Essential Solar Reviews
About
Essential solar is a family owned renewable energy company established in 2012.
We are a high-quality retailer, designer and installer of both residential and commercial solar PV rooftop generators.
Our success lies in our devotion to quality of products and our enthusiastic staff dedicated to 100% customer satisfaction. We are committed to providing the right solution to each and everyone of our customers while focusing on Performance, Quality and Reliability.
At Essential Solar we regard every company and residential customer an important part of our business. We pride ourselves in providing exception advice, support and service from our first consultation to years after installation.
As well as the environmental benefits of solar power, we understand that an important driver to install solar is to save money. Our qualified CEC design team will ensure the best panel layout for your premises based on a number of factors, including shading, roof availability and electrical parameters to maximise efficiency of your system and providing the best financial return.
Of course, purchasing a solar PV is a long-term commitment so the reliability of the components of the entire system is critically important and for that reason Essential Solar’s CEC accredited installers will only install Tier 1 products. We are accredited direct service partners with Fronius Australia and believe our business relationships is an important aspect of our company to be able to supply our customers with the latest and most efficient products on the market and continue to provide our customers with the best support possible.
Don’t waste sunlight – make the sunshine work for you.
Reviewers report paying: $3,300 - $10,100 for depending on hardware choice and installation difficulty ( how is this calculated? )
Panels, inverter and battery brands
Panel brands currently installed
Panel brands previously installed
Inverter brands currently installed
Inverter brands previously installed
Battery brands currently installed
The views expressed by reviewers are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of Peacock Media Group, which makes no representations as to the accuracy of the reviews. For our full disclaimer and further information, see our Terms of Use and our Review Guidelines.
Essential Solar Reviews (706)
Show Most Recent reviews from All time across Australia
Average Scores
4.4/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Quality of System
4.8/5
Installation
4.7/5
Customer Service
- 5 star 267
- 4 star 393
- 3 star 42
- 2 star 3
- 1 star 1
View Timeline
04 December 2023
04 December 2023
Confused no more!
I loved the fact that I had the support of Solar Quotes during this process, this very much put my mind at ease. Each of the businesses that provided quotes to me were professional and I ended up torn between two quotes that were very similar and both contacts were approachable and informative however, I chose Essential Solar because their representative came out to my house and was able to go through everything with me face to face and answer my questions. I was comfortable and never felt inferior because of all my questions. He provided me with a few quotes and went through each thoroughly explaining the differences and the pros and cons of each of them. I never felt pressured to choose the most expensive (which I did not), or that I had to go through his company because he had made the effort to personally come to speak to me. I was also able to request inhouse installers rather than subcontractors. I am just waiting for the inspector to come out and I am ready to go. Everyone at Essential Solar have made every step a stress-free process, and I thank them and Solar quotes for their assistance.30 November 2023
Essential Solar is 2nd to none.
Essential Solar installed 21 panels to the roof of my home in Thomastown a few years ago. When my son who lives in Epping was considering having solar panels fitted to his home I had no hesitation in recommending Essential Solar.Prior to ringing a Solar Panel installer I had read up on the different brands, performance and prices so I would have some knowledge about the product and pricing. When calling Essential Solar they were the only company that recommended Panels and Inverter that were listed as being in the top range.
Their Customer Service Representative was polite, professional, knowledgeable but not pushy, he was able to answer all my questions and gave additional information to what I myself had read. During the installation and follow up I really felt that I was in good hands, they organised the grid connection and assisted me to set up the display on my phone so I could check any time of the day or night to see how my system was performing
The after service follow up reassured me that I had made the best choice and would not hesitate in recommending Essential Solar to my family and friends.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
23 November 2023
Very Pleased with solar installation . . .
A representative from the company made an appointment & arrived as arranged. He was pleasant, informative & left me feeling confident that all would go along as discussed.On the day of installation, 3 men arrived & quickly got to work & on with the job.
They were efficient, professional, there was no cleaning up after them. Very pleased.
