Trust anchor · Verify before signing
CEC accreditation: Approved Retailer vs Accredited Installer
Two different registers, two different things, both required for the rebates worth thousands of dollars. The single most important check you can run before signing a solar quote. Less than three minutes of your time and the most reliable signal in the entire industry.
★Key takeaways
- ✓CEC accreditation is two different registers. Approved Solar Retailer (business-level consumer-protection code). Accredited Installer (individual electrician who signs off the install).
- ✓Both registers required for federal STC + Cheaper Home Batteries rebates. The rebate is forfeit if the installer is not accredited on the install date.
- ✓Approved Solar Retailer (cleanenergycouncil.org.au) signals the business has signed the New Energy Tech Consumer Code. It is the higher consumer-protection bar.
- ✓Accredited Installer (solaraccreditation.com.au) is the technical + regulatory baseline. The accreditation number appears on every compliance certificate.
- ✓Always verify accreditation on the day of install, not the day of quote. Status can lapse, be suspended or be revoked between the two.
Verify in 3 minutes
The two checks every solar buyer must run
1. Installer accreditation
Required for rebatesGet the installer accreditation number from the quote. Go to solaraccreditation.com.au and use the installer search. Confirm status is "Accredited" + the name matches the contract.
solaraccreditation.com.au →2. Retailer NETCC status
Higher quality barGo to cleanenergycouncil.org.au/code-of-conduct. Search the retailer business name. Confirm current Approved Solar Retailer status. Approved Retailers have signed the New Energy Tech Consumer Code.
cleanenergycouncil.org.au →Comparison
Side by side
CEC Accredited Installer / Designer
- Administered by
- Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), administers installer accreditation on behalf of the Clean Energy Regulator from 2024 onwards. Previously administered directly by the CEC.
- Purpose
- Required for STC + federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate eligibility. Every panel install must be signed off by an accredited installer.
- Applies to
- The individual electrician / installer who climbs the roof + signs the certificate, not the business
- Check at
- solaraccreditation.com.au, installer search
- Suspended or revoked when
- Suspended or revoked for: documented bad workmanship, non-compliance with AS/NZS 5033, fraudulent paperwork, repeated consumer complaints
- Relative rigour
- Technical / regulatory baseline. Required but not a quality guarantee.
CEC Approved Solar Retailer
- Administered by
- Clean Energy Council (industry body) directly. The New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) is the audit standard from 2023+
- Purpose
- Consumer-protection signal: the retailer has signed up to a code covering quotes, contracts, marketing, warranty handling + complaints
- Applies to
- The retail business that sells you the system, not the installer themselves
- Check at
- cleanenergycouncil.org.au/code-of-conduct
- Suspended or revoked when
- Suspended or revoked for: misleading marketing, high-pressure sales, refusing warranty service, NETCC breaches, undisclosed change of ownership
- Relative rigour
- Higher consumer-protection bar. Not all good installers bother with it; not all "Approved Retailers" are equally good. Useful filter, not gospel.
Green flags
What a reputable quote looks like
- ✓ Both registers verified live on the day of quote acceptance (re-check on install day)
- ✓ CEC-accredited installer named on the contract (not just "we use accredited installers")
- ✓ Brand-name panels with serial numbers on the CEC-approved products list
- ✓ Brand-name inverter from a tier-1 manufacturer (Sungrow, Fronius, SMA, Enphase) with > 10yr warranty
- ✓ Workmanship warranty in writing, not just verbal
- ✓ STC + battery rebate value broken out as separate line items, not folded into "promo discount"
- ✓ No deposit > 10% before install date, balance on commissioning
- ✓ Written compliance documentation issued post-install: CES, inverter datasheet, panel datasheet, electrical safety certificate
Red flags
Walk away signals
- ✕ Door-knocking salesperson, especially with "limited time today only" pricing
- ✕ "Government rebate is expiring" / "free solar from the government". The STC is automatic and there is no "free" install
- ✕ No installer accreditation number on the quote
- ✕ Inverter brand you cannot find a website for (probable unknown Chinese OEM, no parts support after 3 years)
- ✕ Panel brand not on the BNEF Tier 1 list and not on the CEC approved products list
- ✕ Cash deposit demanded before contract signed
- ✕ "No need to verify, we are accredited". Refusal to share the accreditation number
- ✕ Quote price > 30% below market median for that size system (likely cut-corner install or substituted components on the day)
- ✕ Sub-contractor different to the named installer turns up on install day (and is not on the register)
When things go wrong
What to do if your installer loses accreditation
Installer becomes unaccredited between quote and install
Impact on you
Federal STC rebate is forfeit. Battery rebate is forfeit. State rebates that require CEC accreditation are forfeit.
