How to Choose a Solar and Battery Company in Perth: 10 Checks (2026)
Quick answer: Choose a Perth solar and battery company on ten checks, not on price alone: SAA-accredited electricians on your roof, employees rather than subcontractors, a long written workmanship warranty, a written fault-response time, an itemised quote with named brands and models, clear extras, genuine recent reviews, a real local address and electrical contractor licence, the ability to handle rebates, and no pressure to sign. Compare quotes only after each company has passed these checks.
Most Perth homeowners collect three or four solar quotes and find prices thousands of dollars apart for what looks like the same system. Every company says it is the right choice. The problem is that the things that matter most, such as who installs the system and what happens when something goes wrong in year eight, are not printed on the price line.
This guide gives you ten practical checks you can run on any installer, the red flags to walk away from, and a side-by-side checklist for comparing quotes. We are a Perth installer ourselves, so at the end we show how we answer each check, and you can hold us to the same standard.
What should you check before choosing a solar company in Perth?
Check the people, the paperwork and the promises in writing. The table below summarises the ten checks. Each one is explained in the sections that follow.
| # | Check | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Installer accreditation | The electricians on your roof hold current Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accreditation, and you can see their numbers |
| 2 | Who does the install | The company’s own licensed electricians, not subcontractors |
| 3 | Workmanship warranty | In writing, at least 10 years, with clear coverage of wiring, mounting and roof penetrations |
| 4 | Fault response | A written response time, not “we’ll get to it” |
| 5 | Quote detail | Exact panel, inverter and battery brands and models, with warranty terms |
| 6 | Extras | Switchboard upgrades, scaffolding and meter fees listed or ruled out |
| 7 | Reviews | Plenty of recent Google reviews, and sensible replies to negative ones |
| 8 | Local presence and licence | A physical WA address, ABN and electrical contractor licence number |
| 9 | Rebates and battery scheme | Can explain and lodge STC and WA Battery Scheme paperwork correctly |
| 10 | Sales approach | Written quote, time to decide, no “today only” price |
The 10 checks, explained
1. Are the electricians on your roof SAA-accredited?
They should be. Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) now runs installer accreditation, a role the Clean Energy Council used to hold. Accreditation belongs to individual electricians, not to companies. So the useful question is not “is your business accredited?” but “will the people installing my system be accredited, and can I have their accreditation numbers?”
This matters for your money as well as your safety. An accredited installer is needed to create the Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) that reduce your solar price, and battery installs under the WA Residential Battery Scheme need an electrician with SAA battery accreditation. The Clean Energy Council still keeps the approved product lists for panels, inverters and batteries, which is a separate check on the equipment.
2. Who actually does the installation?
Ask whether the installers are employees or subcontractors. Some companies sell the system and hand the job to whichever crew is free that week. That can work, but it creates a grey area when there is a fault years later. The subcontractor may have moved on, and the company that sold you the system has no direct way to send the same people back.
Employed electricians answer to the business that holds your warranty. That single line of accountability is what makes long warranties and fast fault response realistic. Our guide on why in-house electricians matter goes into more detail.
3. How long is the workmanship warranty, and what does it cover?
Look for a written workmanship warranty of at least 10 years. You will usually see three separate warranties on a solar quote, and only one of them comes from the installer.
| Warranty | Who gives it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Panel product and performance | Panel manufacturer | Defects and output loss over time (commonly 25 years for performance) |
| Inverter and battery | Equipment manufacturer | Faults in the equipment itself; terms vary by brand and model |
| Workmanship | Your installer | The installation: wiring, mounting, roof penetrations, waterproofing and connections |
Many post-install problems are workmanship problems, not product problems. A leak around a roof penetration or a loose DC connection is not a panel defect, so the manufacturer will not cover it. A short workmanship warranty leaves you paying for those repairs for most of the system’s life.
4. Is there a written fault-response time?
There should be. A warranty tells you a fault will be fixed. A response time tells you when. Every sunny day your system is offline, you buy that power from the grid instead, at 33.26c/kWh on Synergy’s Home Plan A1. Some faults also get worse if left. An isolation fault that trips the inverter in wet weather, for example, should be looked at quickly rather than in a month.
Common faults after installation include:
- Inverter errors: the inverter shuts down or stops talking to the grid.
- Isolation (earth) faults: often from damaged cabling or a damaged panel, and often showing up after rain.
- Roof and conduit issues: penetrations or conduit that were not sealed properly.
- Low output: a faulty string or a shading problem that was missed at design.
All of these can be fixed. What you are really choosing is how quickly, and by whom.
5. Does the quote name exact brands and models?
A good quote lists the panel brand, model and wattage, the inverter brand, model and capacity, and the battery brand, model and usable capacity. “Tier-1 panels” or “premium battery” without a model number is a red flag, because it lets the installer swap in cheaper equipment. With exact models you can check datasheets, warranty terms and whether the products are on the approved lists.
6. Are the extras spelled out?
They should be listed, or clearly ruled out. The usual surprises are switchboard upgrades on older homes, scaffolding or edge protection on double-storey roofs, extra cabling for a long run to the meter box, and Synergy’s metering fees for a new or reprogrammed meter. The quote should also show the full system price and the rebates as separate lines, so you know what you are actually buying, not just the out-of-pocket figure.