The electrical inspector arrived within a couple of days. All good
22 November 2023
Professional Installation
Essential Solar did a great job with my solar install. The person who visited my premise was not pushy or trying to force a sale but provided me with a lot of options. Though initially I did not go with an install, I contacted them after a year given there were 440W panels available.The team provided me with all the quotes I needed and once accepted sent over someone to measure if the panels will fit.
The install was neat and the installer made sure he was complying with all the rules and regulation in regards to the space required from the edge of the roof etc.
My only call out to essential is to have more stringent measuring process as when the installers came over they had to reduce 2 panels as they were close to the ridges.
Post install I have had a few questions regarding monitoring and the team has been extremely helpful.
Overall I would recommend them and contact them if I need any solar installs to be done in the future.
Inverter rating: 5/5
15 November 2023
Happy Days -
Solar Essentials contacted me within 48 hrs of my request for a quote and arranged a sales representative to attend onsite for inspection and discussion of system requirements within 7 days.Sales agent was very knowledgeable, courteous and took the time to tailor the proposed system to our specific needs and budget.
Installation was booked and complete within 4 weeks of quoting - with post installation grid connection and safety inspection arranged within 2-3 days by Solar Essentials. Installation crew were polite, tidy and punctual.
Only one small mark down to 4 stars regarding installation (affecting remote monitoring of system only) - this will be rectified shortly.
Great after sales support and customer care!
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
08 November 2023
Excellent experience with Essential Solar.
The process of installing solar with Essential was seamless from start to finish.Our salesperson Firoz visited our property, and we discussed what type of system would suit the household's needs and budget. Initially, we set a low to medium-price setup. It was nice that he was not pushy with any particular product or system. He gave us space to investigate if this was suited. After investigating a bit more on how we may use solar in the future we asked Firoz for a second proposal with higher-end products with micro inverters. In the end, Firoz supplied us with three comprehensive quotes and we chose higher-end solar panels and microinverters.
We chose REC 410W Alpha Pure Panels to possibly lessen the risk of failure and avoid service calls or replacements. We have a two-story building and everything is more expensive and problematic to fix than a single level. We liked the reviews of the REC panels. We liked the idea of micro-invertors for two reasons. One for safety and efficiency and two to negate having the inverter at the front door. I am aware string inverters are perfectly safe but sometimes for peace of mind is worth it.
The Essential Solar trades were so professional, and respectful that we hardly knew they were there. They arrived as suggested and left everything tidy. The appropriate noise level was a plus because we've experienced trades over the years who set up extremely loud music all day and don't think about home office workers or shift workers around us.
I would not hesitate to recommend Essential. They delivered as expected. Even to the end when our energy provider was causing a delay in the coordination of our meter (solar) configuration the lovely Jessica sorted it out re-sending all the documents that Essential had already sent out and following up because our provider had lost documents.
Panel rating: 5/5
06 November 2023
Essential Solar
Essential Solar sent someone to inspect my property before i was given a quote. The quote was very detailed and professionally presented. There was a delay in the installation but i was told beforehand. The new inverter is not yet in the country. I was constantly updated. Install is clean. Customer Service was great. They organized the grid connection as well as meter upgrade. Nothing to complain.
05 November 2023
Review
Great service from initial contact through to install.friendly and capable staff. Definitely recommend these guys!02 November 2023
Great Quality Installation after a long install delay.
OK, first the bad. We paid the deposit on July 31st and the install was completed October 3rd. We opted for the 10kW Fronius inverter which we knew was not available at the time, however the communication as the expected date drew near fell short of par. I think if we didn't chase daily for an update we may still have been waiting.We had a site inspection prior to receiving the quote and one large item that was missed was the size and length of the supply cable to our house which is vitally important to the maximum permissible feed in. (Read the great article on Voltage drop (or rise) on Solarquotes). This was a fairly significant additional cost.
Now onto the good. The communication from Jess, who was our first point of contact right through until past completion was awesome as was the technical specialist Tan who was dedicated to make sure we received the system we required.
On installation day the team and in particular the lead electrician were exceptional, courteous, and quickly resolved any issues that arose during the install. The quality of the install was second to none and they left the site spotless.
