Solar and energy sales, voice practice
Turn “just a rough price” into a site visit
Solar leads fill in a form and forget. Rehearse the first call, the quote that goes silent and the neighbour’s bad story against a homeowner who does not owe you a visit.
Free plan: 3 calls a month, up to 5 minutes each. No card.
Three calls worth rehearsing first
Each one is written the way a trainer would brief it: what the customer says, what usually goes wrong and what to say instead. Adapt the wording to your company’s rules.
The form lead who only wanted a rough price
- The customer says
- “I just wanted an idea of the cost. Can you not just tell me?”
- What usually goes wrong
- The rep gives a figure with no data, or refuses and sounds evasive.
- Say instead
- “I can give you a range if I know three things: your roof, your yearly usage and whether you plan to stay. Takes two minutes. What did your last electricity bill look like?” Qualify while helping, then book the survey.
- Practise with
- Qualifying an inbound lead without a clear budget
The quote that went quiet
- The customer says
- Day six after sending the proposal: “Yes, I saw it. We are still looking at it.”
- What usually goes wrong
- “Any questions?” gets no answer.
- Say instead
- “What is the part you are looking at longest, the price, the payback or something on the roof? If your partner needs to see it too, I can do a ten-minute call with both of you.” Ask what is blocking, offer a joint call.
The neighbour who had a bad experience
- The customer says
- “My neighbour’s system underperformed and the company stopped answering.”
- What usually goes wrong
- The rep says “we are different”. The customer has heard that before.
- Say instead
- “That would put me off too. What did he say went wrong? I would rather you ask me three hard questions about service and warranty now than be surprised later. Who looks after the system after installation here?” Answer only what your company has in writing.
- Practise with
- Rebuilding trust after a bad experience
Typical call types
The conversations that come up most often, and what each one is for.
- Lead qualification call
- Confirm ownership, roof or site, electricity use and decision timing before booking a visit.
- Site visit booking
- Agree a date with everyone who decides and set expectations for what the visit covers.
- Quote follow-up
- Call after a proposal to answer questions and understand what is holding the decision back.
- Aftercare and referral call
- Check that the installation is working as expected and ask whether a neighbour might be interested.
Who you talk to and what they care about
Know the person before you dial. Each role listens for something different.
- Homeowner
- Payback in plain terms, the quality of the installer, disruption at home and what happens if something fails.
- Couple deciding together
- Whether the numbers work for the household, how to compare quotes and trusting the company in the long term.
- Small-business owner
- Reducing running costs, the effect on cash flow and how quickly the installation can be done.
Top objections and example answers
Examples of a direction, not a script. Say it in your own words and use facts from the customer’s situation.
- “It is too expensive.”
- It is a significant investment, so I understand. Let us look at your actual consumption and the options for spreading the cost, and then you can judge whether it makes sense for you.
- “I need to think about it.”
- Naturally. What is the main thing you want to be sure of? I can put the details in writing so you can review them calmly, together with anyone else involved.
- “My roof might not be suitable.”
- That is a good thing to check. The site visit looks at exactly that, so you only proceed if it genuinely works. Would you like to arrange a time?
- “I got a cheaper quote.”
- Thank you for being open about it. Could we compare the quotes line by line, including equipment, installation and warranty, so the comparison is fair?
Sample opening lines
A good opening names who you are, why you are calling and gives the other person an easy way to answer.
- After an online enquiry
- Hello, [Name], this is [your name] from [company]. You asked for information about solar panels. Is it a good moment for a few questions so I can see what would suit your home?
- Quote follow-up
- Hello, [Name], [your name] from [company]. I sent you the proposal on [day]. I would like to hear what you think and answer any questions, if you have two minutes.
- Booking a visit
- Good morning, [Name]. This is [your name] from [company]. I would like to arrange the site visit. Which day suits you and anyone else who is part of the decision?
Replace the brackets with your own details. Keep the line short enough to say in one breath.
Wording to handle with care
General reminders, not an exhaustive list. Rules differ by country and company, so follow your company’s approved wording.
- Savings and payback figures
- Estimates depend on the home, usage and prices. Present them as examples based on the customer’s own data, not as promises.
- Statements about subsidies or tax treatment
- Rules change and vary by person. Refer to official sources and the customer’s own adviser rather than interpreting them.
- Claims of being “free” or “government-backed”
- These phrases can mislead if they are not strictly accurate. Use exactly the wording your company has approved.
- Pressure about a limited-time price
- Only mention a deadline if it is real, and give the customer time to compare.
This is training material, not legal advice. For anything specific, ask your compliance or legal team.
Practise these calls in DIRI AI
Talk to an AI customer by voice and read a report with the transcript afterwards. These scenarios are the closest fit for this industry.
Recommended practice scenarios
- Qualifying an inbound lead without a clear budget
- Respectful scheduling of a follow-up
- Rebuilding trust after a bad experience
Objections to practise first
Practise before you send the next quote
Take the follow-up call that usually dies and find the question that gets a real answer.
Related guides in Learn
Questions about this industry
How do I avoid overpromising on savings in practice?
Ask the AI customer to push for a number and rehearse giving a range with the assumptions stated. Use only figures your company approves. The report shows whether you committed to a result you cannot back.
Can I practise a call with a couple who disagree?
Run the same scenario twice with different priorities, or use the scenario about a decision delayed by other priorities. Paid plans can create your own scenario with the couple’s objections.
Does it cover finance and subsidies?
It covers how you talk about them. Rules, eligibility and rates differ by country and change, so state only what your company has confirmed.
Does it work for commercial energy and utilities too?
The sector page for utilities has the call types for that. The general scenarios on price, renewal and service recovery fit business tariffs.