Solar Installer Fined $10,000 For Jobs He Never Attended

A solar installer who claimed to be working on Melbourne installations while interstate has been fined $10,000, as Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) continues its crackdown on operators breaking the rules.

The case is one of several enforcement actions highlighted in the regulator’s latest quarterly compliance update, which includes two other installers barred from participating in the federal solar and battery rebate scheme.

While the CER says there’s no evidence of widespread fraud, the cases raise a question for homeowners: how can you be sure the accredited installer responsible for your system actually turns up?

What Happens When The Installer Isn’t There?

Victorian solar installer Toby Payne pleaded guilty to intentionally making false statements in statutory declarations used to support claims for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), which underpin the federal solar rebate.

The CER found Payne had claimed to attend installations in Melbourne when he was interstate. He was convicted and fined $10,000, and his accreditation with Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) was also suspended.

Under the rebate scheme, accredited installers must meet specific onsite attendance requirements. These include being present for job setup, a mid-installation check and testing and commissioning.

The rules are intended to ensure that installations are properly supervised and meet the required standards. An installer signing off on work they haven’t attended undermines those safeguards.

Two More Installers Excluded

The CER also highlighted enforcement action against two other accredited installers following investigations into multiple installations.

Sandeep Laxman Shinde was declared ineligible to install solar panels or batteries under the scheme for three years. The investigation covered 24 installations completed between February 2023 and July 2025, identifying failures to meet onsite attendance requirements, missing electrical safety certificates and false or misleading installer statements.

Shunqi Sun received a 12-month exclusion following an investigation into 10 installations. Breaches included installing systems without the required endorsement, failing to provide electrical safety certificates and not meeting mandatory electrical standards.

Separately, the CER permanently suspended Emerging Environmental Group Pty Ltd’s registration after finding it no longer met the scheme’s fit-and-proper-person requirements. The company can no longer create renewable energy certificates.

These cases add to the compliance problems highlighted in SolarQuotes’ July report on suspended solar companies and fake installer verification photos.

Is The Problem Widespread?

The regulator doesn’t believe so.

CER Chair Tony Chappel said the agency remained satisfied there was no systemic fraud in the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, although some participants continued to break the rules.

The latest enforcement actions are intended to demonstrate that those breaches have consequences, including fines, loss of accreditation and exclusion from the rebate scheme.

It’s also worth distinguishing breaches of paperwork and attendance requirements from evidence of defective electrical work. The investigations identified different types of non-compliance, and the findings don’t establish that every installation involved was unsafe.

What Can Homeowners Do?

There’s one straightforward check worth making before your solar or battery installation begins.

Ask your retailer who the accredited installer will be, then check that person’s credentials using Solar Accreditation Australia’s accreditation register. Accreditation applies to individuals, not installation companies.

On installation day, confirm the person responsible is actually attending. If they’re supervising rather than carrying out the installation, they must attend at setup, midway through, and during testing and commissioning.

Homeowners shouldn’t have to police the industry, but knowing who’s responsible for the installation is a sensible precaution. Choosing a reputable installer with a track record of quality work and after-sales support remains one of the best ways to reduce the risk of problems.

You can compare installers and read customer feedback using the SolarQuotes installer directory.