An independent research database No paid placement · No referral fees
N NeedATrade
Trade 30 of 33Updated June 2026

A research dossier · 260 trade-region files across 8 states & territories · rebate landscape verified per state

Hiring a Solar Installer
is one of the few jobs where cheap is the warning.

Solar is the trade where a too-low quote is more dangerous than a too-high one. The components are commoditised, the rebates are public knowledge, and the labour rates are well-known — so a quote that's wildly under the rest of the market is almost always cutting on installer accreditation, panel tier, inverter warranty, or all three. The system goes on the roof for 25 years. Ten of those are spent regretting the cheap install.

25 yrs

How long the panels are supposed to last on your roof.

SAA

The installer accreditation that unlocks the rebate.

3 layers

Panel · inverter · installer warranty. Don't conflate them.

In a hurry? Start here

I've got quotes

Compare them properly

Most solar installer quotes price different scopes. See what a real quote contains, line by line.

I need someone now

Handle it urgently

Make-safe price first, full quote second — and verify the licence before anyone starts.

Is this one legit?

Verify this tradie

The free 60-second routine: licence, insurance, ABN, history — before you pay a deposit.

My state

Check your state rules

Licensing, deposit caps and the common gotcha for your state and territory.

Or grab the four printable buyer checklists →

90-second briefing

Read this first

Before you hire a solar installer, know this.

  1. 1

    The installer must hold SAA (Solar Accreditation Australia) accreditation — it is also what unlocks the federal STC rebate.

  2. 2

    Quotes hide the cheap-panel or cheap-inverter swap — get panel and inverter brand and model in writing.

  3. 3

    The STC rebate should be shown as a separate line, not buried in a “discount”.

  4. 4

    Confirm the workmanship, panel and inverter warranties — they are three different periods.

  5. 5

    Get the SAA accreditation, ABN and certificate of currency in writing before any deposit.

How this page was built

A research dossier, not a referral page.

Sources

Reddit (r/sydney · r/melbourne · r/AusFinance · r/solar), Whirlpool, Solar Quotes forum, the NETCC (New Energy Tech Consumer Code), SAA installer database, state rebate scheme rules.

Verification

Every dollar range cross-checked across three current installs in three states. Rebate amounts verified against CER + state portals. Mistakes corrected with a date-stamped note.

Funding

No installer pays for placement here. No referral fees. Funded by the supply-side flyer service at tradies.needatrade.com.au/flyers/.

Before we start

The cheap quote isn't a saving.
It's a deferred bill.

Solar pricing is the most transparent on this site — every component has a published wholesale price, every rebate amount is on the regulator's website, every install rate is on installer forums. So a quote that's 50% under the market is telling you which corner the installer cut: panel tier, inverter brand, installer accreditation, isolator quality, or compliance shortcuts.

The 10 questions below force the math into the open. A working installer welcomes them — they earn their margin on real components done properly. A discount-shop installer stalls — the cheap quote depends on you not asking.

Read the 1-star reviews before the 5-star ones. They tell you what year-three actually looks like.

01

How much should it really cost?

Solar pricing is published, audited and rebated. So the question isn't "what's a fair price" — it's "what's hidden in the cheap quote."

Read the 1-star reviews. They often reveal the stuff that really matters: ghosting customers, shoddy work, or warranty nightmares.
WhirlpoolNSW solar thread

A solar quote should split into six lines. If they're shown as a single "after-rebate" number, that's the line you can't compare with anyone else.

The six lines you should see, written down

  • 1Panel brand + model + tier. Tier 1 from the BloombergNEF list. Wattage per panel. Number of panels.
  • 2Inverter brand + model + warranty. SMA · Fronius · Sungrow · GoodWe · Enphase — quality varies. 10-year inverter warranty is the baseline.
  • 3Mounting hardware + isolators. Cheap rails + DC isolators are the most reported failure point. Brand matters.
  • 4Labour + design. Including the CES design, electrical wiring, grid connection paperwork.
  • 5STC rebate. Federal small-scale technology certificate value applied to the price. Calculated by system size + zone.
  • 6State rebate / battery rebate (if applicable). VIC Solar Homes, federal Cheaper Home Batteries, etc. Stack with STC where eligible.

Indicative ranges · post-STC rebate

AU 2026

6.6 kW system (Tier 1 panels · quality inverter)$6,500 – $9,000
10 kW system$9,500 – $13,500
13.3 kW system (properly installed)$12k – $16k
13.3 kW system (too cheap to be safe)under $8k
5 kWh battery retrofit$5,000 – $8,500
10 kWh battery retrofit$9,000 – $14,500
Indicative. Tile roof, three-phase, complex switchboard upgrade, or strata = upper end. State rebates (VIC, others) stack on top of STC.

