Essential Solar

Essential Solar Reviews

4.6

Based on 765 ratings

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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: $4,300 - $8,898 for depending on hardware choice and installation difficulty ( how is this calculated? )

Panel, inverter, battery and hot water heat pump brands

Hot water heat pump brands currently installed

The views expressed by reviewers are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of SolarQuotes Home Electrification Pty Ltd, 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 (765)

Show Most Recent reviews from All time  across Australia

Average Scores

4.4/5

Value for money

4.6/5

Quality of System

4.7/5

Installation

4.7/5

Customer Service

  • 5 star 292
  • 4 star 423
  • 3 star 44
  • 2 star 4
  • 1 star 2

Great Experience!

Essential Solar recently installed an additional solar system for us. Very impressed with their knowledge, professionalism, the install and customer service. Post install they helped resolve an issue with the supplier on my behalf. Highly recommended.
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Haier Hot Water Heat Pump install

The guys from Essential Solar did a great job on my recent HWHP install. Very efficient, cleaned up after themselves well and very clean, neat install. Hats off to Nick and the the plumber (whose name I forget!)

They also installed my mew Induction Cooktop so it was a one stop shop for both jobs which made life a lot easier.

Thanks guys!

Good price and great service from all the guys at Essential Solar.

Supplier Reply:

Hi Ian,

Thank you for your positive review! We're glad all went well and we thank you for putting your trust into Essential Solar. Certainly makes it easier having a one stop shop for your requirements!

Enjoy your new heat pump and induction cooktop :-)
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Easy to deal with but not the best

The sales/quoting process:
I found them to be very accommodating to what we wanted and were very willing to make adjustments. However the design ended up a little different upon installation because they realised they couldn't fit as many panels on the roof spaces we had, this is despite having already sent a person to measure the roof after we had paid the deposit. So 4 stars for that whole process.

The install:
The whole system with 36 panels with optimisers, a battery and an EV charger started at 7am and finished by 4pm. The team cleaned up after themselves mostly so that was good. However, our oven was somehow left without any power despite the switch in the switchboard being in the ON position, so they had disconnected it somehow during the work and didn't reconnect it. We didn't discover this for a few days because we didn't need the oven and everything else in the house was fine.
4 stars for this. At the time of writing, 11 days after the install, they still haven't come back to reconnect the oven and I'm still messaging them.

The invoicing/after sales service:
The invoice wasn't itemised. So there was a lump sum for everything that was installed minus rebates and STC's and government loans. This became a problem because when they had to adjust the invoice down from the original 39 panels system to now 36 panels, I couldn't understand why the amount hadn't reduced at all. They said the reduction was $375 for 3 less panels but I also had less STC's and somehow I'm still paying the exact same amount as before. That doesn't sound right to me so I'm still trying to get them to send me something that makes sense before paying. Apparently all providers insist on full payments before or on the day of installation, which isn't great for the homeowner. They should accept 90% payment and receive the remainder 10% after the system has passed inspection. This would be a fairer payment structure for everyone to ensure their work is performed well.
Inverter rating: 4/5
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Legends !

Solar is an interesting journey, we all get a million calls trying to sell it to us, and marketed to by a thousand companies, which makes it really off-putting when you decide to take the plunge.

These guys are the real deal, Its actually a business that exists, has a premise, has its own staff etc all the things you want when purchasing this type of product. Additionally when installing on terracotta roof tiles who ever installs can do more damage then its worth especially when the tiles where fresh out of the kiln and still brittle.

These fellas did the trick, didnt damage anything, the install was clean and the attention to detail was spot on. In this case the install was done on my new house that is being built by my father who has 35 year experience as a builder, so we were well onto the installers every step of the way, and there was nothing to fault at all.

Dont much around with random companies on the net just go with essential. Big thanks to Nick who did my install, he is a true gentleman and old school skilled tradesman.
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Good sales rep, good installation team

We got four quotes from different suppliers and ended up going with Essential Solar, due in no small part to sales rep Harry. They were also able to squeeze one more panel in compared with the other offers, which was an added bonus.

The installation was quick - they not only got everything up in a few hours, they also removed a couple of old solar panels used for hot water (installed when the house was built in 2009). The guys appeared to have a great time up on the roof, cleared away all the odds and ends, and everyone was super polite.

There was a minor snag with the certification process, but after a few attempts the system was turned on. We're still waiting for our electricity provider to upgrade our meter box (or whatever it is they do), but that's another matter and not the reason we wanted solar panels in the first place.

