The passing of legislation that finally saw rebates for the Solar Credits program written into law coupled with decreases in prices for solar panels has been a bonanza for consumers.. and a minefield.
With many providers still addressing backlogs from the end of the previous Solar Homes and Communities Plan rebate; some home owners are finding the systems being installed contain solar panels that may meet the basic standards; but likely won’t last them the long haul. Additionally, installation workmanship in some cases has been rushed and shoddy or carried out by inexperienced installers; leading to performance and safety issues.
With the new solar rebate program and a renewed rush on systems, competition is fierce and some in Australia’s renewable energy sector fear the pressure of smaller margins for providers will see the trend of poor quality materials and workmanship increase, giving Australia’s solar industry a bad name.
According to Energy Matters, a Victoria- based national provider of solar power solutions for home and business, in order to qualify for the Solar Credits rebate, systems have to be installed by a BCSE accredited installer. However, that doesn’t necessarily ensure a quality installation. Energy Matters’ consumer guide to solar power asks the questions:
“Will the person who climbs onto your roof to perform the installation be the same person who signs off on the paperwork? Does the installer have full BCSE accreditation or is the work done by an electrician and later checked by a more qualified supervisor?”
Energy Matters advises that home owners shouldn’t allow their houses to be classrooms, unless the person is working side by side with a fully accredited installer. If an installer is just learning, he or she will have a provisional number – starting with P.
While home owners now have the opportunity to install solar power systems at low prices and the Solar Credits rebates system does provide some protection in terms of minimum standards for systems, Energy Matters’ consumer guide shows there are many loopholes that may be exploited by unscrupulous providers that could see consumers getting far less than what they expected.
