Solar Victoria’s Latest Enforcement Actions On Dodgy Practices

Fifteen industry participants copped a smack on the wrist or worse as a result of completed compliance enforcement actions by Solar Victoria last month.

Solar Victoria administers the state’s hugely popular Solar Homes Program, which provides rebates and/or interest-free loans for eligible households to install solar panels, solar hot water systems (including heat pump hot water systems), and up until fairly recently, home batteries.

More than 318,000 solar panel systems and 62,000+ solar hot water systems have been installed under the Program so far. As in any government incentive scheme of this nature, there has been some poor behaviour from a minority of industry participants and the agency has been keen to reprimand, bench or weed them out altogether.

Among its compliance activities are audits aiming to inspect a sample of five percent of all Solar Homes Program installations. The agency also carries out general retailer and installer monitoring, and investigates complaints about system installation safety submitted by consumers; working closely with agencies such as Energy Safe Victoria and WorkSafe Victoria to resolve them.

June 2025 Enforcement Outcomes

Enforcement actions completed in June 2025 where Solar Homes Program retailers or installers have breached program terms and conditions included:

• Suspension of two hot water retailers from the program for operating in the program while suspended, and four hot water retailers for overclaiming rebates.
• Suspension of one solar retailer for continuing high-pressure sales practices under the direction of a disqualified director.
• Suspension of two solar installers for unsafe working at heights practices and inadequate supervision of workers undertaking an installation.
• Warning notices issued to four solar installers for non-compliant installations.
• Two warning notices issued to solar installers for unsafe working at heights practices and inadequate supervision of workers undertaking an installation.

A suspension may last for a specific period or remain in effect until Solar Victoria is satisfied the retailer/installer is committed to and capable of meeting the standards for the program.

Currently, more than 40 retailers have had their Solar Homes Program participation cancelled as a result of investigations and/or assurance activities. Some on the list will remain there, others may return to the fold at some point.

What To Do If You Have A Complaint

While the agency will act on consumer concerns relating to installation safety, it’s not a one-stop-shop for all grievances with solar retailers and installers. For other concerns, Solar Victoria encourages first trying to work with the retailer to reach an amicable resolution.

Failing that, assuming the business is a New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller¹ and there has been a breach of the Code, a complaint can be lodged here.

While that may result in action against the retailer, it doesn’t mean your issue will be resolved and a refund, compensation or fix may need to be pursued through other channels such as Consumer Affairs Victoria or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

But depending on the nature of the complaint, there’s also Solar Accreditation Australia; which accredits solar and battery system designers and installers. SAA will investigate technical non-compliances relating to applicable Australian Standards, local, state/territory and national legal requirements, and its own requirements.

 “SAA will seek to ensure that non-compliances are rectified in an efficient and timely manner by the responsible accredited person,” states SAA.

There is another layer of consumer protection for Australians considering installing a solar power and/or battery system. SolarQuotes has a lot of faith in installers in our network and under our Good Installer Guarantee, if you choose an installer we have referred to you and you believe your system has not been installed to the specification promised, SolarQuotes will work with you and the installer to ensure it is. If the fix isn’t delivered, we’ll engage another installer to set things right at no cost to you.