We opted against a battery at this time, purely because of the cost.
Panel rating: 4/5
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Happy eventually

Once we got through all the government red tape and paper work (which was a nightmare for the elderly coz everything is online) installation went ahead fine.
Only negative would be we needed some explaining on how the system works and when the back up for the battery works. It seemed just to get installed and then we were on our own.
Received a user manual by email 3 months later.
Ed at customer service was brilliant and very polite and helpful.
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Second time customer and would NOT recommend or use again

Really poor customer service we have had to chase/call them for any information. Managed to blame every body else for delays in supplying a certificate of safety 1 month after install and still waiting for it. This has been an absolute disaster
We do not recommend.
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An informed process

From quote through to sign off, the process was professional. At each step the team answered any questions we had and we found them to be honest and transparent. It was a big investment, but value for money. The experience was easy and we were happy with the final outcomes.
Battery rating: 5/5
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Outstanding Service and Seamless Solar Installation

We had our solar system installed on our townhouse a few months ago, and the experience was fantastic from start to finish.

The sales and quoting process was smooth and professional. Thanks to Euan. He arrived on time, took the time to answer all our questions, measured up, and provided recommendations on where to install the inverter, even giving us a few options.

The installation went just as smoothly. The team was punctual, polite, and worked tidily throughout the process. They left everything neat and in order, which was much appreciated.

Their customer service was excellent, providing end-to-end assistance. Ed and Jessica made the process easy by organising the grid connection after installation and ensuring we knew how everything worked.

We honestly cannot fault any part of the experience – great service, communication, and support all the way through. We highly recommend this Essential Solar if you are considering solar!
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Great service

Very professional sales and consultation process. Great install.
Very happy with the results.
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Slow and steady

The quoting process was excellent. The designer visited our home and we were able to discuss all aspects of the design. Any calls to the company were answered promptly and all communication was clear and detailed. The installation process was very slow. The installers were polite and friendly but did not communicate their attendance far in advance. After removing our old solar panels they did not return for some days, leaving the new panels stacked in the garden for more than a week. The entire process took thirteen days.
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Very good customer service

The Essential Solar team was very professional, they didn't just answer my questions but also provided insights and recommendation about solar panels. He was also very patient with my enquiries.
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Great installation - fast and as promised

Excellent installation of a 9.5kw fronius system. The initial quote and site visit was excellent with options provided along with reasoned recommendations and a can do attitude. Booking the installation was easy and a date booked in within a week of approving the quote. There was a small change to the system specs during installation but this was all communicated well in the day and the quote adjusted appropriately. Follow up emails and getting online were all simple and everything has just worked perfectly from the start. Highly recommend!
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Efficient and well executed install

From the start of the quotation process to the final paperwork and sign off of the installed system, everything was done cleanly and smoothly by this company. I modified my requirements a couple times which were easily integrated into the design. Wait time for the install was less than 2 weeks from when I agreed to the design and the installation subcontractors engaged carried out the install in a single day (as expected). The independent safety inspector even commented on how good a job the installers did. Thanks Essential Solar, another happy customer.
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Great installer, great customer service

Had an overall very positive experience with Essential Solar. The consultant did the site inspection and made recommendations based on actual conditions on-site which is assuring. I wished he was a bit more proactive, but not a deal breaker.
After that, the installation, the inspection and payment process was really smooth. I also overpaid the project by accident which I overlooked but the customer service person was great in bringing that to my attention and organised a refund to my account with no delays. The system is working very well now and am happy with the overall quality.
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Good team

All aspects of quoting, inspection and installation proceeded in an orderly and informative manner. Polite, tidy and punctual despite the rainy day. They were helpful despite my lack of technical and internet proficiency.
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Positive experience with Essential Solar

The individual who came for the sales/quoting process was knowledgeable. We ended up with a larger system than we probably need but it leaves scope for a battery and/or EV once they become worthwhile. Installers were punctual, polite and efficient. We've only had the system for three months but quality seems to be good. We are certainly generating more power than expected. Definitely recommend you include them in the companies from which you obtain quotes.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Very good experience

After getting 3 quotes Essential Solar's representative stood out as the most informative and helpful of the 3.
Customer Support made the whole process very easy in assisting with organising paperwork, installation etc.
The two man team who installed the system were very friendly and efficient.
Had to restart the Inverter once and was walked through the process by Customer Support Team.
Panel rating: 4/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
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Good Installation

