First Choice Solar

First Choice Solar Reviews

4.7

Based on 193 ratings

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About

Who is First Choice Solar?

Established in 2010, First Choice Solar was founded with a clear purpose: to deliver high-quality, innovative, and affordable solar solutions that stand the test of time. Our goal is simple yet impactful: to empower communities with sustainable energy options while helping them save on costs.

First Choice Solar has enjoyed steady growth from its origins as a solar contractor. With over 10,000 installations under our belt and growing, we are now widely recognised as the leading name in solar retail across The Gold Coast, Northern NSW, and The Sunshine Coast.

Our continuing growth and lasting success in an industry known for rapid turnover, speaks volumes about our commitment to excellence.

Spearheaded by joint owners Peter Berkers and Matt McKinley, our large team of qualified electricians and Clean Energy Council-accredited solar installers operate from two flagship sites that service South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers of NSW. Co-owner Matt McKinley heads up our Gold Coast factory/showroom which is centrally located in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, whilst Founder Peter Berkers oversees our purpose-built facility in Caloundra West on the Sunshine Coast. Customers are welcomed daily in both showrooms to see and discuss our extensive array of quality products and receive advice and support.

 

Why Choose First Choice Solar?

What sets First Choice Solar apart from others in the industry is our workmanship and steadfast dedication to quality and community. We prioritise expertise over aggressive sales tactics—so much so that we don’t employ a single salesperson. Led by owner-workers, we are fully invested in you and your project and committed to ensuring your complete understanding and satisfaction every step of the way. Evident in our exclusive use of products with proven long-lasting performance, guaranteeing they continue to deliver savings and benefits for a decade and beyond.

When we’re not with you at our showrooms or out on-site, we are deeply ingrained in supporting our community, giving back at every opportunity. We are proud sponsors of both the Burleigh Bears Juniors and Seniors, as well as the Currumbin Eagles, and Palm Beach Sharks Soccer Club. Our Row for Life initiative was a great success, seeing us raise just over $50k which was given to local families in dire need. We remain committed to making meaningful contributions beyond business whenever and wherever we can.

At First Choice Solar, we are laying the foundation for a future that extends for many more generations to come. Trust us to provide reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective solar solutions that truly work for you.

Reviewers report paying: $4,559 - $5,500 for depending on hardware choice and installation difficulty ( how is this calculated? )

Panel, inverter and battery brands

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.

First Choice Solar Reviews (193)

Show Most Recent reviews from All time  across Australia

Average Scores

4.7/5

Value for money

4.7/5

Quality of System

4.8/5

Installation

4.7/5

Customer Service

  • 5 star 120
  • 4 star 64
  • 3 star 8
  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 1

Great first contact with follow up being excellent

All parts of the application process was excellent with quick prompt answers to all questions that I had.
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Very Good Solar System

We were very happy with the process of Solar Quotes. Jake and the team from First Choice Solar did a great job installing and explaining the system to us. We wouldn’t hesitate recommending them to anyone at all.
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Amazing service

Nice and helpful salesman. Amazing install team. Easy dealing. Helpful admin team
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Excellent efficient system, looks neat and tidy in garage

Polite, punctual and professional. Excellent communication during process, sales person was electrician, could answer all my technical questions)
Battery rating: 5/5
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Great Experience

First Choice Solar, was very knowledgeable with their product with gave us the best price and system, without putting other company's down. We are making power from very early in the morning to last thing in evening, we are very happy, with their advice
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Fast and flexible

The quote was ok but i felt it could have been explained better, because of this I picked the wrong quote initially. However the installers on the day were flexible and fixed my error. The system itself is fine the installers were polite tidy and on time. I did get a very quick demo on how to use the app but it was basic and I actually have no idea how to use it beyond being able to see if it's working and I'm not sure who to call for follow up support. Wasn't terrible experience just could of been better. Hopefully it saves me money.
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Quick response

First choice were in contact at every step.
Great customer service. Installer was very pleasant and helpful. Installation was commenced within 2 weeks and System working well. This was an upgrade to a larger system.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
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Exceptional Service and Quality Solar Installation from First Choice Solar

I recently had a fantastic experience with First Choice Solar and couldn't be happier with the quality of service they provided! from start to finish, the entire team went above and beyond to ensure we had a top-notch solar system installed.

Bobby, our sales rep, was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything in detail, helping us choose the perfect system for our home. He was patient with all our questions and made the whole process feel seamless.

When it came to the installation, Jake, the lead installer, and his crew did an amazing job. They were professional, efficient, and made sure everything was installed to the highest standard. We really appreciated their attention to detail.

