This is written from the installer's side of the desk, including the bits that should embarrass the operators who cut corners. If it makes you ask harder questions of anyone quoting your job, including us, it's done its job.
Check the business, not just the salesperson
A lot of solar sales in Australia runs through a marketing shopfront that on-sells your job to whichever subcontractor is cheapest and available that week. The name on the glossy brochure and the name on your actual contract and invoice are sometimes different entities entirely.
Look up the ABN printed on your contract or invoice at the free ABN Lookup register (abr.business.gov.au). Two things to check: how long the ABN has been active, and whether it's a registered company or an individual sole trader. This matters because your consumer remedies are very different if something goes wrong. A registered company is a separate legal entity with its own obligations. An individual sole trader who's wound up the ABN and started a new one under a slightly different name six months later is much harder to chase.
What that looks like in practice
We operate as G Gill Electricals Pty Ltd, a registered Victorian company. Look us up yourself before you book anything, we'd rather you check than take our word for it.
Licensing and accreditation, and how they're different
1Electrical licence
In Victoria, anyone doing electrical work on your home needs an A-grade electrician's licence, checkable on Energy Safe Victoria's public register. This is the baseline. It has nothing to do with solar specifically, it's the same licence required for any household electrical work.
2SAA accreditation, and the specific class
Since February 2024, Solar Accreditation Australia has been the Clean Energy Regulator's appointed scheme operator. Only SAA-accredited designers and installers can access small-scale technology certificates, and most state rebates require it too. The detail people miss: accreditation is split by class of technology, grid-connected solar (GCPV) is separate from grid-connected battery (GCBS), which is separate again from stand-alone power systems. An installer accredited for solar isn't automatically accredited to install your battery. Ask for the specific accreditation and check it yourself using SAA's free public accreditation status checker before you sign.
3Manufacturer certification
Separate again from both of the above. Tesla and Enphase, among others, run their own installer certification programs on top of the mandatory licensing and accreditation. It's not required by law, but it means the person on your roof has been specifically trained on that product, not just generically qualified to install any brand.
Insurance that actually covers the job
Ask whether the installer carries public liability insurance, and specifically whether their policy covers claims arising from the installation work itself. This sounds obvious, but some professional indemnity and liability policies in this industry carry exclusions for claims "arising out of or attributable to" the physical installation, which is most of what can actually go wrong. A policy that excludes installation-related claims is close to useless for a trade installer, and the only way to know is to ask the direct question rather than accept "yes, we're insured" at face value.
The standard of works, not just the standard of parts
A compliant installation follows documented Australian Standards: AS/NZS 5033 for the solar array itself, AS/NZS 4777.2 for how the inverter connects to the grid, and AS/NZS 5139 specifically for battery systems. A serious installer works from a written Standard of Works document that specifies things like battery placement clearances, switchboard and backup circuit wiring, and cable runs, not "however the tech feels like doing it that day." Ask to see it, or at minimum ask what governs the backup circuit design and where the battery can and can't be mounted on your specific property.
What happens after the panels go up
This is where a lot of the real corner-cutting quietly happens, because the customer never sees it. A proper install ends with a Certificate of Electrical Safety lodged for the job, the system's grid connection paperwork submitted to and approved by your distributor, the monitoring app actually set up and handed over to you, small-scale technology certificate assignment handled transparently rather than buried in the contract, and the site left clean and safe. Ask upfront who handles this paperwork and how you'll know it's been lodged, not just when the panels will physically go on the roof.
What a 10kW system quote actually buys you
Same "10kW system" wording on two quotes can mean very different things sitting behind it. Here's roughly what each price band actually gets you in Melbourne in 2026.
| Super cheap | Budget | Average | Expensive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price range | Below $7,000 | $7,000–$8,500 | $8,500–$10,500 | $10,500–$13,000+ |
| Overview | A system that might not be reliable, and the seller might not be around for the warranty | A workable system, check exactly what's included before you sign | Good components installed by a reputable local company | Premium panels and inverter, from a company that's easy to hold accountable |
| Panels | Confirm it's even CEC-listed before you pay a deposit | Entry-tier Tier 1 (JA Solar, Sofar-class pricing) | Solid Tier 1 mid-range (Jinko, Trina, Canadian Solar, LONGi) | Premium high-efficiency (REC, AIKO) |
| Inverter | Unbranded or no-name, good luck with a warranty claim | Budget hybrid (SolaX, Sofar), check the registration terms | Proven mid-tier hybrid (Sungrow, GoodWe, FoxESS, AlphaESS) | Premium (Sigenergy, Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase) |
| Warranties | Meaningless if the company has folded by the time you need it | Standard 10-year, check if it needs online registration | Full parts and labour, competitive across the board | Best available terms, extended labour cover included |
| Installation | Is the installer even SAA accredited? Ask before you pay anything | Will they still be trading in five years for a warranty claim? | SAA accredited, documented Standard of Works, workmanship warranty included | All of the above, plus manufacturer-specific certification (Tesla, Enphase) |
Price bands reflect the Melbourne residential market as at September 2026, cross-checked against several independent 2026 industry price indexes. Confirm current pricing at quote stage, rebates and material costs shift.
Red flags worth walking away from
- Pressure to sign the same day, or a price that's "only valid today"
- Doorknocking or cold-call sales with no fixed local business address
- Won't give you a specific SAA accreditation number to check
- Vague about who's actually doing the physical install versus who sold you the job
- No mention of who handles your rebate paperwork or how
- No workmanship warranty separate from the manufacturer's product warranty
- Can't point you to past local jobs or genuine reviews
Check us the same way
We're SAA accredited, Tesla and Enphase certified, and operate as a registered Victorian company. Ask us for our accreditation numbers before you book, we'll hand them over without hesitating.
Get in touchCommon questions
Licensing and accreditation requirements referenced here reflect the Victorian and federal schemes current as at 2026, and this guide was reviewed by Gagandeep Gill before publishing. Confirm current requirements directly with Energy Safe Victoria and Solar Accreditation Australia, as scheme details can change.