10 questions to ask your solar installer in Perth before committing

Ask ten things before you sign: the installer's accreditation, who's actually doing the physical work, the exact panel and inverter models, the warranty terms and who honours them, whether NCN lodgement and the smart meter upgrade are included, and how disputes get handled if something goes wrong after you've paid. Get a satisfactory answer to all ten and you've filtered out most of the operators cutting corners.

Getting quotes from multiple Perth installers is a good start. What separates a genuinely good installation from one that just looks fine on paper is asking these questions before you sign, not after.

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1. Can I see your installer accreditation number?

Every installer who designs, supplies, and installs a grid-connected solar system in WA must hold current SAA (Solar Accreditation Australia) accreditation. Without it, they can't lodge the Network Connection Notice (NCN) with Western Power, issue your Electrical Safety Certificate, or have STCs assigned to your system, the federal rebate that gives you a point-of-sale discount.

What to look for: ask for the accreditation number and verify it's current at saaustralia.com.au/accreditation-status-check before you sign. Accreditations lapse, so check the status on the day you sign, not just that a number was issued at some point. For a fuller walkthrough of what each credential actually covers, see checking a solar installer's credentials in Perth.

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2. Will an accredited installer physically install my system?

Some companies quote under their own accreditation but subcontract the actual installation to unlicensed labour. The accreditation covers the licensed person, not an unnamed subcontractor down the chain.

What to ask: "Will the person who installs my panels hold their own accreditation, or is the work being subcontracted?" Reputable companies either use directly employed accredited installers or work with named, accredited subcontractors, not an anonymous crew.

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3. What panel model and inverter model are you quoting?

"Quality panels" and "tier-1 inverter" are marketing language, not specifications. Get the exact model names:

• Panel: brand + model + wattage (e.g. "Longi Hi-MO 7 445W")
• Inverter: brand + model (e.g. "Fronius Primo GEN24 5kW")

These model names let you look up actual specifications: temperature coefficients, degradation rates, warranty terms, and whether the inverter has monitoring included. To check whether a specific model is on the approved register, search it directly on the Clean Energy Council's approved-products register.

Red flag: refusing to name the specific models before signing.

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4. What are the warranty terms for each component, and who do I contact?

Three warranties cover a solar installation:

Product-warranty length varies a lot by brand: ask for the exact term on the model quoted rather than assuming a round number.

Critical question: "If I have a problem in year 6, do I contact you or the manufacturer?" The workmanship warranty is the installer's responsibility. If they say "contact the manufacturer for everything," the workmanship warranty is being misrepresented.

Minimum acceptable: workmanship warranty of 5 years (the NETCC minimum); better installers offer 10.

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5. Do you handle the NCN lodgement with Western Power, and is that included?

The Network Connection Notice (NCN) is the mandatory notification to Western Power before your solar system can be connected to the grid. Without it, your installation isn't grid-legal and STCs can't be claimed.

NCN lodgement must be done by an accredited person. It isn't automatic: someone has to submit it. Some installers include this; others charge separately or leave it to the homeowner.

Confirm in writing: NCN lodgement included at no extra cost.

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6. Does the price include a smart meter upgrade if needed?

DEBS (the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme) requires a bi-directional smart meter. Western Power may need to upgrade your meter after installation. The meter itself is typically supplied by Western Power at no cost, but coordination timing varies by area and season, and some installers charge a coordination fee or leave the follow-up to you.

Ask: "Does your quote include coordinating the smart meter upgrade with Western Power, and what's the typical wait in my suburb right now?"

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7. Where will the inverter be installed, and will it have adequate ventilation?

Inverter placement affects performance and longevity. A Fronius inverter installed in a closed, unventilated utility room in summer runs hotter, and hot inverters have shorter lifespans.

Good answers:

• Shaded, ventilated wall in the garage or on the side of the house
• Under the eaves on the shaded (south) side of the house

Red flags: "wherever is convenient", or a plan to install in a roof void or unventilated enclosure. If you're adding a battery at the same time, the same placement logic applies there too: see where to install a home battery in Perth.

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8. How long have you been operating in Perth, and can you provide local references?

Solar companies come and go. An installer who's been operating in Perth for 5+ years has a track record of honouring warranties, established relationships with Western Power, and existing customers you can actually speak to.

Ask for: two or three references from Perth customers installed at least 2-3 years ago, not just recent ones.

Verify business registration: search ABN Lookup (abr.gov.au) to confirm the company's ABN and registration date. A company registered 3 months ago with no history is higher risk. Longevity matters because installers do occasionally shut down; see what happens if your solar installer goes out of business for what that risk actually looks like and what protects you.

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9. What happens if there's a problem with the installation after you've been paid?

This is the question many homeowners don't ask, and regret. A strong answer covers a named contact person for post-installation issues, the service call process (how to book, typical response time), and whether they charge for warranty call-outs (they shouldn't, for genuine defects).

A good installer has a clear answer. Vague responses ("we'll sort it out") are a yellow flag. If a vague answer turns into a real dispute, see how to lodge a solar installer complaint in Perth.

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10. What is your payment schedule, and how much deposit do you require?

Solar is a high-value purchase. A common deposit structure is 10-20% on signing, with the remainder on completion and commissioning. Be cautious of:

• Full payment upfront before installation begins
• Large deposits (over 30%) before any work starts
• No cooling-off period offered. Under the Australian Consumer Law, unsolicited sales (an installer who knocked on your door or cold-called you) carry a mandatory 10-business-day cooling-off period. A solicited purchase, where you requested the quote yourself, generally has no cooling-off period at all, so read the contract fully before you sign it.

Ask: "What is the payment schedule, and what happens if I need to cancel after signing?" For more on deposit caps and what protects your money before installation starts, see solar installer deposit protection in Perth.

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Checking a company's history

Before committing, 10 minutes of research:

1. Google reviews: look at reviews from 2+ years ago, not just recent ones
2. Consumer Protection WA: search for complaints at consumerprotection.wa.gov.au (Trader Look Up)
3. Installer accreditation search: verify SAA accreditation is current at saaustralia.com.au/accreditation-status-check
4. ABN Lookup: confirm business registration date

This checklist is the fast version. For the full selection process it feeds into, see how to choose a solar installer in Perth.

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Getting three quotes and asking these questions at each should give you enough information to distinguish professional installers from those taking shortcuts. The goal isn't the cheapest quote. It's the best installation at a fair price, from a company that'll still be operating when your warranty matters.