Finally, the customer service team at First Choice Solar was always responsive and helpful, keeping us informed every step of the way.

We are thrilled with our new solar system and would highly recommend First Choice Solar to anyone looking for quality solar solutions. A huge thanks to Bobby, Jake, and the entire team for making it such a great experience!
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Fantastic Solar Experience

First choice solar got in touch with me almost instantly after recommendation from SolarQuotes. Matt (Director & Electrician) was at my home to do an in person quote the next day.
There was no pushiness or salesmanship, he was able to provide factual answers to all my questions and provided me detailed and itemised quotes (only company out of 6 that I obtained quotes from to breakdown the pricing).
Installation occurred within 2 weeks. The team was able to facilitate placement of the inverter inside my garage and minimise visible cables externally. The electrician on the day (Warren) answered all my questions and ensured that I could access the inverter and the catch control via the apps before leaving.
The customer service from the administrative team was great. All of the warranties and instructions regarding ongoing management and servicing were provided to me a week after installation.
I would feel confident going back to them if any issues arise in future and for installation of battery in the future.

Great experience
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Easy install

Great experience from advice on system to quote and install. Team were friendly and easy to work with.
Panel rating: 5/5
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Still having problems

The system isn’t generating the power it should be. Problems with the install where panels were not turned on once investigated.
Technicians attending again this morning and think the inverter may be the problem.
Panel rating: 2/5
Inverter rating: 3/5
Battery rating: 4/5
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Great service

Super helpful and up-front throughout sales and installation. Not sales-pitchy or pushy. Answered all of my questions promptly, even on weekends! Quick and efficient install, and they took care of everything.
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Good experience

The company was flexible with the location of the equipment and completed the job without a fuss . a nice neat installation (I'm a electrician)
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Top installation and the best price

Sale person was efficient and informative. Didn’t try to bulls**t me and when I came back to them with some additions to the quote, they over provide at a cheaper rate. I couldn’t have been happier. They even threw in a pressure wash of the whole roof for free!!!
Installer was on time and kept me up to date with the progress. We went through the installation up front so I knew what they were installing was what we’d agreed at the sale. Very professional installers. They even moved some previously cracked roof tiles around so that any leaks would be around the eves and not the ceiling.
They set up the app on my phone and showed me how to use it. They took me through the new system and explained everything quite clearly.
And they cleaned up after themselves well.
Overall I was happy with the whole experience.
Panel rating: 4/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
Battery rating: 4/5
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Fantastic Service

We were hesitant to install solar panels based on some negative feedback about the process we had received from some friends.

However the team at First Choice Solar have been fantastic. They have been knowledgeable, reliable and professional every step of the way.
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Under promised but over delivered…..so good!!

Close neighbours in our gated community recommended First Choice Solar to us recently and, from the very start, we knew we were in good hands. Matt came to advise us, and answered our endless questions with great patience and without the ‘hard sell’. His itemised quote was received within an hour of him leaving us!!
Installation day arrived a few weeks later - & the sun actually shone after days of rain!! Warren, Scott & Ash, the installers, arrived spot on time and proved to be a great team. They were polite, friendly, & were happy to answer yet more of our questions - they were a joy to deal with. They set to work immediate and, with just one very short break, they had the system up and running in no time at all. Warren, the electrician, helped us with the download of the monitoring app and explained how to use the various aspects of the system before leaving! All in all the installation was completed by 12.45 p.m…..a job that we had anticipated would take all day!! Such was the efficiency of their efforts. Thank you, boys. Another job well done & two very happy customers.
Kristina in Customer Service was amazing throughout the whole process and kept us informed every step of the way with no prompting or chasing on our part. First Choice Solar organised the grid connection on our behalf - we were told at the start that we wouldn’t have to do anything - and we didn’t!! Everything seemed to work like clockwork and we feel extremely happy & fortunate to have found a company that actually does what it promises to do and without any hassles.
Well done to Peter, Matt & all the team! We will have no hesitancy in recommending First Choice Solar to anyone requiring the very best of service, excellent tradesmanship & a genuine philosophy of pride in doing things honestly and efficiently.
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A very satisfied customer

i didn't think service like this was still around, on time ,well mannered, had all the right gear, knew what they were doing and got into it straight away .stopped for a bite and were finished in a few hours.
the panels i have bought this time are putting out twice as much as before and its safe to say i am over the moon.
i will aways recommend 1st choice solar to all my friends.
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Top quality

From the sales person, installation team and office staff, all were very friendly and professional, nothing was to much trouble.
Differently recommend First Choice Solar
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Fast friendly service

Process was easy. Were some delays due to rainy weather.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Battery rating: 5/5
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First Choice Solar

From start to what I hope is finish (ie nothing goes wrong) I cannot fault FCS. The sales person was punctual and personable and recognised my needs. The quote was very competitive. Another company recommended by Solar Quotes sadly was lacking in all the above and i am happy to give phone feedback on this to SQ.