The electrical inspection was arranged in the same week (amazing service) and a minor issue for compliance was resolved the next day and the system signed off and operational by the end of the week. The forms we submitted to our retailer, and we were receiving feed-in credits on October 14th.
Would I recommend Essential Solar? Absolutely. They handled everything from design, all approvals right through to inspection and connection with our electrical retailer. The installation was top notch and performing better than we could have expected.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
02 November 2023
Solar Installation Made Easy
Essential Solar were the only company to send a Sales Rep before quoting. They were able to assess our needs, provide recommendations and advise that we would need a new switchboard before we could proceed with the installation.The whole team at Essential Solar were friendly and polite and answered any questions promptly. They arranged everything and guided us through the Solar Victoria application for the grant.
The installers were great. They showed up on time, were very friendly and cleaned up when the job was completed.
Essential Solar arranged for the final inspection of the installation and helped to organise the the notification to our energy retailer and connection to the grid after the installation.
Overall, Essential Solar made the whole process easy. Thank you.
30 October 2023
Original Review on 03-01-2023:
Very efficient installer
Their salesman gave me an excellent understanding of what Solar is all about and a run down of the process involved in installation. The installers were very obliging and carried out the work with a minimum of fuss The grid connection was completed within 10 days and went very smoothly. All in all I was very impressed with their service.10 months later we asked Duncan: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Definitely……is making a vast difference to my power bill and proving a worthwhile investment.26 October 2023
All happened seamlessly
All aspects of the installation were professional, and very competent. Sales rep and various tradies all turned up on time and were able to meet with us at times that worked for us! Independent inspection and grid connection happened seamlessly. Would cheerfully recommend Essential Solar to anyone.22 October 2023
Great Company to work with
Looking to install Solar I kept coming up with a either telephone number only, or a private house address, I also came across brokers who owned nothing just trying to get you on board then flog you off to a installer no face to face just a voice on a telephone, I tracked down where I could the address to the phone number then would keep looking a I wanted a sales office with a warehouse eventually I found Essential Solar and got talking with David the owner who explained how solar worked, also I wanted a long standing company with a track record, the proposal David presented me with looked good so I went with Essential Solar the installation was great with everything working as was explained to me.Jessica in the office was very helpful with the paperwork that had to be done.
I would recommend Essential Solar.
Ray.
18 October 2023
Happy Customer
Quoting was Good. Firoz came by (The Only solar company to conduct a face-to-face quote out of 3) and explained the system and how it would best be used and set up on our property. Communication was good with timely responses to emails and submission of paperwork. Installation went well with only minor issues identified. These were addressed and corrected almost immediately to a high standard. Connection to the Grid was achieved a short time after installation without issue. Overall a good experience and I would highly recommend the Essential Solar Team.12 October 2023
Smooth sailing
Essential Solar was a delight to deal with. Everything from the initial callout, installation, and post installation, has been smooth and easy. Asad the technical sales advisor was very knowledgeable and could answer all my questions during the quote. Edmond the customer support Officer responded quickly both with my calls and emails. The installation was neat. The installers knew what they were doing, no complaints on that end. Regarding price, it was the best deal I could find, making choosing this company a no brainer. Highly recommended solar installer.10 October 2023
Really responsive customer service and at a great price
Essential Solar did a great job from start to finish.Super punctual and responsive, their price was cheaper than the 4 other quotes I had received.
Super happy with the final product!
10 October 2023
Very professional
I received several quotes but Essential Solar were only one of two companies willing to come out and visit. I trusted their sales person who also had some good suggestions on the various array arrangements and orientations on what was quite a tricky roof area.After booking the installation team turned up on the agreed date, were friendly and professional and did a very neat job.
We are very pleased with the system and the whole experience. They weren’t the cheapest, but were far from expensive either. We paid a bit extra for glass panels (as we are very near the sea) and were confident we were getting quality components installed for a very good price. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a quality, painless solar install in Melbourne.