Your move
Refuse to proceed. Request a replacement accredited installer or cancel the contract under the cooling-off clause. The retailer must provide an accredited installer or refund.
Retailer loses Approved Solar Retailer status between quote and install
Impact on you
Federal STC + federal battery rebate still applies (depends on the installer not the retailer). State rebates that require Approved Retailer status (e.g. QLD Battery Booster pre-install requirement) are forfeit.
Your move
Pause the contract. Get written confirmation of why status was lost. If consumer-protection issue (misleading marketing, warranty refusal), pursue refund + look elsewhere.
Installer becomes unaccredited mid-install (rare but happens)
Impact on you
STC + battery rebate forfeit. Workmanship guarantee uncertain. Network connection may be refused.
Your move
Stop work. Contact the retailer in writing. If the retailer is still solvent + still an Approved Retailer, they must reinstall by an accredited installer at no extra cost. If the retailer collapses, Australian Consumer Law unfair contract terms + state Fair Trading is your next stop.
Retailer goes out of business after install (workmanship warranty orphaned)
Impact on you
Manufacturer warranty on panels + inverter remains valid. Workmanship warranty from the retailer is largely worthless if they have closed.
Your move
Any CEC-accredited installer can service the system for repairs (you pay). Manufacturer warranty claims go direct to the panel + inverter manufacturer. ACL guarantees (the install was fit for purpose) may apply against the retailer’s directors in some cases, get legal advice if loss is material.
Useful escalation paths: Clean Energy Regulator (rebate eligibility disputes), your state Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs body (consumer-protection complaints), Energy + Water Ombudsman in your state (grid-connection + retailer disputes).
Common questions
Accreditation questions
Is CEC accreditation the same as being a licensed electrician?
No, they are separate. A licensed electrician (state-licensed by Energy Safe Victoria, WorkSafe, etc) can do electrical work legally. CEC accreditation is an additional certification specifically for grid-connect solar + battery systems. To work on solar legally + claim rebates, an installer needs both the state electrical licence and CEC accreditation.
What is the difference between a CEC-accredited installer and a CEC-accredited designer?
Designer: signs off on the system design (panel layout, string sizing, inverter selection, compliance with AS/NZS 5033). Installer: does the physical install. The same person can hold both, but for larger or more complex systems they may be different individuals. Both names must appear on the compliance paperwork.
Why are there now two organisations running solar accreditation?
From early 2024 the Clean Energy Regulator transferred installer accreditation administration from the Clean Energy Council to Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). The CEC retained the Approved Solar Retailer scheme + the New Energy Tech Consumer Code. Two separate things, two separate websites: solaraccreditation.com.au for the installer; cleanenergycouncil.org.au for the retailer.
How do I check if a specific person is accredited right now?
Go to solaraccreditation.com.au and use the installer search. Enter the accreditation number on the quote, or the installer name. The page shows current status (Accredited, Suspended, Expired). Status can change daily, so verify on the day of install, not just on the day of quote.
Is CEC accreditation a guarantee of quality?
No. Accreditation is a regulatory baseline (the installer has passed the entry course + has not been struck off). It is not a Yelp-style quality rating. Workmanship varies considerably between accredited installers. Use accreditation as a non-negotiable first filter, then weigh up workmanship warranty length, online reviews specific to that installer (not the retailer), and word-of-mouth from neighbours with installs older than 5 years.
What is the New Energy Tech Consumer Code?
NETCC is an ACCC-authorised industry code. CEC Approved Solar Retailers must comply. It covers: marketing claims, consumer warranties, quote + contract disclosure, complaints handling, after-sales service. Breaches can lead to retailer suspension or removal from the Approved Retailer list. It is the underlying reason "Approved Solar Retailer" is a stronger consumer-protection signal than installer accreditation alone.