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

Getting solar in Perth is a competitive market. Dozens of installers will quote you, and the price difference between them can be $2,000–5,000 for the same system. The cheapest quote is rarely the best value, and the most expensive isn't necessarily better. Here's what actually separates a good installer from a risky one.

Start with CEC accreditation — the minimum floor

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) is Australia's peak industry body for solar. Every installer who works on your solar system must hold CEC Designer and Installer accreditation. This is a legal requirement under Australian standards, not a nice-to-have.

To confirm accreditation before committing:

1. Ask the installer for their CEC accreditation number
2. Search the CEC's public register at the Clean Energy Council website
3. Confirm the accreditation is current (they expire and must be renewed)

If an installer can't provide a CEC number, do not proceed. This is a non-negotiable minimum.

The higher standard: CEC Approved Solar Retailer

Above individual installer accreditation, the CEC also certifies companies as Approved Solar Retailers. This is a company-level certification requiring:

• Compliance with the CEC's Code of Conduct (ethical sales practices, accurate quotes, consumer protection)
• Using only CEC-accredited installers for all work
• Providing written quotes that include system specifications, warranties, and performance estimates
• Access to the CEC's customer dispute resolution service

Not every reputable installer holds this certification — but all else being equal, an Approved Solar Retailer has a higher floor of accountability. Ask if the company is a CEC Approved Solar Retailer, or check the CEC website directly.

What goes in a good quote

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 10–15 years for reputable brands)
• 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 significant risk — you may not be able to source replacement parts if something fails.

Equipment: what to look for

Solar panels: Look for established international brands with a 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. Some lesser-known panel brands use the term loosely.

Inverters: The inverter is the most likely component to fail in the system's first 10 years. Inverters from Fronius (Austria), SolarEdge (Israel), Enphase (US), Goodwe (China — established), Growatt (China — established), Sungrow (China — established), and SMA (Germany) all have verifiable Australian warranty support. Avoid inverters from brands with no Australian presence — a warranty from a company with no local support is effectively worthless.

Battery (if included): Confirm the battery model is on the WA Solar Storage for WA (SSL) approved product list. This is required for the WA Battery Scheme rebate to apply — your installer should confirm this before quoting. See our WA Battery Scheme guide for full eligibility details.

The installation crew: local vs fly-in

Some national solar companies quote in WA but bring a travelling installation crew from interstate. This is legal and not inherently bad — but it does affect:

• 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 installation team is generally preferable for ongoing warranty support.

Getting multiple quotes

Get at least three written quotes before committing. Perth's solar market is competitive enough that three quotes will 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, shorter warranty, no monitoring, different inverter brand?

Red flags to avoid

Door-to-door sales — most reputable solar companies in WA don't knock doors. If someone shows up unsolicited, the incentive structure that drives door-to-door teams tends to prioritise the sale over the right system for 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 is only good if you sign on the spot.

Unusually low price 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.

Promising 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.

After installation: what to expect

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
• The STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) have been assigned to the installer in exchange for your rebate — you should receive a signed STC assignment form

Set up the monitoring app immediately and check it for the first few days. A well-performing 6.6kW system in Perth should generate 25–35 kWh on a clear sunny day. 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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CEC accreditation status and Approved Solar Retailer lists can be verified directly on the Clean Energy Council's public website. Always confirm current accreditation before signing any contract.