Check Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) credentials
Ask who will physically install your system and request their Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accreditation number. Verify its current status. For eligible systems, SAA-accredited installation is a requirement for federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme incentives. The installation business and the accredited individual may be different.
Check the electrical contractor licence
Ask which licensed electrical contractor will carry out or supervise the electrical work and check the relevant state or territory register. Licensing requirements differ around Australia; SAA accreditation does not replace state electrical licensing obligations.
Understand who sells, designs and installs the system
A solar retailer may subcontract installation to another business. Ask for the legal business name, ABN, contracting party, nominated installer, and who will handle defects and warranty claims. Consider whether the retailer is a New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller. NETCC approval is a voluntary retailer commitment and is different from SAA installer accreditation.
Compare at least three itemised quotes
Obtain at least three comparable proposals where practical. Compare system size (kW), estimated annual generation (kWh), panel and inverter models, optional battery capacity, the total installed price, STC discount, GST treatment, site-specific layout and estimated savings assumptions. Ask whether the price covers switchboard work, scaffolding, metering, permits and grid connection.
Demand a roof-specific design
A reliable proposal reflects roof orientation, pitch, shading, usable area, roof condition and household usage patterns. A satellite-based initial assessment can be useful, but it does not replace required on-site checks or an installer-approved final design. Ask how the installer has accounted for trees, neighbouring buildings and future changes to electricity use.
Check approved products and warranties
Confirm the nominated panels, inverter and battery (if included) meet the approval requirements relevant to the installation and incentive. Read product and workmanship warranty documents, who provides the warranty, exclusions, and whether service support is available in Australia. Consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law may apply independently of written warranties.
Ask about grid approval and export limits
Your distribution network service provider may restrict how much electricity you can export or require particular connection arrangements. Ask who submits the connection application, whether export limits apply, who arranges metering and when the system will be approved to operate. An attractive feed-in tariff should not be presented as guaranteed future income.
Review the financial forecast carefully
Look for clearly stated assumptions for generation, self-consumption, electricity prices, feed-in tariffs, equipment degradation, maintenance and any finance costs. Ask for a range of possible outcomes rather than relying on one optimistic payback figure. Compare like-for-like quotes before treating a cheaper system as better value.
Battery buyers: confirm backup capability, not just capacity
If you want power during outages, ask whether the proposed battery and inverter can operate in backup mode, which circuits will be supported, and whether extra switching equipment is required. Check usable battery capacity (kWh), maximum output power (kW), startup loads for large appliances, safe location and whether solar can recharge the battery during an outage. A battery does not automatically guarantee blackout protection.
Read the contract and watch for pressure tactics
Do not sign because of a same-day discount, an unsolicited sales pitch or claims of universally free solar. Read payment milestones, delivery dates, cancellation conditions, warranties and complaint processes. Get material promises in writing. Confirm the retailer’s ABN and contact information and retain copies of quotations, invoices and commissioning documents.
Your installer comparison checklist
- SAA-accredited installer identity and accreditation verified
- Relevant electrical contractor licence checked
- Retailer business identity, ABN and after-sales contact confirmed
- At least three comparable itemised quotes requested
- Roof-specific layout and realistic generation estimate supplied
- Equipment approval and product/workmanship warranties checked
- STC discounts and additional charges clearly shown
- Distribution network approval and export limits explained
- Battery backup features and supported circuits specified if relevant
- Contract, payment terms and consumer rights understood
Questions to ask before choosing a solar installer
Is Clean Energy Council accreditation still required for installers?
Installer accreditation transitioned to Solar Accreditation Australia in 2024. Check an installer’s current SAA credentials. Clean Energy Council-approved products and the NETCC retailer program are separate concepts.
Does NETCC Approved Seller status mean the installer is accredited?
No. NETCC Approved Seller status applies to participating retailers and consumer protection standards. Confirm separately that the person carrying out the installation holds the relevant SAA accreditation and required electrical licensing.
Do I need to choose the lowest-priced quote?
No. Consider system design, equipment quality, transparent assumptions, installation workmanship, warranties and local support alongside price.
What should I do if the quote promises unrealistic savings?
Ask for the estimated annual generation, expected self-consumption, electricity price assumptions, feed-in tariff, finance costs and payback calculation in writing. Compare these against other quotes.
Can I use my own roof estimate when speaking with installers?
Yes. An independent initial roof assessment can help you ask better questions about suitable system sizes and generation assumptions. Final sizing and installation suitability still require professional assessment.
Start with an independent look at your roof
Before contacting installers, explore your roof’s potential with Emily, powered by GreenSketch. Use the modelled results as a starting point for conversations and quote comparisons — not as a final design, certified installation specification or guaranteed savings projection.
Keep reading
Official Australian sources
- Australian Government — Choose your solar retailer and installer
- Solar Accreditation Australia — installer accreditation
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code — approved sellers
- ACCC — solar panel systems and home batteries
- Solar Victoria — what to look for in a solar quote
- Australian Government — Getting connected to the grid