Ask this, exactly

Save · share · screenshot

"Can you send me the panel brand + model + tier, the inverter brand + model + warranty, and the labour line — separate from the STC rebate?"

02

How to tell a real one from a cowboy.

The solar villain isn't a door-knocker. It's the phone-room operator selling a "13.3kW system for $5,991" they'll subcontract to a $200/day installer using whatever panels are cheapest this week.

Red flags — in order of how often you'll meet them

  • !

    A quote 30%+ under the market

    Solar costs are public. A quote miles under everyone else is cutting on panel tier, inverter brand, installer wage, or compliance. Not "finding savings."

  • !

    Won't name the panel brand or inverter brand

    "Premium Tier 1 panels" without a brand name = whatever's in the warehouse the day they install. Same with "European inverter."

  • !

    Phone sales + "today only" rebate pressure

    STCs and state rebates have clear, published end dates. Anyone telling you the "deal expires tonight" is using the sales script, not the actual rebate timeline.

  • !

    No on-site inspection before quote

    Roof type, shading, switchboard capacity, meter location — all decide the real quote. A phone or satellite-only quote is best-case fiction.

  • !

    Battery upsold without modelling

    A working installer shows your last-12-months usage data, models the battery payback honestly, and tells you if it doesn't make sense yet. The high-risk operator upsells the battery to anyone with a credit card.

The verification routine — 10 minutes, free

  1. ✓
    SAA installer accreditation on the SAA register. Search by name. Required for STC rebate.
  2. ✓
    Electrical licence (CCEW NSW · COES VIC · ESO QLD) — solar is electrical work. Both accreditations needed; not the same person required, but both must be on the job.
  3. ✓
    NETCC-approved retailer for the warranty cover. Check the NETCC approved-seller list.
  4. ✓
    ABN + ASIC company history. Phoenix companies are common in solar. Director's previous companies tell the story.
  5. ✓
    On-site inspection before the quote. Roof type, shading, switchboard. Not a satellite-only estimate.

Ask this, exactly

"Can you send your SAA accreditation number, the electrical licence of whoever's doing the install, and confirm you're a NETCC-approved seller?"

03

What accreditation should you receive?

Solar has more layers of accreditation than any other trade — and most homeowners can't name which one matters. Here are the three that do.

SAAInstaller

Solar Accreditation Australia

  • The person physically on the roof. Required for any system that claims the STC rebate.
  • Has a unique accreditation number. Search the SAA installer database to verify.
  • "Designer" and "installer" are separate accreditations — many people hold both.
  • Check solaraccreditation.com.au.
NETCCRetailer

NETCC-approved seller

  • The business selling the system. Signed up to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code.
  • Commits to specific warranty + customer service standards.
  • Required for some state rebates (VIC Solar Homes, etc).
  • Check the NETCC approved-seller list.
ElectricalState licence

State Electrical Licence

  • Solar IS electrical work. NSW: CCEW. VIC: COES. QLD: ESO certificate.
  • Required for grid connection, switchboard work, isolator installation.
  • Separate from SAA — both are needed.
  • Check the relevant state register.

Half-time

In solar, cheap is the warning.

Quote anatomy, the cowboy test, the accreditation. The first three sort the genuine installers from the phone-room operators. The next seven are how you tell the working installers apart from each other — and how the system on your roof still works in 2046.

04

Rebate timing — and the pressure.

The STC rebate steps down each year — typically the value drops at end of December. State rebates have their own clocks. So the "rebate ending" line you hear on the phone is sometimes true. But the real question is whether the rebate timing should drive YOUR decision, or only the salesperson's quarterly target.

STC clock.

Federal STC value reduces annually — published years in advance. Step-down dates are on the CER website. Not "today only."

State rebate clock.

VIC Solar Homes, federal Cheaper Home Batteries — each has its own published timeline + eligibility. Check the state portal, not the salesperson.

Build window.

8–14 weeks from contract to commissioning is typical. Grid connection paperwork is often the bottleneck.

A working installer tells you the real rebate timeline and lets you decide. A quote-trap operator says "you'll lose $3,000 if you don't sign tonight." If your gut says you're being pressured, you are.

Ask this, exactly

"What's the actual published step-down date for STC, and how much do I lose if I sign next month instead of this week?"

05

What happens next, step by step.

  1. 1Step

    Usage data + site visit

    12-month usage data from your retailer. On-site roof check, shading, switchboard capacity, meter location.

