Placing solar panels on your roof in Australia is a wise investment, and many locals have already done this. However, choosing the right solar installation company can make the difference between a high or low performing system.

New data from the Australian Clean Energy Council (CEC) shows that one in five solar panels in Australia are deficient, meaning thousands of Australians aren’t seeing the reductions in power bills they were expecting. According to CEC 2018 data, nearly 20 percent of small-scale solar systems are deemed “substandard”.

Gloria, a local home owner, paid $11,700 when approached by a door to door sales person then found out that the system she had installed was only worth $4,500-$5,000!

“I was interested in solar power and the sales person said all the right things,” she said. “They told me the panels were certified in Canada, I didn’t have to pay outright and I wouldn’t be paying electricity bills.

“I was thinking that solar companies were all the same but after installation there was an issue that wasn’t fixed for six months. When I got my first bill it was close to what I was paying before plus I’m paying $600 per quarter for the solar panels over four years.

“I received no official receipt or documents from them. After contacting them, they said the solar panels didn’t reflect the size of the system I paid for, were made in China and now obsolete. They promised to add more panels in a few months as they said they couldn’t give my money back but nothing has happened. I went to the Tribunal to complain and am still fighting for it.”

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People shouldn’t sign or agree to anything from unsolicited sales people. When you buy goods and services from a door to door sales agent, you have rights under law such as a cooling off period that may terminate the agreement. Each state/territory has the same 10 business day cooling off period but extended cooling off periods vary from three to six months if violations have been made by the salesperson. See accc.gov.au for further information on breaches of agreements.​

So, how do you find a trustworthy installer? By looking for a solar retailer that is local and committed to ensuring your installation is right for you, and at the right price.

Local solar company SunPeople’s managing director, David Love expresses, “Being accredited by the CEC, as an Approved Solar Retailer ensures we provide a fully accountable quality service and commitment to our local community, with a five-year workmanship warranty.”

See SunPeople.com.au