Most of us want to believe the best in people.

If your solar installer says they’re waiting on stock, you’ll probably accept it. If they ask for a few more weeks, you’ll give them a few more weeks.

But when does patience stop being reasonable?

That’s the question NSW homeowner Mark Barnes eventually found himself asking after seven months of delays, a missed installation date and, after cancelling his battery order, still waiting for the return of his $6,500 deposit. [Read more…]

A major solar retailer operating under four different names – and promoted by retired cricketer Michael Clarke – faces multiple investigations after copping hundreds of complaints, ranging from allegations of dodgy worksmanship to unrefunded deposit payments for installs that never happened.

[Read more…]

Aldi Solar is expanding, with people in Western Australia and South Australia now able to get in line. But there are plenty of red flags to be aware of before getting a solar and battery system from a discount supermarket.

[Read more…]

Every year we publish the Installer’s Choice Awards, and every year the same two objections turn up in the comments within about four milliseconds.

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This week SolarQuotes ticked over one million quote requests. Somewhere in a database is customer number one¹, and somewhere in the queue right now is customer number one million.

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Australia needs more electricians, and one organisation believes helping more women complete their apprenticeships is part of the answer.

Big Sister is working with apprentices, employers and training providers to improve the number of women entering electrical trades and, just as importantly, staying long enough to become qualified.

The work comes as demand grows for electricians capable of installing solar, home batteries, EV chargers and the other equipment needed to electrify Australian homes.

[Read more…]

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has suspended 21 solar companies from the small-scale solar rebate scheme, moved to ban a retailer for falsely claiming installations were complete, and issued a warning to installers over fake verification photos.

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My son asked me the other day how he should get to the airport for a 5am flight.

Easy, I said. Book a proper taxi with a longstanding local firm. Whatever you do, don’t pre-book an Uber.

He looked at me like I’d suggested he send a fax.

[Read more…]

SolarQuotes General Manager Trevor Glen has called on solar installers to build trust with customers through genuine reviews, amid new analysis showing a surge in searches related to buying fake testimonials.

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If you’re thinking about installing solar, one of the first questions is usually, “Who’s a good installer in my area?” Closely followed by, “How much should I expect to pay?” and “Are there any local rules I should know about?”

To make those questions easier to answer, SolarQuotes has launched suburb pages covering locations across Australia. Each page brings together reviews of active SolarQuotes-vetted installers, average installation prices, network information and other useful details in one place. [Read more…]