The supplier was good, explained all the requirements for the system and gave options for various panels and inverters and explained the pros & cons of each of the options. The installers came on time discussed final placement of the inverter and cables prior to installation and installed the inverter where requested. The supplier followed up with the grid connection and submitted all paperwork to our electricity supplier the day of install so it could be certified ASAP.
Overall it was a fairly easy experience from quotes, through to final connection.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Excellent installer

The sales process was very smooth and well sorted out. Organising the installation date was tricky because rain was forecast on the planned installation date but Essential Solar were very good in sorting out a date that would suit. The installing electrician (Stuart) was excellent. He did a high quality job even though he had a few issues to sort out. The biggest problem he had was in removing my old slar panels. He had to find a special pentagonal socket spanner which was very hard to get. There was a resulting delay but Stuart was very good at working with us to find time to get the job done.

Stuart was very good in his communications and I felt that he was paying attention to quality so I am confident that we will have maany years of trouble free use.

His hand over of the system was well done and he was clear about how it worked, where the fuses were, what the various swiches did, how to use the iSolarCloud app and how the components were connected.
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Prompt installation, professional work

Sales and quoting process was fine and the work was great and they were very tidy and hardworking. In terms of improvements to the experience, it would have been better if the use of subcontracted installation services was disclosed during the quoting process as it would have resulted in me undertaking more due diligence. I think this and the process from acceptance of the quote could also have been better explained to manage our expectations. Other than these points we are very happy with the job noting the system is operating, but not yet connected to the grid. We are not able to comment on performance given it is the middle of winter.
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Good people

The quoting inspection revealed an upgrade of switchboard was necessary. They were happy to give me quotes for many different scenarios and different equipment.
The installation was the very next week, which went smoothly and the inspector hooked it up the following week, all very efficient.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Great installation. Friendly installation team and very efficient. Cleaned up everything left the place immaculate.

No complaints. Very happy with the whole process. I have recommended them to my sister who is going to contact them.
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Original Review on 11-08-2023:

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. Original ratings

Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Battery rating: 5/5

Value for money: 5/5
Quality of System: 5/5
Installation: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5

10 months later we asked Malcolm: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"

It's been great. I even used the same installer to put in a Tesla EV charger for the MG I bought soon after installing the panels. Have been able to charge almost exclusively using solar from the house supply or from the charger. Again, the May/June weather has meant I've been forced to use some off-peak grid to charge the EV overnight. Also, this extra grid-use prompted me to switch to an electricity supplier with better rates and longer off-peak period (and sign-on bonus!)
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Delivered as promised

Using the Finn Peacock Solarquotes process made the whole experience straight forward.
The three quotes were varied in their offering giving us good comparisons of our options.
Helpful spreadsheets etc made comparisons easy.
All respondents were responsive, professional, courteous and on-time for visits.
Whilst were happy to choose any of the three we were swayed by Ray Bout's (Essential) knowledge, approach and cost competitiveness of the solution.
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Essential Solar were excellent to deal with. Installers did a great job. Highly recommended

Solar quotes provided a quote from a company Essential Solar. Sales rep Ray provided a thorough quote and understanding of what to expect. Installation team were very good with a lot of information for us. Federal rebate arrangement by Essential Solar and Vic state rebate process very easy to do. Fast approval and installation went off with out hassle
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Thanks Solar Quotes

Essential solar were great in terms of sales and after sales. Highly recommend them. Thanks to sales person Natalie Hummel and Jessica Kidd. Also, Amir was a great installer.
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Very professional sales & instillation team

From the quote to grid connection was about 3 weeks everything was organised for me very impressive team
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Beyond expectations

From the first enquiry with Essential Solar to the completion of the installation of a 6 Kw solar system we experienced a professionalism beyond our expectations. The on site visit from the Technical Sales Adviser set the tone and gave us confidence to proceed. Communication between all those involved with the process was seamless. A detailed, precise and accurate outline of all the regulatory steps to be followed was very helpful. The quality of the work of the installers was commented on during the electrical safety inspection. Essential solar handled negotiations with our energy provider, connections to the grid etc. Upon completion we received a comprehensive documentation file. We highly recommend Essential Solar.
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Very effiicient process

The sales/quoting process was very professional and informative. Any questions were answered fully and promptly. Staff from Essential Solar remained in contact with us throughout the quoting, application and installation processes, and each step happened quite quickly. The installers were punctual, friendly and professional. As the system was installed only a couple of days ago it has not been certified yet, but this should hopefully happen in the next week or so.
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Excellent advice and support

Essential Solar gave clear and informed advice on the solar installation options - I felt well informed of key concepts for consideration.

