Tesla Powerwall 3 Expansion is Now CEC-Approved & Available
Posted 22 Jan
With both solar and battery rebates & incentives available in Australia, you've probably seen those 'too-good-to-be-true' solar ads for cheap solar systems, and unfortunately not every installer plays by the same rules.
When searching 'solar installers near me', you're met with an abundance of installer options, but how do you know who is legit and who is a scam waiting to happen?
There is good news, There are strong signs that a company is safe or dodgy, so we wanted to provide some insight in helping home and business owners know the differences between a genuine installer and your typical 'solar cowboy' to avoid any solar scams.
When getting in contact with your solar installer, there will be a consultation phase where the installer will ask you questions about
your setup, but we highly recommend asking questions in return. Here are a few questions to help find some green flags for your
installation.
Is the Solar Installer on the SAA-Accreditation list?
In
NSW, every solar and battery installer has to be CEC/SAA-accredited to conduct certified solar and battery installations.
You can check accreditation numbers here, or view the authorised installer map.
Do they have a Valid Electrical Licence Number?
Having a valid electrical licence
means that the installer/company have jumped through the required hoops for certification and compliance to Australian standards.
What are their reviews like on Google & Facebook?
Checking their reviews can be
an easy surface level way to determine whether the business has a good reputation.
Do they use Subcontractors for Installations?
Whilst it's not necessarily a bad thing to use subcontractors in every situation, it's highly recommended you use in-house teams that
have incentive to install systems to maximum quality.
Have you received Transparent and Detailed Quoting?
A huge red flag is when a solar
or battery installer provide summarised quoting with minimal information on the system's details. This leaves room for the installer to
bring cheaper components without your knowledge.
Do they offer Workmanship Warranty?
Quality installers back their workmanship. For
our area, a 10-year warranty is a great idea for those looking for additional warranty coverage to the installed products.
What is their Social Media and Local Presence like?
Whilst this shouldn't be a solar
indication on reputation, having a strong social media presence can represent pride in the company's operations, and provide more
personal insight.
Are they offering High-Pressure 'today-only' deals?
Stay right away from
high-pressure sales tactics. These are designed to quicken the sale and encourage possible oversight that could seriously negatively impact
your investment.
|
Solar Installer Green Flags |
Solar Installer Red Flags |
|
| Accreditation & Licences |
CEC/SAA-accredited solar installer, licenced electrician, and compliant with NSW & Australian regulations. |
No CEC/SAA-accreditation or minimal licences. |
| Transparency |
Provides clear, detailed quoting with breakdowns of cost, warranty coverage, payback periods and projected performance. | Provides vague or inaccurate quotes that may be incomplete. Will also dodge related questions and pressure a quick decision. |
| Solar Components |
Only uses reputable CEC-approved solar panel modules and inverters. Will use components that are high-quality and have proven performance and warranties. | Uses lower quality or unbranded solar equipment with minimal or hard-to-find warranty information. Also, won't supply workmanship warranty coverage. |
| Customer Reviews |
Has a consistent flow of good reviews with genuine sentiment. |
Very few, or mostly negative reviews and complaints. |
| Post-Installation Coverage |
Provides direct contact details for warranty claims, troubleshooting, and actively follows-up enquiries. | Very difficult to contact post-installation and no identified warranty claim process. |
| Sales Tactics |
Provides a custom solution and lets you decide with support when needed. | Uses time-sensitive wording to encourage you to make a decision as soon as possible. |
| System Quoting | Travels to site and provides a custom quote tailored for the property. | Offers quote without an inspection and provides a one-size-fits-all solution. |
Probably the most important part in choosing the right solar installer is ensuring they are SAA-accredited and fully-licenced installers.
By using the NETCC approved seller tool, you can find approved installers who meet consumer and installation standards.
This is very important to check, especially if you are wanting to claim the solar subsidy, which can only be completed by SAA-accredited installers.
There are also different types of accreditation under the SAA, including 'Grid Connected Photovoltaic Systems', 'Stand Alone Power Systems', and 'Grid Connected Battery Systems', which will vary depending on the work your installer conducts.
If the installer you're considering has these qualifications, double check what types they have. For example, one of our installers has all 3 listed above which are all 'full' as they can be design or install-only.
As obvious as it is, researching the reviews of the solar installer you may choose can help provide insight in not only seeing their average rating, but how they respond to their reviews.
We expect most good solar installers to vary in the 3.5 to 5-star rating mark.
We recommend researching installer's negative reviews, as they may not always accurately reflect how good a business is. It also gives you an understanding in how they handle bad feedback, and can provide insight into how customer-focused they are.
It is also important to note the photos they upload, whether they put the effort into putting installation images on their public business listings, or if they only have a basic profile with next to no content.
One of our solutions are solar health checks, where a technician typically tests an underperforming solar and/or battery system. Whilst this is also deterioration, there are a number of installations that have not been compliant or completed properly.
Low quality and non-compliant solar and battery installers avoid purposeful safety and longevity checks that are designed to keep your solar system fully operational and safe for the long-term.
The large majority of reputable and quality solar installers provide upfront and transparent solar quoting and consultation in order to help customers make the best informed decisions.
With solar systems being upward of a few thousand dollars, trustworthy installers will respect that and provide as much information on components and projected system performance. This is to ensure customers know there their money is going, and the expected performance of their proposed system.
Whilst costs can vary in costs due to different materials, labour, permits etc., we highly-recommend getting comparison quotes from other local solar installers to help give you a better idea of whom the cheaper and more premium installers are.
Please note: the cheaper option isn't better in the solar and battery industry. Local solar companies that may be priced higher will actually offer more than just the installation.
Elements like investing in qualified teams of installers who provide custom solutions, using reputable brands and components for longevity, post-installation support and warranty, and maximum safety and compliance.
For a customer-focused solar installation business, supporting customers with strong post-installation service should be at the heart of keeping clients powered on.
When we refer to a strong post-sale service, we are talking about the ability to get in contact with your installer after your system has been installed to help with any issues or queries you may have. Some installers could be at capacity and have a slight delay, but installers with limited or no post-sales support should be a red flag.
Solar installers with strong post-installation service can help identify and rectify any issues, warranty claims, connection and monitoring, and maintenance. Any quality solar installer in Australia should stand by their work and take responsibility for post-installation support.
Additionally, not only should you research the warranty coverage of the components they've proposed, but also their workmanship warranty coverage which will ensure any installation-related issue is covered. Solar panels are typically covered for 25-30 years, and workmanship warranty is generally around 10 years.
Whilst not a sole indicator, analysing your considered solar installer's social media and digital presence can help determine whether the solar installation company is investing in their presence and reach.
A strong online presence usually shows that the company is proud of their work and are willing to share to past and potential customers. Regular updates, high-quality installation photos, educational posts, and customer reviews all help emit a support an overall positive reputation.
Their digital/online presence can range from Instagram, to business directories, to blogs on their website.
How can you determine the good solar installers from the bad? The good news is that there are definitely ways to determine a good vs. bad solar installer including checking certifications and licences, customer reviews, and paying close attention to the way they quote, communicate, and are transparent with you.
As you continue on your solar installation journey, keep in mind that your solar installer should display trustworthy attributes as your investment is valuable and should be completed properly. The experience should be made smooth and easy for any customer and job of any scale.
Including these considerations in your decision-making should give you a better understanding on how to select the right installer that will align with you and your goals of installing a quality renewable system.
A well-chosen company shouldn't just do the bare minimum to get by, they should aim to exceed any expectations and be primarily focused on providing the optimal solution for your property.
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