Selecting the right solar installer is the most important decision you’ll make as a new solar owner. Once you decide that solar panels are worth the investment, your chosen installer is responsible for supplying all system components and, ensuring your system operates safely, as expected for 25 years.
The Australian solar industry is served by 8,000 solar installers that perform close to 300,000 installations each year. Recent data from Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) shows that just over a quarter of all audited installations were deemed substandard. And, 1.34% of installs were assessed as being unsafe.
A good solar company should provide a safe install and ensure the longevity of your new solar system. In this article, we explain how you can compare quotes and narrow down the field to find the best solar installer in your area.
We provide tips on how you can:
- Assess installers and solar companies
- Avoid companies that cut corners
- Ask the right questions of your solar installer
- Compare and assess your quotes
- Enforce your rights as a consumer
Assessing solar installers
You can buy a solar system from a solar installer, solar retailer or NETCC approved seller. Whichever you decide, an SAA accredited installer must install your system.
NETCC approved sellers are solar companies that adhere to a code of conduct developed by various industry organisations, with a goal to faithfully advise and protect solar consumers. Not all good retailers are NETCC approved sellers, but many are.
Here is a list of tips to help you assess and find the right installer:
- Get up to 3 quotes from a reliable source
- Check SAA and NETCC accreditation
- Consider their experience and longevity in business
- Consider the quality of components they are offering
- Look at their workmanship warranty
Solar quotes from a reliable source
Comparing three quotes from reputable companies is better than starting from scratch and searching local companies online. That’s the benefit of our solar quote service. We have a network of pre-vetted solar installers that we trust to recommend good components and perform a quality installation. If you start with our service, you are ahead of the game and are selecting from 3 good companies.
Regardless of where you source your quotes, it’s recommended you get at least 3 quotes.
Detailed site visit
If it’s available to you, a site visit with your quote is recommended. The installer can then best advise on panel orientation, inverter location and let you know if any upgrades are needed to your switchboard or electricity meter.
Choosing between installers
Once SAA accreditation and any NETCC credentials are checked, the next point of differentiation is the installer’s experience and longevity in business. If a solar company has been around for over 7 years, chances are they are regularly supplying quality components and not cutting any corners.
The best installers tend to only provide quality solar panels and inverters. By promoting quality components, they’re chances of having to make a follow up visit are slim.
Another point of comparison is the length of an installer’s workmanship warranty. Some companies won’t offer one at all. While good installers are happy to offer one.
Avoid solar companies that cut corners
If you want a system that lasts and performs as expected, there are certain solar companies that you may want to avoid.
Below is a list of types of companies and sales practices that you should avoid:
- Door-to-door sales
- Cold callers
- Cheap systems
- Telemarketing companies
- Pressure to sign a contract on the spot
- Claims about not having any electricity bills with solar
A good rule of thumb is ‘did you go looking for solar information or did the marketers find you’. If they found you and you weren’t looking for solar, this is classified as an ‘unsolicited sale’.
Door-to-door sales and cold calls
We recommend that you don’t buy solar panels from a ‘cold call’ or a door-to-door salesperson. Quite often visitors contact us after receiving quotes from a door knocker only to find that the system they were considering or paid for was way overpriced.
The same applies to online ads on Facebook and other platforms. Do you research before signing a contract.
Cheap systems – if the price is too good to be true
You should also beware of a solar company that is selling a system far cheaper than anything else you have been quoted. If a system is ‘cheap’, chances are the solar company is using inferior components or cutting corners on the installation.
Sales tactics
You should not feel any pressure from a solar installer to sign a contract on the spot. NETCC approved sellers adhere to a sales code of conduct and agree not to pressure consumers to buy on the spot.
Also, be wary of sales lines like ‘eliminate your bills’. Solar panels are unlikely to entirely eliminate your electricity bill year-round. Although, in summer months, this can be quite common.
Your solar quote
Make sure that your solar installer provides a written quote clearly explaining the cost, deposit amount, solar rebate and expiry date.
Here is a list of the key items to look for in your quote:
- ABN
- The size of the system in kW
- How many panels make up the system
- The brand and model number of the panels, inverter and battery
- The expected daily and annual output of the system in kWh
- An analysis of savings and expected payback
- Length of product warranty for the panels, inverter and battery
- Performance warranty of the panels
- Length of the workmanship warranty
- An estimate as to when the install will take place
- The deposit amount
- The rebate amount
- The total cost of the system
Make sure that you also have the name and licence number of the SAA accredited designer and installer.
Questions to ask your installer
In addition to the items in your quote, you should ask your installer the following questions:
- Does this system meet my needs?
- Does this system meet my future energy needs?
- Are any upgrades needed (e.g. meter)?
- Any there any additional costs?
- How do you know the system is working?
- Do you include monitoring?
- Where is the install location of the inverter?
- Where is the install location of the battery?
- Are there any export limits?
It’s important that you build rapport with the installer and can ask them what the process is if there is a fault or the system stops working.
Assessing and comparing quotes
Hopefully at this point, you have three quotes from reputable installers to compare. So how do you decide which quote and company is best?
Quotes should never be compared on price alone, because you may not be comparing apples with apples. These tips will help you identify what to compare:
- Compare the solar panels
- Compare the inverter
- Ensure both are on CEC’s approved lists
- Compare warranties
- The system design, is it tailored to your needs (property and electricity usage)
Comparing panels
The quality of the actual solar panels can vary considerably. First of all, check the panels are on the Clean Energy Council’s approved list. Then look for the product warranty and performance warranty of the panels, these are an indicator as to their quality.
The best solar panels have long product warranties and a higher level of output after 25 years. There can be a large price difference between the very best panels and good mid-range options.
Tier 1 panels
If an installer is spruiking Tier 1 solar panels, make sure you get the brand and model number. Tier 1 isn’t an assessment of quality, assess the panel by comparing price, reputation and warranties.
Comparing inverters
You should also look closely at the inverters on each quote. There can be a big price difference between an entry-level inverter and a premium option. You might find the price difference is warranted. At least make sure you know what the difference is.
Comparing prices
While we strongly recommend that you don’t just compare prices, at some point, the cost of the system will impact your decision. Just make sure that you:
- Select a reputable company
- Have full confidence the installer will not cut corners and,
- You have selected quality components that will last
Your rights as a solar consumer
Knowing your rights as a solar consumer before you sign a contract is important. Your solar system purchase is protected in various ways from solar panel warranties to Australian Consumer Law.
If you have bought a system from an unsolicited sale (door-to-door sales or cold call), you have a 10-day cooling off period under Australian law. If you are in this situation now, we strongly recommend you review your purchase.
If the sale is not unsolicited, there may be cooling off terms in your contract. You’ll need to read the fine print, or ask your installer to include it.
Post installation protection
Once your system is installed, if there is an issue, your protection will come in the form of warranties.
We recommend looking for an installer that provides a workmanship warranty because if the system doesn’t work as expected, they will look at the system and not just fob you off to the manufacturer. If it happens to be an issue with the components, then your installer can help you handle that process.
Insurance
As soon as you sign a contract to install a solar power system, add the value of the system to your household insurance policy. If there is an unforeseen event like a biblical storm during or post installation, you will be covered for any loss.
written byBy Michael Henderson
