Solar Power Nation Suspended From Rebate Scheme

They haven’t changed their website or spokesperson yet.

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has permanently suspended Solar Power Nation from the federal solar rebate scheme. This means the Sydney-based retailer can no longer issue the federal solar and battery rebates as an upfront discount to customers.

This is the biggest setback so far for a company that, as we reported in August, has faced hundreds of complaints and investigations across three states. Solar Power Nation, legally known as 1 Solar Australia Pty Ltd, has 60 days to ask the CER to review the decision.

What The Solar Power Nation Suspension Means

When you buy solar panels or a home battery, your solar panels or battery earn certificates called Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), and an installer turns them into a discount on your price. This is how the solar panel rebate and the federal battery rebates are included in your quote.

Solar Power Nation used to be a registered installer, so it could sell systems with the rebate included. Now, it can’t do that anymore.

The CER said it is “no longer satisfied that the company meets the fit and proper person requirements.”

They look at a company’s integrity, competence, and business practices. The CER can also consider “consumer-related matters” when making this decision.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach for any poor business practice that can create an adverse outcome for the customer,” CER Chair Tony Chappel said.

How Solar Power Nation Got Here

The CER’s announcement mentions two earlier issues: Solar Power Nation was expelled from the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC), and South Australia’s consumer watchdog, Consumer and Business Services (CBS), issued a public warning about the company.

The NETCC findings are serious because they are proven breaches. The Clean Energy Council, which runs the code, rated five out of six as major. These included non-compliant contracts, installations that didn’t meet Australian Standards, and “failing to cooperate with the Code Administrator.”

The CBS complaints are still just allegations and are being investigated. Out of 94 complaints, 41 were from customers who paid deposits for systems that were not installed in a reasonable time, or not installed at all.

And of course, this all happened while the brand was less than 17 months old.

NETCC: The Toothless Tiger

In August, SolarQuotes General Manager Trevor Glen told the ABC that NETCC expulsion carried little real weight.

“There’s no repercussions other than you get suspended or expelled from the program,” he said. “It doesn’t stop you from installing solar, it doesn’t stop you from installing batteries.”

He was right. Even after being expelled, Solar Power Nation kept selling for months. Because they could.

The difference now is that a government regulator with real authority has stepped in, and its announcement mentions the expulsion. That’s a step forward.

However, it took almost 11 months, and the code still can’t stop anyone from trading by itself. SolarQuotes in-house installer Anthony Bennett pointed this out when he called the NETCC “effectively a marketing exercise, wrapped in a voluntary code.”

Solar Power Nation’s homepage on 11 November 2026, still advertising the federal battery discount.

What Customers Have Told Us

Our Solar Power Nation reviews average 3.4 out of 5 from 218 reviews.

SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock said the red flags around the company were clear and immediate, with five early one-star reviews in 2017 all exhibiting similar issues.

“The pattern is simple: take the deposit, miss the date, stop answering the phone. [It] took till 2026 for the CEC to kick them off NETCC (after admitting them in the first place) and the CER to ban them. SolarQuotes never sent them one lead,” he said.

The issues have continued to this day. Glen, in New South Wales, paid a $500 deposit for a battery. For months, he says, the company blamed network approval. Then his network, Essential Energy, told him nobody had ever applied to install a battery at his property.

Not everyone had a bad experience. Jasmin in Queensland gave a 2026 battery installation five stars and called the company “phenomenal”. In August, Solar Power Nation told the ABC it had installed more than 25,000 systems and that the “overwhelming majority” of its customers were satisfied.

If You’re A Solar Power Nation Customer

If You’ve Paid A Deposit But Haven’t Had An Installation:

• Contact Solar Power Nation in writing to ask how your rebate will be handled now that they can’t create the certificates, and whether your price will change.
• Don’t pay extra to cover a lost rebate before getting advice from your state’s fair trading body.
• If you want your deposit back, ask for it in writing. If you don’t get it, contact your fair trading body or your state’s civil tribunal.

Solar Power Nation sells in five states, so the table covers those, plus the ACT, where at least one reviewer paid a deposit.

If Your System Is Already Installed

• Hold on to your contract, invoices, and product serial numbers.
• Check if your battery or inverter needs to be registered with the manufacturer to activate the warranty.
• It’s probably a good idea to have a reputable installer check your system to verify it’s up to all safety standards.

Two Checks Before Signing With Any Installer

You can run a check in a minute or two:

1. Check if the retailer is on the NETCC’s list of expelled and suspended companies. Many good retailers aren’t NETCC members, but being expelled is a huge red flag.
2. Look up the installer’s name with Solar Accreditation Australia.

A flashy ad just shows a company has a marketing budget. Spending a few minutes on these two registers will tell you much more.

Have you had a positive or negative experience with Solar Power Nation? Leave a review to let others know about your experience.