Putting Off Solar, But Still Getting Big Bills Every Quarter?

By Finn Peacock – Chartered Electrical Engineer, Ex-CSIRO, Founder of SolarQuotes.com.au

If you are both bewildered and angry every time you get your electricity bill, then I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to be.

In 2017, solar power is now at a price and performance point where, unless your roof is covered by a huge gum tree or you use almost zero energy during the day, it will generally pay back within 4-7 years. 

It will do that by slashing those quarterly bills.

Side note: I’m not here to say you should buy solar even if it’s not right for you – the following Trustpilot review of our website, where Jenny asked for quotes but was advised not to go solar, should prove this:
 

I speak to people every day that intuitively know that solar can help them, but they have not yet pulled the trigger to get quotes.

They tell me 3 main reasons why they haven’t gone solar yet. Do any of these reasons resonate with you?

1) Clarity 
They don’t know what they really need:  Despite seeing heaps of ads and perhaps even talking to some solar companies, they are not clear on what solution they need and why.

(For example, you may be really confused over whether you need batteries or not.)

They don’t know the best way to engage solar installers for quotes.

What’s the best way to share your requirements and contact details with an installer (ideally 3 if you want 3 quotes – as makes sense for any biggish purchase) – and how can you only engage with trusted companies to source your quotes?

2) Confidence 
You will have seen heaps of information on the TV, online and in the press, and even more adverts from installers. Whose information is impartial, independent, and credible?

What questions should you ask a salesman or installer? And even if you know what questions to ask, what answers should you be looking for?

3) Convenience

Trawling the internet looking for reputable solar companies that serve your area is not fun, especially when the internet is full of fake reviews and armchair experts.

Who can you turn to to help compare quotes? Who even knows a good solar panel brand from bad?

You may not have had a great experience with tradies providing timely, comprehensive quotes before. Will solar power be more of the same?

Our Authority

In 2009, I quit the CSIRO to start SolarQuotes. I launched this website to make it really easy for people to get 3 quotes from installers they could trust.

Fast forward 8 years, add a few more employees, and now over 300,000 Australians have used our service. We’ve built up a core installer base of around 200, and turned away hundreds more who don’t meet our high standards. 

How do we vet the installers before we allow them to be a part of our network?

Firstly, we conduct a full credit check and see how long they’ve been in business. We then ask around in the industry to see if we can spot any red flags, as well as check our internal blacklist to cross-reference.

If they pass this first stage, we then see what brands of solar panels and inverters that they’re quoting. We have a very simple rule here at SolarQuotes – if we wouldn’t recommend a panel or inverter to our grandmothers, we won’t recommend them to you.

And after 8 years in the industry, it doesn’t take us long to spot a dodgy brand.

If we’re comfortable with the installer and they equipment they quote, we then allow them into our network on a provisional basis and closely monitor the feedback they get from people, like you, who use our service.

This means you can be confident that when we refer you to an installer, you’re being put in contact with someone who’s looking our for your needs, not just their own wallet.

Why we do this

Properly installed, well-maintained solar panels can last over 25 years. If the quality of the panel is particularly high, they should last over 30 years. On the other end of the spectrum, cheap junk will be lucky to last 5 years.

Solar panels that end up in a landfill after 5 years are worse, environmentally speaking, than no solar panels at all.

I want you to get a system that will last 25+ years, and bring you 25+ years of low bills. It’s that simple.

To get you to the point where you’re ready to put such a system on your roof, my website is here every step of the way to help shorten the time it takes to source and compare solar quotes.

How we get paid

We make money by providing a free ‘Get 3 Quotes’ service. You – as a potential solar customer – get the service for free, but the solar companies in the SolarQuotes network pay us a small fee if we send them your quote request.

We get paid whether you buy solar power from them or not. That’s how we stay independent. 

If you’re considering installing solar panels for your home or business, SolarQuotes can help you get quotes from high-quality installers quickly and easily: