Environment Minister Peter Garrett yesterday announced the launch of a name and shame list of non-compliant insulation installers who have been removed from the Installer Provider Register. As of this morning, the list contains the names of three businesses.
“There’s no room in this program for businesses who aren’t willing to stand publicly by the quality of their work and who tarnish the work of reputable, hard working installation businesses.”, Mr. Garrett said.
The move comes after many complaints of sub-standard work being performed in recent months. The insulation industry is currently experiencing a boom phase thanks to a federal government initiative that provides generous rebates for home owners to install insulation or solar hot water systems. In some cases, companies had installed insulation in such a way that not only reduced its effectiveness, but also posed a safety threat to those in the household – and the installers as well.
Earlier this week, unions called for a halt to the insulation rebate program after the deaths of three workers, most recently a 19-year-old on his first day on the job. According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, the ACTU claims the insulation program is “rife with dishonest operators cutting corners on safety and training in order to reap the windfall.”
Another industry enjoying boom times thanks to rebates and incentives is the home solar power sector. With new providers popping up daily and all competing for rebate dollars, it too is seeing its share of operators using questionable sales tactics and corner-cutting. Some customers have complained they are not receiving what they paid for or that installation has been sub-standard.
According to Max Sylvester, co-founder of Energy Matters, “Solar power is a very competitive industry and unfortunately, while a minority, some providers are cutting prices by cutting quality. This not only has performance implications, but can involve serious safety issues too. As sad as it is, a similar name and shame list is probably well overdue for our industry.”
Energy Matters provides a free consumer guide to solar power; designed to empower consumers shopping for solar energy systems and to help promote quality and a more level playing field in Australia’s solar industry.
