With an increasing focus on renewable energy, rising energy prices and falling solar panel costs, it’s never been a better time to get solar installed. If you’re not sure how to get started, the solar installation process might be easier than you think! As accredited solar installers and designers, we’ve detailed the process that we take our customers through in the following 5 steps:
1 Determine suitability
There are two ways to determine whether your property is suitable for solar. Firstly, look at your energy usage and when you use the most electricity. If you are mostly using power during the day and are currently spending hundreds of dollars on electricity bills per quarter, solar is worth the upfront investment, as it will pay for itself over time (the expected return on investment timeframe is usually between 3-5 years). Secondly, the roof of your property needs to be examined to determine whether it is appropriate to hold solar panels - things like orientation, slope or angle, and type of roof will impact whether solar is an option. If you’re unsure about any of the above, your solar installer can determine this as part of their quote process.
2 Get a quote from an accredited solar installer
The Federal Government has a solar rebate on offer called the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, but to access this rebate, you must go through an installer with a Clean Energy Council Accreditation. This accreditation recognises individuals who have undertaken the necessary training to design and install solar, batteries and other renewable energy systems that are safe, reliable and meet customer expectations.
For Ehlerth Electrical customers, all of the required Government rebate paperwork and forms are completed by our solar team, and the rebates are accounted for in the initial quote.
As part of the quote process, our solar team will assess your energy consumption through your most recent energy bills and assess your roof in person to ensure the solar installation is suitable for your property and that it is tailored specifically for your needs.
The solar proposal will be sent to you, which includes the costs for the solar system and inverter, network pre-approval, installation and labour, and the rebate. It also outlines the proposed panel layout on your roof, solar system details, daily production per month, expected savings on your electricity bill over a 20-year period, monthly electricity bill comparison, environmental benefits and warranty details.
3 Sign the proposal/contract and apply for a connection
The proposal mentioned above that we send to our customers is also the contract with terms and conditions that you sign to install your solar. As part of the process, our solar team will also submit the application form to your network provider to get your system connected to the grid.
If your current meter does not support solar, we will instruct your network provider to replace it with a new bi-directional one. Some network providers will do this free of charge. This meter will be compatible with your solar panels and allow the excess electricity you generate to go back into the electrical grid, as well as use your own generation within your home. You will not receive benefits until this meter exchange has been completed.
4 Install your solar system and connect it to the grid
Once the proposal/contract is signed, the solar installer will book a suitable date to do the installation. Depending on the size of the system, most installations can be completed in a day. Once your solar is installed, and compliant metering is in place, check for the ‘Queensland Solar Scheme’ details on your electricity bill.
5 Maintain your system
Your solar installer should provide you with a maintenance schedule or user manual to take care of your solar system. Our solar team provides a detailed user manual document that includes contact information, precautions and warnings, emergency procedures, system description, system performance, connection diagram, maintenance information, commissioning report and warranty documentation.
As certified Master Electricians and accredited solar specialists and designers, Ehlerth Electrical is trusted to provide expert service in solar repairs, replacements and installations. If you are interested in installing solar for your property, please reach out to our team today!