  2. 2Step

    System design + quote

    System size based on usage + roof. Panel + inverter brands named. STC rebate calculated. All in writing.

  3. 3Step

    Contract + grid pre-approval

    Network operator (Ausgrid · Energex · Powercor etc) pre-approves the connection. Required before install.

  4. 4Step

    Install day

    Panels mounted, inverter installed, isolators wired, switchboard updated, electrical safety tested.

  5. 5Step

    CES/CCEW + grid connection

    Compliance certificate issued and lodged. Grid connection paperwork submitted. Smart meter reconfigured if needed.

  6. 6Step

    Commissioning + monitoring

    System turned on. Monitoring app set up. Warranty documents handed over. Owner walked through.

06

PV only, PV + battery, or wait?

The decision most installers upsell past. Batteries are still expensive — sometimes they pay back, sometimes they don't. Honest modelling against your usage is the only way to tell.

Option A · most economic

PV only

Panels + inverter, no battery. Excess power exported for feed-in tariff. Payback typically 4–7 years.

Right when: most consumption is daytime, or feed-in tariff is acceptable in your network.

Wrong when: heavy evening/overnight use + low feed-in tariff (some networks now near zero).

$6.5k – $14k

Post-STC · 6.6–10 kW

Option B

PV + battery

Solar plus storage. Excess daytime energy stored for evening use. Payback typically 8–15 years (longer with current battery prices).

Right when: heavy evening use, low feed-in tariff, want backup during outages, federal battery rebate applies.

Wrong when: payback maths doesn't work for your usage. Get an honest model.

$14k – $28k+

Post-STC · 6.6 kW + 10 kWh

Option C

Wait

Don't install yet. Sometimes the right answer — roof needs replacing first, planning a move, battery prices about to drop.

Right when: roof is 25+ years old, selling the house within 2 years, currently low energy use.

Wrong when: stable house, increasing bills — every year of waiting costs you the rebate step-down + lost generation.

$0

But not free

07

Warranty — five different clocks.

Solar warranty is the most complex on this site. Five separate clocks — and a brochure that says "25-year warranty" is glossing over four of them. A working installer hands you the warranty PDF from each manufacturer separately.

  1. Layer 01

    Panel product warranty

    Typically 10–15 years on manufacturing defects. The cheap-tier panel often has the shortest product warranty.

  2. Layer 02

    Panel performance warranty

    25 years typical — guarantees a minimum percentage of original output by year 25. The "25-year warranty" claim.

  3. Layer 03

    Inverter warranty

    5–10 years standard. SMA / Fronius offer 10+. Cheap inverters fail at year 6 and aren't under warranty.

  4. Layer 04

    Installer workmanship

    The NETCC requires a 5-year minimum workmanship warranty from an approved seller. Cheaper installers often offer 1–2 years.

  5. Layer 05

    Battery warranty

    10 years + cycle warranty typical. Often tied to specific cycle count + minimum capacity at year 10.

  6. Backstop

    NETCC-approved seller cover

    If your installer disappears, the NETCC covers the workmanship element. Required for some state rebates.

Ask this, exactly

"Can you send the warranty PDFs for the panels (product + performance), the inverter, and your own workmanship — separately, with year limits in writing?"

08

Roof, shade, and the grid.

Suburb effects on solar are real and physical — not snobbery. The roof itself decides how much your system actually produces.

  • Roof orientation

    North-facing roofs produce ~15% more than east/west. South-facing roofs almost halve the output. The installer should model your roof, not assume.

  • Shading

    A single tree or chimney shading panels for 2 hours/day cuts that string's output. Microinverters or optimisers (DC) cost more, recover the loss.

  • Network operator

    Ausgrid · Endeavour · Energex · Powercor · Jemena — each has different export limits, smart meter rules, and feed-in tariffs.

  • Roof age + material

    A 25-year-old tile roof under solar is a disaster waiting to happen. Pre-solar roof check is worth $300 to avoid $20k of grief.

Travel surcharges for solar are common — installers based in metro areas charge a per-km fee for regional installs. Honest installers publish their zone.

Ask this, exactly

"What's my expected annual output given my roof orientation + shading, and what network operator restrictions apply?"

09

Edge cases — get a second opinion for…

  • Flat / low-pitch roof

    Tilt frames required. Adds cost and engineering. Some retailers refuse to quote.

  • Tile roof (especially old)

    Tiles break during install. Pre-solar roof check essential. Many installers refuse jobs on roofs > 20 years.

  • Strata / townhouse

    Owners corporation approval, common-property roof issues. Some strata schemes have blanket no-solar rules.

  • Heritage overlay

    Council may restrict panel visibility from the street. Black-on-black panel options exist but cost more.

