Purpose

Accurate pricing and proposal creation are key to ensuring Surge projects remain competitive, profitable, and transparent. The goal of this process is to maintain pricing consistency across all Surge projects while allowing flexibility to meet client needs. By understanding allowances and pricing standards, members can confidently present proposals that protect both Surge’s margins and the client’s trust.

What Are Allowances?

Definition

An allowance is a predefined cost or budget range that Surge allocates for specific project components - such as equipment, installation, or permitting. Allowances serve as a control mechanism to ensure consistency and fairness between projects and partners.

Purpose of Allowances

Keep pricing standardized across similar project types
Prevent underbidding or margin loss
Ensure EPC and in-house build teams have the resources to complete high-quality installations
Simplify proposal creation for Strategists and Mentors

Allowances are reviewed periodically by Surge leadership to reflect market changes, equipment costs, and partner performance.

Pricing Overview

Standard Pricing Model

Surge uses a per-watt pricing model for most solar and energy storage projects.
Pricing is influenced by:

System size (kW)
Equipment selection (modules, inverters, batteries, etc.)
Site complexity (roof type, tilt, shading, access)
Electrical requirements and permitting costs
Labor and regional variations

All pricing is set to maintain competitive market positioning while ensuring financial sustainability for Surge and its partners.

Variable Adjustments

Certain project types may include pricing variations for:

Ground-mount systems
Canopy or carport structures
Advanced controls, storage integration, or microgrid applications
Prevailing wage or union labor requirements

Mentors and Strategists should confirm any such variables before presenting pricing to clients.

Proposal Development Process

1. Initial Pricing Request

After a qualified lead is approved, the Strategist or Mentor requests pricing through the Surge internal operations channel.

The request includes:

Site details and utility information
Target system size and technology scope
Any known constraints or design notes

2. Internal Pricing Review

Surge’s operations or build division reviews the request, applies the current allowances, and generates accurate pricing for the proposal. This process ensures all costs, margins, and commissions are aligned with the latest company standards.

3. Proposal Creation

Once pricing is confirmed, the Strategist or Mentor prepares the proposal using Surge’s approved template or integrated platform tools (e.g., OpenSolar). The proposal includes:

System overview and design visuals
Cost breakdown and incentive details
Financing or cash purchase options
Savings projections and ROI analysis

4. Proposal Review and Approval

All proposals must be reviewed and approved by a Mentor (and, if required, Surge operations) prior to presentation. No unverified pricing or unapproved templates may be sent to clients.

Pricing Integrity and Compliance

Do’s

Always use the most recent approved pricing and allowances
Clearly communicate any assumptions or exclusions to clients
Verify incentives, rebates, and financing terms before including them in proposals
Use only official Surge branding and templates

Don’ts

Do not alter allowance amounts or pricing without written approval
Do not verbally quote pricing without a verified proposal
Do not present unapproved discounts or incentives
Do not share internal cost structures or partner rates externally

Documentation and Record-keeping

All final proposals must be uploaded to the project record in the Surge platform, including:

Pricing confirmation email or file
Signed LOI or contract
Utility data and site documents
Any approved deviations or special pricing notes

This ensures full traceability from proposal to commission release.

Summary

Term	Meaning	Importance
Allowance	Predefined cost budget for project components	Maintains pricing consistency
Per-Watt Pricing	Standardized rate per installed watt	Enables clear commission calculation
Proposal	Client-facing document summarizing design, cost, and ROI	Core sales deliverable
Approval	Mentor or Operations sign-off required	Ensures compliance and accuracy