How to choose a solar installer in Perth: what actually matters

Perth's solar market is crowded. Dozens of installers will quote the same job, and two quotes for what looks like an identical system can vary by thousands of dollars. The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. The most expensive isn't automatically better either.

What actually separates a good installer from a risky one comes down to four things: current SAA accreditation, a written quote with full specifications, branded equipment with real Australian warranty support, and a crew that's still around to answer a warranty call in three years. Check those before you sign. Here's how.

What accreditation does a Perth solar installer actually need?

Anyone who designs or installs your solar system needs current accreditation from Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) for the system to qualify for the federal STC rebate. The Clean Energy Regulator ties STC eligibility directly to using an SAA-accredited installer and designer, and the installer also needs the relevant WA electrical licence, since that's a separate requirement on top of accreditation. Almost every solar buyer in Perth claims the STC rebate, so in practice SAA accreditation is a standard you should check for on any quote, rebate or not.

To confirm accreditation before committing:

1. Ask the installer for their SAA accreditation number
2. Search the SAA's public register to confirm it's current
3. Check the expiry date: accreditation lapses and must be renewed

If an installer can't produce an SAA number, don't proceed. It's a non-negotiable minimum.

For the full breakdown of what each licence and accreditation actually covers, see our guide on checking a Perth installer's credentials before signing.

What's the difference between accreditation and being an NETCC Approved Seller?

Above individual installer accreditation sits a separate, company-level certification: the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller program, administered by the Clean Energy Council. It replaced the older CEC Approved Solar Retailer scheme in 2023. It requires:

• Compliance with the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (ethical sales practices, accurate quotes, consumer protection)
• Using only accredited installers for all work
• Providing written quotes that include system specifications, warranties, and performance estimates
• A complaints process the Clean Energy Council, as the code's administrator, can investigate and act on (it's an accreditation lever, not a dispute-resolution or compensation service)

Not every reputable installer holds this certification, but all else being equal, an NETCC Approved Seller has a higher floor of accountability. Ask if the company is an NETCC Approved Seller, or check the Clean Energy Council's website directly.

What should a Perth solar quote include?

A trustworthy installer provides a written quote that includes all of the following:

System specifications:

• Panel brand, model, wattage, and count
• Inverter brand and model
• Total system capacity (kW)
• Estimated annual generation (kWh/year, based on your roof orientation and location)

Pricing:

• Full installed price (inclusive of GST)
• STC rebate amount shown as a separate line
• Final price after STC rebate
• WA Battery Scheme rebate, if a battery is included

Warranties:

• Panel product warranty (typically 10-25 years depending on the brand and product line: several premium AU-residential panels now match the product warranty to the 25-year performance warranty, while budget and commercial-format lines can still sit at 10-15 years)
• Panel performance warranty (typically 25 years, guaranteeing minimum output degradation)
• Inverter warranty (typically 5-10 years from the manufacturer)
• Workmanship/installation warranty (what the installer covers, typically 5-10 years)

If a quote doesn't specify panel and inverter brands, ask why. Unbranded or unknown equipment is a real risk: you may not be able to source replacement parts if something fails. Our solar panel warranty guide walks through what each warranty type actually protects.

What should you look for in panels and inverters?

Solar panels: look for established international brands with verifiable warranty backing from the manufacturer. Panels claiming "Tier 1" status should have that verified independently. "Tier 1" is a bankability classification, not a quality certification, and some lesser-known panel brands use the term loosely. (We've written more on why "Tier 1" isn't a real quality rating if you want the full picture.)

Inverters: the inverter is the component most likely to fail in the system's first ten years. Fronius (Austria), SolarEdge (Israel), Enphase (US), Goodwe (China, established locally), Growatt (China, established locally), Sungrow (China, established locally), and SMA (Germany) all have verifiable Australian warranty support. Avoid brands with no Australian presence: a warranty from a company with no local support is effectively worthless. See our Perth inverter brands guide for a closer comparison of warranty terms and local support.

Battery (if included): confirm the inverter it pairs with is SSL-approved for DER Storage on Synergy's Supported Solutions List (SSL). This is required for the WA Battery Scheme rebate to apply, and your installer should confirm it before quoting. See our WA Battery Scheme guide for full eligibility details.

Does it matter if the installation crew is local or fly-in?

Some national solar companies quote in WA but bring a travelling installation crew from interstate. That's legal, and not inherently bad, but it affects two things:

• Warranty responsiveness: if your inverter fails 18 months after installation and the crew has moved on, getting a warranty callout resolved can be slow.
• Roof access and local knowledge: Perth's brick-veneer construction, terracotta tile roofs, and Colorbond metal roofs all have local installation nuances.

Ask: will the crew installing my system be based in Perth, or travelling from interstate? A local Perth-based team is generally the safer bet for ongoing warranty support. If you're worried about a company folding entirely, see what to do if your solar installer goes out of business.

How many quotes should you get, and how do you compare them?

Get at least three written quotes before committing. Perth's solar market is competitive enough that three quotes give you a genuine price range and let you spot outliers in both directions.

When comparing quotes, don't compare total price alone. Compare:

1. Cost per watt (total price ÷ system kW): standardises for system size differences
2. Equipment specifications: are you comparing like-for-like panels and inverters?
3. Warranty terms: a cheaper quote with a shorter workmanship warranty may cost more long-term
4. Estimated generation: a reputable installer uses your actual roof orientation, not a generic Perth average

A quote that's significantly lower than two others for the same equipment deserves scrutiny. Ask what's different: cheaper panels, a shorter warranty, no monitoring, a different inverter brand? Our guide to comparing Perth solar quotes walks through this line by line.

What red flags should make you walk away?

Door-to-door sales. Most reputable solar companies in WA don't knock on doors. If someone shows up unsolicited, the incentive structure behind door-to-door sales tends to prioritise closing the sale over fitting the right system to your home.

"Sign today or lose the price." Pressure tactics are a standard warning sign. Reputable installers hold quotes for at least 30 days. Walk away from anyone claiming the price only holds if you sign on the spot.

Unusually low prices for premium brands. If a quote is $2,000 below comparable quotes for the same panel and inverter brand, something is different. Ask what specifically makes it cheaper.

No written quote. Any installer unwilling to provide a written quote with full specifications should be eliminated immediately.

Promised export credits that aren't guaranteed. DEBS rates (10c peak, 2c off-peak) are set by Synergy, not your installer. An installer promising specific export earnings is making a claim they can't back.

See our full rundown of red flags in Perth solar quotes for more of these before you sign anything.

What should happen after your system is installed?

After your system is installed, the installer registers it with Synergy and the Clean Energy Regulator. You should receive:

• A Certificate of Electrical Compliance from the licensed electrician
• Your inverter's monitoring app login (most modern inverters have a monitoring portal)
• Written confirmation of all warranties
• A signed STC assignment form, since the STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) are assigned to the installer in exchange for your rebate

Set up the monitoring app straight away and check it for the first few days. A well-performing 6.6kW system in Perth generates roughly 25-30 kWh on an average sunny day, and more again, up to around 37 kWh, on a genuinely clear day in summer. If output looks lower than expected from day one, call the installer. New-installation issues are far easier to resolve when they're fresh.

Compare installer quotes on BillWise

BillWise's quote comparison tool shows quotes from verified Perth installers with transparent pricing and specifications, so you can compare on an equal footing rather than trying to interpret incompatible quote formats side by side.

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You can verify SAA accreditation on the Solar Accreditation Australia public register, and NETCC Approved Seller status on the Clean Energy Council's website. Confirm both before signing any contract.