  • Three-phase upgrade needed

    EV + solar + battery often pushes single-phase past limits. Three-phase upgrade can add $5k–$15k.

  • Switchboard upgrade needed

    Old boards may not support an inverter. Switchboard upgrade is a separate quote — make sure it's in the all-in number.

  • Battery retrofit to existing PV

    AC-coupled vs DC-coupled. Existing inverter may not be compatible. Honest modelling required.

  • Pool heating integration

    Pool pump load can be timed to solar generation. Specialist install, not standard.

  • Pre-solar roof check

    Worth $300 to know before $20k of panels go on a 25-year-old roof.

10

After they leave.

Solar aftercare is about two things: monitoring whether the system is producing what it should, and being able to make a warranty claim when something fails. A working installer sets up both. A corner-cutter hands you a login and goes silent.

Monitoring app + baseline.

Inverter monitoring set up. Expected annual generation in writing. First-month check confirms reality matches model.

Warranty pack handed over.

Panel manufacturer warranty, inverter warranty, installer workmanship warranty, NETCC seller cover. All in a folder.

Compliance certificates.

CCEW/COES electrical certificate, grid connection approval, STC paperwork. Required at sale.

5-year maintenance check.

Optional but recommended — clean panels, check DC isolator (the most common failure point), test inverter. ~$200.

Ask this, exactly

"Will I receive the monitoring app, all warranty PDFs, the CCEW/COES, and a 5-year maintenance plan — at handover?"

Before you pay a deposit

Check before you hire

Before you pay a deposit or approve work, check the operator's licence, insurance and required documentation for your state. These are the official government / regulator tools:

Compliance guidance can change. Always check the current regulator guidance before signing a contract or paying a deposit.

Consumer protection

If something goes wrong

If a job goes badly, start by putting the issue in writing and giving the contractor a reasonable chance to respond. Keep photos, quotes, invoices, certificates, text messages and emails. If the issue is unresolved, contact the relevant state regulator or tribunal pathway.

Standards

Standards often relevant to this trade

These are orientation references only — not a complete or job-specific list. Ask the licensed contractor to confirm the current standards, the NCC, and any state or territory requirements that apply to your job.

Plain-English definitions, who’s responsible, and an “ask this” for each → see the glossary.

If you've read this far

A solar installer who can name the panels, the inverter, the warranties — without flinching — is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

The verification routine below is how you confirm any solar installer you find — their licence number, insurance certificate, ABN, specialist endorsements, and references — before you sign or pay a deposit. We don't introduce, list or recommend specific tradies. No phone-room sales. No paid placement.

✓ We don't take referral fees✓ Verified means answers all 10✓ No spam. No upsell.
Verify any solar installer's licence 60-second routine · 6 free checks

Editorial position: we don't list, rank or recommend tradies on this site.
The separate operator platform — members.needatrade.com.au — opens later this year.

The toolkit

Use these before you sign.

The four components below apply to every Australian trade contract. The trade-specific sections above add the layer on top.

74 homeowner quotes · Reg State trade regulator + work-safety regulator · AS AS 5033 · 9 operator quotes · Last reviewed June 2026

Quote anatomy

What a real quote should contain

01

Operator + ABN

Full legal name + active 11-digit ABN

Verify on the Australian Business Register before paying any deposit. If the ABN isn't active, the contract has no enforceable counterparty.

02

State trade licence

Licence number + class on the quote

Cross-check on the relevant state regulator (linked in the glossary licence-check section). Confirms they can legally do the work.

03

Public liability insurance

$10–20 million cover, still current (not expired)

This is what pays if they damage your home — or a neighbour's — or someone is injured during the job. Ask them to email you the insurance certificate; "I'm covered, mate" is not proof.

04

Workers' insurance

In place if they bring any workers onto your property

If a worker is hurt on your property and the operator has no workers' insurance, you can be the one left liable. A genuine sole trader with no employees may not need it — just ask.

05

Itemised scope of work

What's included, what's not, line by line

"Standard installation" means nothing in court. Specific scope items are what get enforced.

06

Materials specification

Brand, grade, quantity, AS standard where applicable

Prevents the "we used what was on the truck" substitution that turns up under failure inspections.

07

Variations clause

How changes get priced + agreed, in writing

No written variation = unenforceable. Verbal "we'll work it out" is how budgets blow out by 40%.

08

Deposit + progress

Within your state's legal cap (e.g. NSW 10%; VIC 10%/5% by threshold; QLD tiered 20%/10%/5% by job value)

Above-cap deposits are illegal. Caps differ by state — check your state's current regulator guidance. Progress payments should align with completed stages, not arbitrary dates.