09 October 2023
Job Well Done
The sales and quoting was done in a non-aggressive and informative manner. Installation was done within the time period quoted and the customer service provided to ensure that the system was connected to the grid and operational was excellent.06 October 2023
First rate design and installation
It all went smoothly and professionally: a 6.6 kW array with microinverters replacing a 3 kW string that was in the wrong place, regularly shaded and nearly useless.The installation team went the extra yards to cope with a significant number of cracked cement tiles.
Early indications of system performance are very good.
Panel rating: 4/5
24 September 2023
Essential Solar & Sonnen Battery
Essential Solar installed solar panels for us in 2020. It was a difficult installation because of the layout of the house over three levels and the relatively limited roof space, but they came up with a clever and neat method of installation.We subsequently wanted to add a battery to our system and sought Essential Solar's advice. They advised us that, because we had a small number of panels, to wait a while whilst a suitable small-system battery became available.
Ultimately, a Sonnen battery was installed in July 2023.
The installation process went well. The installer was on time, quick, informative and the installtion is neat.
Battery rating: 5/5
20 September 2023
Great service. Attention to detail. Good price.
Proper site visit and quote. Good information, advice and explanation of process. Kept in touch while electricity switchboard upgraded. Rapid installation. Polite and efficient workers. Good products.Inverter rating: 5/5
13 September 2023
Great company
Reliable, comes to your house to quote, unlike some who quote over the phone, come when they say they will, also get polite reply to any query. Highly recommend.07 September 2023
Fantastic engagement from quote to grid connection
Essential Solar were the first to respond to a request for quote. They came out to the property assessed our needs and the structure of the house and potential shade impacts. They provided three options. The quote and initial design was provided on the spot. They understood we were getting other quotes and were patient while we went through the process.Once we accepted the quote installation was completed within 2 weeks with all paper work and engagement with our wholesaler and retailer all handled by Essential.
We couldn’t have been happier with the response, quality of work and follow up with the wholesaler and retailer.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
04 September 2023
Clean and neat installation and very informative during the installation process
Sales and quoting process was a great experience. Adam from Essential Solar went above and beyond to understand our needs and gave us multiple options and redo multiple quotes until we found our perfect fit. Installation did not fall far behind from expectation. The team was polite and punctual, they did their absolute best to provide maximum efficiency while keep all cables and wires as neat as possible, all modifications or adjustment was communicated prior. After installation everything was clean up. Customer service is also excellent as all inquiries were responded almost immediately.The process from start to finish is seamless and effortless.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Battery rating: 5/5
02 September 2023
Very neat installation
Essential Solar was the the only company that actually visited my home to quote and answer questions personally. Once I selected them to install the process ran smoothly through all the necessary stages to get connected to the grid.Inverter rating: 5/5
24 August 2023
Great installation and easy to work with
Sales and quoting process was smooth and we were able to understand the quote.Installation was punctual
Customer Service was great, they helped organise the grid connection after the install
21 August 2023
Expert advice, Expert installation to Old Fashion Customer Service
Overwhelmed with the number of sales call, I was fortunate to be directed to a local installer advertising in the local rag. Timeliness to establishing the consult appointment and flexibility to change when my work commitments commanded, demonstrated I was being treated as a customer not a transaction from get go! The consultant Firoz was more than pleased to share his knowledge of Solar operations as I indicated my ignorance from the outset. He took the time to draw pictures to highlight how and what works best for our roof. Installation process was seamless by Nic and the boys, with no evidence of mess left behind. Jessica was our go to person in the office and epitomised the professional, courteous and caring service from this wonderful Solar Installer. The owner should be very proud of his Team that delivered just old fashioned customer service putting the clients interest at the forefront of the delivery. Well done David on building a business that remains customer centric!!!!15 August 2023
Very organised team did the installation and the salesperson was helpful when providing quote.