They have locally based staff who have long tenure with the company and industry which gave me confidence.

The installation team did attempt to add additional charges associated with upgrading the switchboard which were not communicated at the time. I pushed back on this and Essential Solar accepted this as their cost.

The post sale support was well communicated and timely - they were clear on the multiple steps in the process and stuck to the plan they communicated.

Happy to recommend Essential Solar
Panel rating: 4/5
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Solar installation

Solar quotes was the starting point to get solar installed. They provided 2 companies to quote. One company was not interested but essential solar were very informative and professional. Sales rep had done his homework and had a comprehensive contract. Installation team delivered the panels a few days before and took the time to scope the job. Installation guys were 100% to deal with and set up our phone apps etc. Very highly recommend this company
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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An incentive was offered by Essential Solar for this review. Learn more here.

A few hiccups but happy with the end result

Paul was very friendly and helpful with no "hard sell". I have never had a solar system before and was provided with a full explanation of which system would work best for me and the installation process. The communication regarding the installation (they always turned up on time) was great and the office staff were always friendly and helpful and answered all of my questions. Because my house was a new build there was a hiccup with the location of the switchboard. I would encourage all new build owners to provide their solar company with a set of plans showing the location of their services or to wait until their house is completely finished with all services installed to ensure there are no encroachments to the location of the switchboard. After some (at times stressful) negotiations about moving the switchboard the issue was fixed and I was shown how to download the app. The process of obtaining the rebate was made easy for me and they also organised everything with my connection to the grid so I could get my feed in tarriffs after the final install. I am very happy with the Enphase app that lets me monitor input/output and choose the best times to use my solar energy.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Great install

Quick to give quote and get process running. Consultants were polite and efficient, helpful in addressing issues and concerns. Punctual and tidy on day of install. Gave quotes on different brands all rated highly. Very competitive pricing. Willing to install system where other installers said it was not possible or worth it.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Solid and credible local operators

Excellent technical sales service that explained all the necessary concepts clearly and succinctly.

Local in house installation crew and attentive and responsive customer service team
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Great service

The whole process was generally very clear and professional. The only negative was that they wouldn't itemise the quote, which meant I had to manually calculate each item based on other data to do a quote comparison, which seemed unnecessarily opaque.

The planning, installation and connection all went well, with clear communication throughout.

Pleased with the service by the whole team.
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Couldn’t be happier

From the start to the finish everything and everyone were brilliant,
The only downside was that someone had to miss out on a job,
If I could have used 2 installers I would have been happy to do so.
I spent most of my live in customer service so I’m very critical when it comes to service , everything was 5 star
Thank you solar quotes for the fantastic leads
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Original Review on 30-05-2023:

Solar Panel / Inverter Commitment

Agreed to scheduled installation date which was completed in one day
Also 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 Original ratings

Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5

Value for money: 5/5
Quality of System: 5/5
Installation: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5

11 months later we asked Mark: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"

Yes... just interested in battery installation, available storage capacity and of course the price.
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From initial enquiry to installation, 10/10

Excellent sales/quoting process. The installation was prompt and professional and overall customer service communication was excellent from initial enquiry, through to installation.
Panel rating: 4/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
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An incentive was offered by Essential Solar for this review. Learn more here.

Great solar company

From the first phone call. All the staff including installation staff were very helpful. Would recommend. Explained everything very clearly and answered all my questions. Good quality and good value
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Stress free from start to finish. Great job guys.

Had a great experience with Essential and very happy with the result. Our bills by default seem to be reduced by around 33% on average (only one big summer month to compare with), more if we did more during the day to maximise usage of what we produce (didn't get a battery).

Quote stage was long (our doing), but good. Of the three recommended to me by SolarQuotes, Essential was the only one that arranged a time to actually look at what they were dealing with and be a matter of fact, practical and professional with their assessment of our needs and wants. After a bit of back and forth (me to get the best price and best inclusions, we weren't looking for cheap, we were looking for quality with the aim in future proofing), we proceeded with Essential Solar due to their care and attention to detail and the selling point for me was using their own employees and nothing was contracted out. Our price included brackets and clips for a flat Kliplok roof, a new meterbox installation, rewiring of the old one, and a consumption monitor (best thing we purchased!!).