The admin team both before and after installation were courteous and responsive. I did not have to wait for any paperwork at all. This is in sharp contrast to other companies I asked for quotes.

The installation exceeded expectations. The chaps turned up on time, were polite and very respectful, and worked very hard to finish the job. Any queries that I am aware of were addressed with me prior to doing anything, eg did I want the foxtel box, tv aerial etc.

The customer service was excellent altogether. I only had to sign an electronic document for them to obtain some rebates as explained to me by them - everything else was handled by them and all I had to do was learn about how the app works and enjoy my new solar battery, inverter and panel installation.

Absolutely would recommend this company - not only for all of the above reasons but also because I am based in a semi rural area and it is hard to get reliable people to come out this far. And I can’t speak for how FCS would handle any future problems, but I was left with the phone number of the team leader and would expect the same level of service to be offered in case of any difficulties. It is unusual to find a company so trustworthy. THANK YOU!
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Fantastic Service, Quality of system.

Right from the beginning Bobby went through everything, made recommendations, and listened to our needs. Understood what our goal was with having the system installed, he understood where we wanted the system installed and said he would accommodate our needs and could make it happen without compromising on the quality. We had additional solar panels installed and the battery.
We liked that this was a family run business and has been around for many years, that was also reassuring that they are not one of these companies who disappear after a few years.
The installation was quick, the team was friendly, punctual and cleaned up afterwards.
Customer Service was great, answered all my questions, organised everything from start to finish.
Fantastic Service, I would highly recommend First Choice Solar to all our family and friends and anyone looking at having a battery or solar panels installed. 100% satisficed Customer.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Battery rating: 5/5
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Hassle free installation. So much so, we also had a hot water heat pump system installed by them

The salesperson was friendly
Dealing with the administrative office staff was great
The installers were very knowledgeable and finished the installation within a few hours
After installation care was also very good
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Competitive products and service

process was easy, we had delt with this company before , locally owned, product was as expected and they delt with all the red tape
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Fantastic experience from start to finish.

I can't recommend this company more highly. It's so rare to have such professional, helpful and friendly experience.

It started with the quotation. Once we got in contact with them they sent someone out the next day. The person doing the quote was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to present a range of options as well as understand our electricity use, and then suggested a system based on that, without trying to oversell us on a more expensive system that we didn't need.

They then assisted us greatly in the complicated process of applying for the Queensland battery grant, and were able to arrange installation just a few days after our application was approved.

Finally the team they sent to install remove the old inverter, install the new one and the battery was equally fantastic. They made great efforts to keep everything safe as well as neat and tidy. The final result looks great.

I only wish more companies were as good as these guys.
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Easy to deal with

I felt most comfortable dealing with a team who are electricians and know their stuff. The proposal was the best in terms of location of the Inverter and battery. i liked that i did not have to worry about having replacement roof tiles available, they took care of that. They said that we should not see any wiring on the outside of the house is should all be internal.

The Install went very well they were on time and on site all day until complete. any questions were clarified by the installers as they went. So far i have not noticed any external wiring.

Afterwards same day we are producing alot of power during the daylight hours. i am glad we went with a battery as it is saving us drawing from the grid in the evening for as long as possible. We are currently waiting for our energy retailer to change over our meter. yet to negotiate a new power buy and sell price.
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An incentive was offered by First Choice Solar for this review. Learn more here.

Solar done smoothly

Michael from First Choice Solar came out to my home to quote, not just relying on satellite photos to establish what system would fit. My aim was to replace an old 3.3kW system for which the inverter and panel makers had long gone out of business. The advice on a proposed new system was comprehensive and informative, and the system was installed by a friendly team only a couple of weeks after I accepted the quote. They helped me get the app installed on my phone and computer, so at long last I can monitor what my system is doing. A minor hitch with a connection to the inverter was remedied later the same day by another member of the FCS team. I was given a manual for the inverter on the day, and have just been sent a wide-ranging manual for my new system. Altogether an excellent experience. Highly recommended.
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Great Work

It took a while to organise a site visit and a proper quote. Had a great chat with their sales guy who answered every question I had. Appreciated that the quote was itemised.

