Queensland’s solar industry has a reputation problem. Not because solar doesn’t work — it absolutely does — but because a subset of installers have cut corners, used substandard equipment, or simply disappeared after installation, leaving customers with systems that underperform or fail.
Here’s how to protect yourself.
Check the Licences First
In Queensland, a solar installation must be performed by:
- A licensed electrical contractor — check the licence at the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) website
- An SAA accredited installer — Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredits installers for solar (GCPV), battery (GCBS) and off-grid (SPS) work. SAA took over installer accreditation from the Clean Energy Council. Note: the CEC still maintains approved product lists — equipment must appear on the CEC’s approved list to be eligible for rebates
Ask any installer for both their QBCC licence number and their SAA accreditation number. Look them up. If they can’t provide both, walk away.
It sounds basic, but a surprising number of systems in Queensland have been installed by unaccredited or unlicensed operators — often using subcontractors the quoting company has never met.
Ask Who Actually Does the Installation
This is the question most people don’t think to ask.
Many solar companies quote your job and then subcontract the installation to whoever is available and cheapest. The company you talk to may have no direct relationship with the person who goes on your roof.
Ask: “Will your own employees install this system, or do you use subcontractors?” If they use subcontractors, ask how those subcontractors are selected, vetted and supervised.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with using subcontractors — but you should know, and the company should be able to give you a straight answer.
Look at the Equipment, Not Just the Price
Solar quotes often hide the equipment details in fine print. “Tier 1 panels” is not a brand. “Quality inverter” is not a model number.
Before comparing quotes, get the specific panel brand and model and the inverter brand and model from each quote. Look them up. Check:
- Is the panel manufacturer a real company with a track record in Australia?
- Does the inverter manufacturer have local warranty support in Australia?
- What is the product warranty (the panel itself) vs the performance warranty (guaranteed output over time)?
Quality panels from manufacturers like GoodWe, Trina Solar, Jinko and Winaico carry 10–15 year product warranties and 25+ year performance warranties, backed by Australian-based warranty support. No-name panels often don’t.
The Price Is Not the System
The cheapest quote is almost never the best value. In solar, you get what you pay for — and you’re paying for something that needs to work reliably for 25+ years on your roof.
A system that fails its inverter in year four, or that uses panels with higher degradation rates than advertised, or that was installed with poor workmanship causing ongoing issues — these outcomes turn a “cheap” system into an expensive one very quickly.
Get three quotes. Compare the equipment. Compare the warranties. Compare the companies — how long have they been in business, do they have reviews, can you talk to past customers?
Battery Quotes: Check the Rebate is Applied
If you’re getting quotes that include battery storage, check that the installer is applying the Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebate. This federal program provides approximately 30% off the upfront cost of eligible batteries (5–100kWh) via STCs — the same mechanism as the solar rebate. It should be deducted automatically in your quote.
If a battery quote doesn’t reflect this discount and the installer can’t explain why, that’s a red flag. Eligible systems must be installed by an SAA accredited battery installer and the battery must appear on the CEC’s approved list.
The Savings Claim Problem
Almost every solar quote comes with a “savings estimate.” Most of these are optimistic to the point of being misleading.
Common ways savings estimates are inflated:
- Using an electricity rate that doesn’t match your actual tariff
- Assuming no shading or system degradation
- Using the feed-in tariff rate from several years ago, not today’s rate
- Modelling at peak generation, not annual average
- Ignoring that your usage patterns may not match the system’s generation profile
Ask the installer to model your savings against your actual quarterly bills. A good installer will ask to see your bills. A bad one will use a generic calculator and tell you what you want to hear.
Red Flags to Watch For
Pressure to sign today. “This price is only available for the next 48 hours.” Legitimate installers don’t operate this way. A quote that expires in 48 hours is a sales tactic, not a genuine offer.
Door-to-door salespeople. The quality installers in Queensland are busy enough that they don’t need to knock on doors. The ones who do are often resellers who take a large commission and subcontract the work.
No site visit before quoting. A legitimate solar quote should involve at least a look at your roof (satellite imagery minimum, physical visit preferred). If someone is quoting you over the phone based on nothing but your address, they’re guessing.
Unusually long payment terms. Some companies ask for 100% payment upfront. The norm is a deposit with balance on completion. Paying in full before the system is installed and working is unnecessary risk.
Vague warranty terms. Ask specifically: who do you call if there’s a problem in year five? Is the installing company still responsible, or does it fall back to the manufacturer? What’s the process?
What Good Looks Like
A quality solar installer in Queensland will:
- Provide their QBCC licence and SAA accreditation numbers without being asked
- Visit your site (or use satellite imagery with a follow-up conversation) before quoting
- Provide a detailed written quote with specific panel and inverter models
- Model savings against your actual energy bills, not generic calculators
- Explain the switchboard and grid connection process
- Give you a realistic payback period without inflating the numbers
- Be around to answer the phone in five years if something goes wrong
High Energy is a licensed Brisbane electrician and SAA accredited solar installer — GCPV Solar, GCBS Battery, SPS Off-Grid. QLD Electrical Contractor Licence 1506492. We provide written quotes with no obligation and model every system against your actual energy bills. Get in touch.