09

Warranty terms

Workmanship period + manufacturer warranty pass-through

Statutory warranty applies regardless, but written terms accelerate enforcement.

10

Completion definition

What "practical completion" means for this job

Triggers final payment + starts the defects liability period.

11

Dispute path

Named regulator/tribunal for disputes (e.g. NCAT, VCAT, QCAT)

Knowing the path before signing makes you a less attractive target for a dispute.

If a quote you receive is missing any of these, ask for them before you sign or pay a deposit.

The working operator vs the cowboy

Where
✓ Working operator
✗ Cowboy

Quote

Written, itemised, with named scope + exclusions. Numbered + dated.

A number on a text. "I'll do it for $X."

Licence

Licence number on the quote; matches the name on the state register.

"I'll send the licence later." Never does.

Insurance

Emails you the insurance certificate the same day you ask.

"I'm insured, mate." Never actually sends the certificate.

Deposit

Within statutory limit. Held in their account, receipted.

Asks for cash up front. Above the legal limit.

Variations

Written. Cost + time impact. You sign before work changes.

Verbal "we'll sort it out". Surprise invoice at the end.

Warranty

Written workmanship period. Manufacturer cert handed over.

"My word's my warranty." No paper.

References

Three recent jobs with photos + contact for past clients.

"All my reviews are on Google."

Clean-up

Final clean defined in scope. Photos taken at handover.

Site left messy. Promises to "come back tomorrow".

State-by-state contract compliance

Choose your state:
NSW Licensed

Regulator

Building Commission NSW

Common gotcha

CCEW (Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work); SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

VIC Licensed

Regulator

Energy Safe Victoria

Common gotcha

Certificate of Electrical Safety (CoES); SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

QLD Licensed

Regulator

Electrical Safety Office (WorkSafe Queensland)

Common gotcha

Certificate of Testing and Compliance; SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

WA Licensed

Regulator

Building and Energy (DEMIRS)

Common gotcha

Electrical Safety Certificate (installing work, within 28 days); SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

SA Licensed

Regulator

Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) — licensing via CBS

Common gotcha

eCoC (electronic Certificate of Compliance); SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

ACT Licensed

Regulator

Construction Occupations Registrar (Access Canberra)

Common gotcha

Certificate of Electrical Safety; SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

NT Licensed

Regulator

NT WorkSafe (Electrical Safety Regulator)

Common gotcha

Electrical Certificate of Compliance; SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

TAS Licensed

Regulator

CBOS (cert lodged with TechSafe Australia)

Common gotcha

Certificate of Electrical Compliance (CEC) — notifiable work; SAA accreditation evidence; CEC product-list compliance

Ask this, exactly

Could you send your state trade licence number, current Certificate of Currency for public liability, and ABN before I confirm — and please put the itemised scope, deposit terms, and variation clause in writing too?

Send via SMS or email before booking. A working operator replies the same day with all of it attached. A cowboy stalls.

Deposit checklist

Before you pay a solar installer deposit, collect these

  • Licence number

    State trade licence + class, printed on the quote. Verified on the regulator register.

  • ABN

    Active 11-digit ABN, entity name matching the licence. Checked on abr.business.gov.au.

  • Certificate of currency

    Current public-liability certificate (and workers comp if they bring workers). The insurer’s one-page proof — not “I’m covered, mate”.

  • Written, itemised quote

    On letterhead, numbered and dated. Not a number in a text message.

  • Scope inclusions / exclusions

    What’s in, what’s out, line by line. “Standard installation” is not a scope.

  • Deposit amount

    Within your state’s statutory cap (NSW 10%; QLD tiered 20% / 10% / 5% by job value; VIC 10% / 5% by threshold; other states vary). Check your regulator before paying.

  • Variation clause

    How changes get priced and agreed — in writing, before the work changes.

  • Warranty terms

    Workmanship period + manufacturer pass-through, with year limits and what triggers a callback.

  • Compliance / handover paperwork

    The certificate or compliance document you’ll receive at completion (varies by trade and state).

  • Defects / callback process

    The defects-liability period and how you call them back for an obvious fault — in writing.

  • SAA installer/designer accreditation

    Solar installer-specific

  • Panel and inverter brand/model specified

    Solar installer-specific

  • STC rebate shown as a separate line

    Solar installer-specific
Collect every item before you transfer a deposit. If a tradie stalls on any of them, that is the answer.

Related references

Briefing

The 12 questions →

 Operational

Verify a tradie →

 Translation

Glossary →

 Provenance

Source ledger →
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