Very organised team completed the installation and the salesperson was helpful and undertook a site visit when quoting.Inverter rating: 5/5
15 August 2023
Very happy with this company
We got three quotes. Asad came out for a site visit; the others were via email or phone. His explanation of how much energy we used, how much each panel would produce (summer vs winter), and the cost conversion were simple to understand. He was very responsive and helpful. We needed an extension panel for our switchboard and he found a solution for that. The panels were delivered on the day but install was delayed by a 10 days due to one of the team being out sick and then getting diaries to align. The work was explained to me by Nick, the team supervisor. The paperwork was easy to understand. The install team were punctual, efficient and tidy. The inspector came out 3 days later and we were operational. The solar tariff forms were submitted by the customer support team quickly. We paid for real time monitoring and that was definitely worth it. The impact on our day usage was immediate. I had been tracking our daily spend for months with an energy app; it dropped $2 a day in mid August. On a sunny winter weekday, we are giving 20kWh back to the grid so that’s +$1.40 via the feed-in tariff as well. I expect our energy costs to be minimal Oct-Mar. We are delighted with both the service and product from Essential Solar. Recommended.11 August 2023
Professional installer
Informative sales person - visited the property - responded promptly to requested changes in quoting.Very professional installation. Slight confusion over backup circuits but was rectified immediately and agreeably.
I was shown briefly how to operate and inspection and connection proceeded as planned.
07 August 2023
Very happy with Essential Solar
The sales & quoting was timely and flexible, in that I went back with modifications after the initial quote. These mods weren’t viewed as a problem and dealt with well.The installers arrived promptly on the day, were very pleasant and conscientious. Only 5 broken tiles in the whole process, and I had 40+ spare, as requested.
On inspection a minor deficiency was detected, caused mostly by a recent change in regulations. The company owner attended and rectified this, and my system is working very well thus far.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
31 July 2023
Happy with our Solar System.
Hayley the consultant extremely knowledgeable and took the time to make sure we fully understood what we were getting and the process of installation.Very happy with the installation team who were quick and very efficient and extremely tidy. We had 10 extra tiles in case of breakages and only needed one.
We are more than happy to recommend Essential Solar.
29 July 2023
Great job
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of essential solarInverter rating: 5/5
12 July 2023
Easy Peasy Solar Installation
Couldn't be more happy with our Solar purchase and installation. Essential Solar are a great company to work with in all aspects of the process.Hayley our consultant was extremely helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.
The installation team were a great bunch of guys who were friendly efficient and tidy.
Would definitely recommend Essential Solar.
11 July 2023
Fantastic Installer
The sales process was very easy , no pressure and very helpful. The installation went as the explained. They were very friendly, tidy, nd explained everything to us. The customer service was first class. They kept us informed and organised everything from start to finish. We couln't be happier with them10 July 2023
Fantastic Installer would highly recommend...
I would highly recommend Essential Solar, very professional company and I felt really taken care off.The sales person was very informative, he really took the time to explain the process.
Installation was very polite, tidy up after themselves and very punctual.
Jess was a god send....she is always willing to go over and above.....
Inverter rating: 5/5
05 July 2023
Professional and prompt
Had no worries with anything. Currently in next stage of them arranging grid connection. Dhose them because they were in the area, the only company to offer a rep visit to the location and the cheapest for a 10KW system, which wasnt everything but did help to swing the decision. Proved to be polite and professional05 July 2023
Honest Installer & Sales Person. Every Facts, Pros & Cons were Upfront
Sales Person was right on time (in fact early) and presents all the regulations restrictions, requirements upfront.Installation was really good. Installer took really good care of every aspect of the installation and was happy to change location of Solar Inverter from original electrical plan (for extra cost), as he understood it was the right location looking at my setup.
So far the customer service from Solar Essential is excellent. Still early days but so far so good
02 July 2023
Reliable sales person and respectful installers
Sales person was thorough and detailed and no questions too silly for him. Installers were respectful of the house and noise level; we have a newborn and every time they entered the house, they were mindful not to use their normal noise level to speak to us. Took off their shoes even when coming into the house. Currently waiting for confirmation of our provider to set up tariff feed-in so nothing else from Essential Solar’s end really.Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
21 June 2023
Highly recommended
Essential Solar were the only installers who actually inspected the property in person, and the only ones to pick up on the fact that I could use the garage roof to host half of the installed panels, rather than trying to squeeze them onto different sides of the roof. Very knowledegable and responsive to my questions too. Well-organised sales team that responded quickly and helpfully to my slightly complicated situation. They've built a strong reputation online so I feel they really want to maintain it.Installation was very smooth and the people who did it talked me through everything very thoroughly during the process and at the end. I wanted a good mid-range system and that's what they provided. Not the cheapest possible but a good investment for the next couple of decades.