The install was scheduled for two weeks after accepting the quote and they got it installed and commissioned very quickly. Good communication and as far as I can tell it is very tidy with good workmanship.

It all went very smoothly. Great work!
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 4/5
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Service and Efficiency

Its nice to deal with a company that does what it says. Quotes, meetings, install - all as promised. So often things don't happen - even when promised but FCS were great. From the office staff to management to the actual installers - all excellent.
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Totally professional and efficient.

The quoting process was very efficient and informative.
Installation seemed to go without a hitch in a very timely manner. The whole team were very helpful and personable.
Customer service excellent. Everything went very seemlessly including organising the grid connection
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Great service from start to finish.

Sales person was polite and friendly.
Installation process was smooth and installers very polite and friendly.
Each process was explained to me and all the documentation was finalised by First Choice Solar.
I recommended First Choice to my neighbours who have since had solar installed by them.
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Good system and installer

Quoting was straight forward.
Installers were polite, on time and listened to our questions and requests. Install is clean.
They organised grid connection, we had nothing else to do.
Inverter rating: 4/5
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Very good process with an outcome better than being 'sold' to us.

Very satisfied with installer, very good salesperson who willing to take in all of my questions and suggestions.

The installation team was friendly and working efficiently. They let me know that a couple of tiles had been broken and asked if I had spares, which I luckily had. This is a strong good point as I can imagine someone could have found out this had happened and was discovering this after the first big rain.

The electrician explained the system to me and how it was installed and helped me to install the app and get connected.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Faultless install

First Choice Solar exceeded my expectations throughout the installation process. Their team was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly efficient. From the initial consultation to the final setup, every step was handled with utmost professionalism. Their installers and engineers made sure to include everything I was looking for regarding full battery backup while keeping their quote competitive. The installers were punctual, courteous, and made sure to address any questions I had. Kudos to First Choice Solar for making the transition to solar power a pleasurable and hassle-free journey. I'm delighted with the seamless experience and would highly recommend First Choice Solar for their exceptional service.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
Battery rating: 5/5
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Happy customer

These guys installed a 15kW goodwe three phase hybrid inverter but no battery (yet). And a Tesla wall charger. Also removed an existing 5kW single phase system. So far so good. Matt who came out and quoted was good and wasn’t afraid to have an opinion. I liked that the quote was itemised - the other companies didn’t do that. Left things tidy.
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First Choice Solar did a bang up job 5 stars

The guys at First Choice Solar were great, cheapest quote, also they were happy to accommodate some changes. They arrived on time and had the solar installed in a few hours, they explained how it all works and how the app works. Would recommend them to everyone.
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A Great Experience

First Choice solar provided a great experience and ultimately after looking at other providers came up tops on so many levels.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Fantastic Installer

Jake and the boys did a fantastic job, because I wasn’t here at the start of the job the communication between myself and Jake was very professional, I have no hesitation in recommending first choice solar to anyone thinking of installing solar
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Excellent Service & Product Quality

Peter was fantastic in providing information, advising and guiding us through our system design and customisation during the quotation phase. Kristina and the rest of the administrative team provided thorough and timely communication throughout the process. On installation day, Jake, Scottie and Kye did an excellent job, with meticulous attention to detail, and were very professional, transparent, helpful and efficient. All in all, this was an excellent installation!
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Good customer service

FIRST CHOICE SOLAR
Not possible to tell value for money or quality of the system until its proved itself over several yrs
Price $5200
Recommended retaining current 3.8KW system
Recommended not getting a battery just yet - prices may come down in the new year plus after a full billing quarter we would be in a better position to confirm how much power we generated, put into the grid and thus would have a better idea of battery size required. The inverter they recommended is a hybrid so a battery can be added
Great service and customer communication. Installed within a mth after initial contact
Installed within 6 hrs. Pilotte staff who cleaned up the area prior to leaving
Completed all liaison with Energex to remove off peak power & upgrade meter box
Once a full billing cycle has been completed the owner will recommend which energy company will provide best value connection fees - feed in rates & overall costs

Quotes not Accepted
INGOT Energy - did not come to house. Most expensive quote. Totally ignored our current 3.8LW syst that still works well. Did not follow up with us
HALCOL ENERGY - visited house & was good. Included retaining current 3.8KW system. Price $6650
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Professional Service and Tidy Install

The team communicated well once the sale was done to keep me informed what was going to happen next, on the day of install the team arrived and explained the plan, got the install done and left my property nice and tidy, the system is in and working well thanks.
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Great Experience