Once deposit was paid, they were very swift in setting up installations. Installers were on time on a very hot day and got straight to it, installing with care all the panels (photo attached) and doing a good job of it! They couldn't do everything in the one full day, so they came back 1.5 weeks later to finish it: they did the conduit cables, all the wiring and installed/set up the inverter in a three-quarter day.

Once installation was completed, the electrician's instructions were clear and explained everything to me and even gave me advice on what to do in the future when we consider EV (reason we added the new box) and battery installations. Above and beyond. Effortless, friendly and professional. Only one criticism I have in relation to the conduit installation was a failed drill hole in the render at the front door, a bit visible. But small. I cannot speak for the roof and whether any damage is up there (I have no way to get on the roof, it's quite high and no ladder), but from the photos it looks pretty sound with care clearly taken to not create any issues.

Process following this was quick as well. They arranged the inspector to sign off quickly was all done within 2 days. Sadly the slowest (and most unfortunate point) was on the retailer and electricity provider: they charged us extra to configure the main meter remotely to accept FiT metred to the grid and took a little longer than I would have liked (5 business days, max was 20). Essential did make it clear to us that this may happen from the very beginning, so all our expectations were met and there were no surprises.

We've had it for a good two to three weeks now, metred with the retailer for about one and am very impressed with the overall experience Essential has provided to us. As it's all still new to us I go back to them every week or so with questions that pop up and they respond within a timely manner and have been incredibly professional throughout. I am very glad we proceeded with Essential and I look forward to coming back to them in future for maintenance and when we save enough to invest in a battery.
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Great job

Sales/quoting process was good, only one of the three quotes where someone came onsite before providing the quote.

The installation ran well, punctual, polite, timely and tidy.

Everything was organised.
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Good quality installination and good sales staff

The whole process was simple and quick. The installation was of good quality and the staff acted in a professional manner. Unfortunately I was unable to obtain a feed in tariff as AusNet do not allow any export to the grid
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Responsive service

Responsive customer service and the (sub-contracted) installation team was great.
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Great installer

I would recommend Essential Solar as a great installer. Communication with customers seems like is on the top level. Also, I liked the quality of the installation. The one thing that could be better is communication between office employees and the installation crew. The reason for that: I often contacted the office and we discussed my skylights, which I want to keep, and which I don't need any longer. I specified that the panels could be installed over them. On the day of the installation though the manager of the installer crew told me that the skylights that I don't need should be removed in advance. Eventually, the crew kindly removed the unnecessary skylight themselves however it wasn't communicated to me by the office team.
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Generally excellent installation and service

The sales process was generally very good. Some photographs of the installation site didn't make their way to the system designer. Consequently the design had to be modified. But this happened smoothly with no resulting delay. Installation was quick and tidy. I observed and notified one minor issue at 4.30 pm a couple of days later. A person was on site fixing it at 7.45 the next morning. Incredible service. Essential solar looked after all the paperwork and organised grid connection including modification of my electrical meter. The system has performed well. I opted to have a "smart" meter installed. This is mounted in the switchboard and allows monitoring of what is happening (power generation and consumption) on my mobile phone. This has been useful in deciding when to run appliances, heating etc, to minimise power consumption from the grid during periods of low solar .panel output
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Original Review on 27-04-2023:

Top performance

Very well organised. Took the time to actually visit our premises. Quote came through quickly together with all the technical specs. Again were quick to put wheels in motion once quote was accepted, installed within 3 weeks and inspected day after. Great work all round. Original ratings

Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5

Value for money: 5/5
Quality of System: 5/5
Installation: 5/5
Customer Service: 5/5

10 months later we asked Lloyd: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"

So far so good. System has performed exceptionally well, and this is reflected in reduced power bills and less reliance on gas due to reverse cycle air cons installed shortly after. System more than covers the air cons during daylight hours.
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Essential Solar - they did a great job

After my initial enquiry they scheduled a timely appointment. The consultant explained the different options and we were able to make a decision at our meeting. The consultant was very courteous and knowledgeable. They undertook the work within the agreed timetable. The independent engineer who approved the work commented that Essential Solar had done a very good job.
Inverter rating: 4/5
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Fantastic Installation

I liked that Essential Solar did a thorough physical inspection of the roof before the installation date and as a consequence had to reduce the number of proposed panels. The installation team were prompt, friendly, professional and informative and tidied up upon completion. When an unexpected problem occurred they modified the layout so that the overall system size was unaffected. The system still is awaiting official inspection but that has been organised.
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