Supports initial quotation comparison
Highlights common proposal warning signs
Helps identify differences in scope and warranties
Does not certify a proposal as risk-free
Does not perform engineering or legal due diligence
Does not guarantee provider performance

Selected Solar Provider

Verifies its legal and registration information
Assesses the property and electricity account
Prepares the project-specific design and proposal
Identifies responsible technical parties
Explains application responsibilities and limitations
Provides the agreed equipment and installation
Provides written warranties and support terms
Remains responsible for its contractual commitments

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a very cheap solar proposal always mean high risk?

No. A lower price may be legitimate, but the capacity, equipment, scope, exclusions, payment structure, warranties and support should be compared on equivalent terms.

Is a large solar deposit a warning sign?

It can be. The proposal should explain what the deposit pays for, when it becomes non-refundable and what evidence or deliverable the customer receives.

Can a solar installer guarantee Solar ATAP approval?

A provider may prepare and coordinate the application, but an official approval outcome should not be represented as unconditional or guaranteed.

Is it risky if the proposal does not state exact equipment models?

Yes. Without exact models, the customer cannot properly compare capacity, technical compatibility, functions, warranty or replacement support.

Is guaranteed electricity-bill elimination realistic?

It should be treated cautiously. Actual bills depend on consumption, solar production, tariffs, export treatment, fixed charges, downtime and future operating conditions.

Should the proposal identify the electrical contractor?

The responsible electrical contractor and competent technical parties should be identifiable for the applicable electrical work, testing and certification.

Is a long equipment warranty enough?

No. The customer should also check Malaysian claim support, diagnosis, transport, removal, reinstallation, replacement time and workmanship coverage.

What should I do if the company name and bank account differ?

Pause payment and request a documented explanation. Verify the legal relationship and confirm which entity remains responsible for the contract and warranties.

Can one missing detail be corrected?

Often, yes. Ask for a revised written proposal. Risk becomes more serious when the provider refuses clarification or several important warning signs appear together.

Does Solar100 guarantee that a listed provider is risk-free?

No. Solar100 supports provider discovery and initial comparison but does not guarantee proposal accuracy, technical design, approval, financial condition, installation quality or future service performance.

The information on this page is provided for general educational and comparison purposes. A warning sign does not by itself prove fraud, illegality, insolvency, technical incompetence or contractual breach. Likewise, the absence of the warning signs listed does not guarantee that a company, proposal or project is safe, suitable or reliable. This page is not legal advice, engineering due diligence, financial advice, electrical certification, registration verification, application approval, fraud investigation, installer endorsement or a guarantee of project completion, generation, savings, workmanship, warranty performance or dispute outcomes. Company information, registration status, programme procedures, technical requirements, official fees, forms, equipment availability and warranty arrangements may change. Customers should independently verify the legal company, payment recipient, responsible technical parties, equipment, complete proposal, contract, current official requirements and written warranties before signing or paying. Solar100 is a provider-discovery and quotation-comparison platform. It is not the installer, electrical contractor, competent person, engineer, equipment manufacturer, warranty provider, electricity utility, regulator, lawyer, auditor, insurer, lender, investigator or approving authority and does not guarantee provider or contractual performance.

Check and Compare Your Solar Proposal

Send your recent electricity bills, property location, proposed system capacity, panel and inverter models, existing quotations, payment schedule, warranty terms and exclusions to begin comparing proposal scope and identifying questions that should be clarified before you proceed.

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