How to check a solar installer's credentials in Perth before signing

Before you sign a Perth solar contract, check three things: the installer's current SAA accreditation, the retailer's NETCC Approved Seller status, and the company's WA electrical contractor licence. All three take about 10 minutes to confirm, and skipping them is how people lose part of their STC rebate or end up with a system a licensed electrician never signed off on.

Perth's solar market includes hundreds of installers: established local firms with 15-year track records, newer entrants, interstate operators and, occasionally, unlicensed ones. Here's what each credential actually covers and how to check it.

Who accredits solar installers in Perth?

Individual solar installers and designers in Australia are accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), which took over the role from the Clean Energy Council in 2024. SAA sets the training and assessment standard for anyone who designs or installs your system. Every solar installation must be carried out by, or supervised by, an SAA-accredited installer.

Panels and inverters still carry CEC product approval separately, and that hasn't changed. It's the person doing the work, not the equipment on your roof, that now sits under SAA.

Why does SAA accreditation matter for your rebate?

STC eligibility, the federal rebate that reduces your quote price, requires an SAA-accredited installer. An unaccredited installation isn't eligible for STCs, so you lose a rebate that's typically worth $1,200 to $1,800 for a typical 4.4kW to 6.6kW household system.

How do you check an installer's accreditation?

At saaustralia.com.au, use the "Check Installer Accreditation Status" tool and search by name or accreditation number. It shows whether the accreditation is current and what system types it covers.

Ask the installer for their SAA accreditation number on the quote itself. If they can't produce one, that's a firm reason to walk away.

What's the difference between an accredited installer and an approved retailer?

Individual accreditation covers the person doing the technical work. A separate, company-level scheme covers how the retailer sells to you.

Since February 2023, that scheme has been the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller program, administered by the Clean Energy Council. It replaced the older CEC Approved Solar Retailer program. An Approved Seller agrees to:

1. Provide a written contract with specific required terms
2. Avoid high-pressure sales tactics
3. Give accurate information about products and rebates
4. Maintain warranty service capability

Why this matters: dealing with an Approved Seller gives you a clearer complaints path if something goes wrong, on top of whatever protection the installer's individual accreditation already gives you.

How to verify: search the Clean Energy Council's website for the current list of NETCC Approved Sellers, or ask the retailer to show you their Approved Seller certificate directly.

Does the installer need a separate electrical licence?

Yes. Solar installation in Western Australia involves electrical work, and the installer must hold, or employ electricians who hold, a WA Electrical Contractor's Licence. That licence sits with Building and Energy, the WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety division that took over the role previously branded EnergySafety WA.

How to verify: use Building and Energy's online licence and registration search, and ask the installer to provide their WA electrical contractor licence number directly.

An SAA-accredited installer who doesn't hold, or isn't covered by, a WA electrical contractor licence is operating outside the law for the electrical component of the job. That's rare among established companies, but it can happen with sole traders who hold national accreditation but haven't completed WA licensing.

What should a legitimate quote include?

A legitimate solar quote in WA should include:

• Installer's SAA accreditation number (individual installer)
• Company's ABN
• WA electrical contractor licence number (or a statement that all electrical work is performed by a licensed electrician employed by the company)
• Specific panel brand and model number, not just "Tier 1 panels"
• Specific inverter brand and model number
• System size: the kWp of the panels and the kW of the inverter are different figures, and a legitimate quote states both
• Number of STCs being assigned and the value applied to the quote price
• Warranty terms: product warranty (years), performance warranty (percentage at year N), and workmanship warranty
• Western Power connection approval, included in the scope and price

If a quote is missing several of these, ask for them in writing before you sign anything. Our guide to comparing Perth solar quotes walks through this line by line, so you're comparing equivalent systems rather than guessing.

How do you check a company's reputation?

NETCC complaint history: the Clean Energy Council can investigate complaints against Approved Sellers and revoke that status. If a sizeable installer isn't on the Approved Seller list, ask why.

Google Reviews: most Perth solar installers with 50 or more installations have a Google review history. Read the negative reviews specifically, particularly ones mentioning post-installation service, warranty claims, or how the company responded when something went wrong.

Product Review (productreview.com.au): a more detailed platform that often captures warranty and service experiences. Search the company name directly.

ASIC company search: the ASIC Connect company search (asic.gov.au) shows whether a company is registered, when it was registered, and its current status. A company registered in 2023 marketing itself as "10 years in Perth solar" is misleading.

Years in business: WA's solar industry has seen installer failures, particularly after boom periods. A company with 5–10 years of WA trading history has survived at least one full market cycle. A newer company isn't automatically a risk, but it does mean less evidence of how it handles a warranty claim down the track.

What if you still have doubts about an installer?

1. Get multiple quotes. Three quotes from different installers give you a comparison basis. A significant outlier, in either direction, is worth investigating before you sign.

2. Ask the installer directly. "Can you provide your SAA accreditation number and WA electrical contractor licence number?" is a completely standard question. A professional company answers immediately. An evasive response tells you something.

3. Check the Clean Energy Council's consumer resources. The CEC's consumer site has guides on what a legitimate solar quote looks like and how to spot problems.

4. Understand Western Power's connection approval process. Every solar system must be notified to, and approved by, Western Power before it connects to the grid. A system installed by an unaccredited installer risks failing that approval, leaving you with panels you can't legally switch on.

Our guide to 10 questions to ask your solar installer covers exactly what to ask, and what a professional installer's answers should sound like.

What red flags mean you should slow down?

• Door-to-door or cold-call solar sales: a high-pressure environment by design
• A quote provided without a site visit or roof assessment
• "Tier 1 panels" specified with no brand name or model number
• A price that's noticeably lower than your other quotes for the same equipment, with no clear reason for the gap
• No SAA accreditation number provided, despite being asked
• A registered interstate business with no physical WA presence
• Payment terms requiring full payment upfront, before installation

For the fuller list of warning signs across a Perth solar quote, see red flags in Perth solar quotes.

Most Perth solar installations go smoothly with reputable installers. The credential check itself takes about 10 minutes, and it's the single step most likely to keep you out of the minority of Perth households who've had a bad experience.

You can confirm SAA accreditation on the Solar Accreditation Australia public register, and NETCC Approved Seller status on the Clean Energy Council's website. WA electrical contractor licences are verified through Building and Energy's online licence and registration search. Details current as of 2026.