Zero problems so far and I feel pretty confident they'll respond quickly to any issues that pop up. Recommended.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
13 June 2023
Original Review on 16-08-2022:
Best customer service
They have the best customer service by far. I am still waiting for my installation but everything is doing good so far.10 months later we asked Jayvee: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
Definitely!06 June 2023
Quick and easy quote and installation
Salesperson was not pushy and provided multiples responses to my questions and provided alternative panel options when asked. Install team where professional and did a tidy job.31 May 2023
Original Review on 02-08-2022:
High level of professionalism
I loved the fact that as part of their sales process, a site visit is done to clear out any technical/physical aspects of the site prior to their quote to us. Very professional in house installation team, good emphasis on safety who gave me the confidence that they really knew what they were doing. They were very accommodating to my specific installation timeline needs. Overall, a very pleasant experience dealing with them.10 months later we asked Rodney: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"
I would say that it has. Producing when it's able to as per expectations with no faults or issues thus far. Still very satisfied with the overall system.30 May 2023
Solar Panel / Inverter Commitment
Agreed to scheduled installation date which was completed in one dayAlso the electrical installers managed to organise for Electrical Inspector to approve installation on the same day.
pricing was competitive so choice of supplier was more about quality of product and delivery of service.
No problem promoting them as a preferred supplier
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
25 May 2023
Great service
From the first phone call everything was explained clearly. The installers were quick and efficient and left everything neat and tidy. Customer service continued right up to the process of connecting to the grid and any queries I had during the whole process were dealt with satisfactorily.24 May 2023
Great experience
Sales proved a good experience - friendly and helpful. Installation was on time and seemed well done.22 May 2023
Highly recommended
Very professional company, Essential Solar provided exceptional service from quote through to installation. Would highly recommend them.14 May 2023
Great service by Essential Solar with a site visit. Install subcontracted to EOC but great service by both.
Essential Solar were the only company to send a sales person for a site visit. This enabled them to identify the roof space for a larger install than what the satellite images used by the other companies suggested.A competitive quote with quality hardware.
The actual installation was subcontracted out to another company (EOC who had also provided a very competitive quote) Their installers were punctual, fast, efficient, tidy and polite. Great service from both companies.
I'm still waiting on the process to be complete with an electrical safety inspection and my power provider to reconfigure the metre but anticipate this happening in the next week.
10 May 2023
A very happy customer!
We purchased our solar system from Essential Solar in November last year and we have already seen the benefits!We wanted a system that wasn't fully budget but going to give us a decent performance for a mid range price. We don't aim on being in our house for the entire time it will take to pay back but knowing if we decide to turn it into an investment property we will have little to no fuss.
We went with Essential Solar as they took the time to send a sales person (Special mention to Firoz who was great!) out to our home, inspect and discuss all aspects of the system we wanted. They also offer an interest free financing option directly with them which allowed us to split the cost of the system between paying 50% now and the remaining 50% over the coming 12 months.
Our electricity bill in January was cut from $180 in 2022 to $25 in 2023. We are very happy with the system. We paid extra for the full consumption monitoring as recommended by Finn and this has been an great decision. Seeing when the sun is up and how much energy is being produced at different times of the year has allowed us to schedule our appliances to run when there's enough solar being generated, saving us buying electricity from the grid. We love knowing that we're saving the planet for our son at the same time saving money!
I will definitely be reaching out to Essential Solar again when we decide to get our next house as their customer service was fantastic!
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Amazing installer
The quote was provided very fast, we asked questions and had all answers answered. We were so satisfied from start to finish. Works and looks amazing. Could not be happier with the final product.