Service from start to finish excellent and nothing too much trouble.
Seamless process from accepting quotation to installation.
Peter, Jake and Team very professional service.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Honest, Reliable & Top Quality Products

Andrew was only one of a few that took the time to visit my home and discuss my options.
No pressure to sign and good honest advice using the best products available.
Pat the electrician turned up when expected, explained all our options of installation of cables, switchboard anlterations and where panels and inverter would be placed and promptly completed the job.
Highly Recommended.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Great service

Installation went well, and in less time than was expected.
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Original Review on 30-12-2022:

Solar installed

Came and gave detailed quote and followed up online. Would have been installed sooner but first date I was out all day. Turned upon time and were busy straight away, very quick. Still have to put cover on inverter and screen door to garage forgot to close, could have tidied up a bit better (but that's all tradies it seems). Organised connection with Energex but that is still to happen as Christmas period 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: 4/5

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

Yes, it's fab and I am in credit $108.34 using in last 90 days 60c daily cost compared to $2.15 average daily cost for same period last year when I did not have solar panels. Note I don't use aircon even though it is installed, I find fans enough. Also when at home usually have front door open till dark and other doors, windows in spring/ summBut in winter I like to be warm, maybe a heater while sitting reading, TV etc
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Seems great, just waiting for follow up

Great consultant who worked out a system to suit our situation. Quick install by nice folks. Unfortunately the system has some issues with function, we are waiting for someone to attend and resolve that. Otherwise would have higher customer service rating.
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Precise, Professional, On time, Supper efficient system

I am very satisfied with First Choice Solar installation and customer service. The materials used look and feel high quality, not only the panels and inverter, but the cabling and ducts all well placed and sealed. They discussed the plan and preferences for position of the inverter prior. The technicians were on time and available post-installation to clarify questions and help with anything. A few months after installation I had to contact them with a fault in the hot water relay, and they resolved the issue within the same day by coming to my property and replacing the device at no cost.

In terms of the system itself it is indeed very efficient. Having the Catch Power relay device performing a smart control of the hot water system adds significantly to the energy bill savings. Overall great design.

To sum up, if you are in the Gold Coast area looking for a quality affordable Solar System , look no further.

I just wish I had a little more help with the energy companies, as I had to undergo a metering replacement and this experience can vary depending on which energy retailer you are with.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Original Review on 03-12-2022:

Smooth Easy Affordable Honest

The quote processes were easy to understand, the installers were friendly and cleaned all areas before leaving. The installer also connected the unit into the grid and gave instructions on any future issues. Great service from start to finish. Thanks, First Choice Solar. 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 Lena: "Are you happy with the performance of your system so far?"

I am happy with the performance of my system. I do wish I installed more panels and a battery to accommodate living with a teenager that uses power late at night due to work commitments. Great instillation!
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Efficient and professional company from quote to completion

Purchased a property with existing solar system - ends up inverter not working (For quite a while)..called First Choice to obtain information and assistance on upgrading whole system (wanted someone locally based on GC) The team were punctual, professional and informative, discussed a range of options - we decided on an upgrade to a new inverter and new panels. The install was an excellent experience, the install team were very punctual, polite and professional. We had to delay panel install due to high winds and they were extremely apologetic but understandable given the safety issues. I only had to wait a day until they returned and were completed in approx 1.5 hrs for 16 panels, you can tell they have genuine experience in what they are dealing with- they also assisted with Catch Power app set up and monitoring on my phone, just really good guys to deal with. The support and admin staff at the office were also very helpful and we received a followup email with user guides and confirmation of meter registration the very next day. Lastly given we are in a duplex with a flat roof - the old panels were on a tilt and visible from the road, fairly unsightly - the new ones were laid flat and the building aspect looks so much better! I would highly recommend First Choice for your one stop solar needs on the Gold Coast, family businesses are always the best to deal with.
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Working better than my estimate so far

Happy with the system, the panels and inverter and working better than all my estimates that I based my decision on, and better than their estimates too. The only thing I’m not totally happy with is the catch power app is under reading about 5% so far (They are looking into the cause of that). And the Goodwe inverter app only measures production, not power imported and exported, so monitoring is not as good as expected. I would recommend them. I would use them again.
Panel rating: 5/5
Inverter rating: 5/5
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Great installation! Very professional

I would highly recommend First Choice for many reasons; quoting process, great and punctual installation, polite and patient customer service who helped me organise the grid connection after the install.
Inverter rating: 5/5
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