7. What do the Google reviews actually say?
Read them rather than just counting stars. Volume and recency matter: plenty of reviews from the last 12 months tell you more than a handful from years ago. Then read the negative reviews and the company’s replies. A calm, specific reply that explains how a problem was fixed is a good sign. Look for reviews that mention after-sales service, not just a tidy installation day. Our company reputation checklist walks through this step by step.
8. Is there a real local address and an electrical contractor licence?
There should be. Ask for the company’s ABN, its WA electrical contractor licence number and a physical address. You can check a licence on Building and Energy WA’s public licence search. A local team with an address you can drive to is easier to hold to a 10- or 20-year promise. If you are weighing a local company against a national brand, our guide to local vs national solar installers covers the trade-offs.
It is also fair to ask: “What happens to my warranty if your company closes?” The honest answer is that a workmanship warranty is only as good as the business behind it. Years in business and a steady review history are your best evidence.
9. Can they handle rebates and the WA Battery Scheme properly?
They should explain every rebate on the quote and lodge the paperwork for you. For batteries, the WA Residential Battery Scheme gives up to $1,300 for Synergy customers and up to $3,800 for Horizon Power customers, on top of the federal Cheaper Home Batteries program. To sell under the scheme, a business must be an accredited vendor on Plenti’s directory and an approved seller under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC). The battery and inverter must also be on your retailer’s Supported Solutions List, and you must join a virtual power plant. Ask the installer to confirm each point in writing. Our WA Battery Scheme eligibility checklist lists the full requirements.
10. How do they sell?
A good installer gives you a written quote and time to think. “Sign today or lose the price” is a sales tactic, not a real deadline. If you sign at home after an unsolicited visit or call, the Australian Consumer Law gives you a 10-business-day cooling-off period. Either way, you are entitled to take your time.
What are the red flags when choosing a solar installer?
Walk away, or at least slow down, if you see any of these:
- Pressure to sign on the spot, or a “today only” discount
- No physical address, or an ABN or licence number you cannot verify
- Vague equipment, such as “premium panels” with no brand or model
- A workmanship warranty under 10 years, or one that is not in writing
- No answer to “who will be on my roof?”
- No mention of installer accreditation numbers
- A quote showing only the after-rebate price
- Switchboard, scaffolding or metering costs that are “to be confirmed on the day”
Worth knowing: a low quote is not automatically a bad one, and a high quote is not automatically a good one. What matters is what is included, who installs it, and what is promised in writing afterwards.
How do you compare solar quotes side by side?
Put the quotes next to each other and tick off the same items on each. Only compare prices once the answers match.
- Equipment: exact panel, inverter and battery models named; products on the Clean Energy Council approved lists; battery usable capacity stated.
- Warranties: workmanship period in years; panel performance warranty; battery warranty and its conditions; who backs each one.
- Price: full price itemised; rebates shown separately; extras listed or ruled out.
- Company: employed electricians or subcontractors; accreditation numbers; licence and address; written fault-response time; recent reviews.
- Battery scheme (if relevant): accredited vendor; equipment on the Supported Solutions List; virtual power plant terms explained.
For a longer question list, see our questions to ask your solar installer and our guide to comparing solar quotes in Perth.
How much does solar and a battery cost in Perth in 2026?
As a rough guide, most Perth homes pay around $5,000–$7,500 for a 6.6 kW solar system after the STC discount in 2026. Your price depends on your roof, your switchboard and the equipment you choose. These are market estimates, not quotes.
| System | Rough guide, installed, incl. GST (2026) |
|---|---|
| 6.6 kW solar (after STC) | $5,000–$7,500 |
| 10 kW solar (after STC) | $8,000–$11,000 |
| 13 kW solar (after STC) | $10,000–$14,000 |
| ~10 kWh battery | $9,500–$13,000 before rebates; ~$5,500–$9,000 after federal and WA rebates |
| ~13–16 kWh battery | $13,000–$18,000 before rebates; ~$8,000–$12,500 after federal and WA rebates |
Battery “after rebates” figures assume a Synergy customer receiving the WA rebate (up to $1,300) and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount. Comparing the batteries themselves? See our Perth battery comparison.
How does Talk Energy answer the 10 checks?
Here are our answers, so you can compare them with any other quote you get.
| Check | Talk Energy’s answer |
|---|---|
| Accreditation | All our electricians are SAA-accredited |
| Who installs | In-house electricians only, no subcontractors |
| Workmanship warranty | 20 years |
| Fault response | 48-hour fix-or-replace guarantee |
| Track record | 7+ years in business, 5,000+ installations |
| Reviews | 4.8 stars from 300+ Google reviews |
| Licence and address | WA electrical contractor licence EC15564; 16 Ogilvie Rd, Mount Pleasant WA 6153 |
| Batteries | Sigenergy (SigenStor) |
| Rebates | We explain each rebate on your quote and handle the paperwork for eligible customers |
One honest limit: we service and repair the systems we install. We do not take on systems installed by other companies. You can read how our 48-hour fix-or-replace guarantee works and what our solar warranty covers before you decide.
See our solar installations in Perth and solar battery options, then get a free, fixed quote or call (08) 6255 5914. Take it away, compare it against the ten checks, and decide in your own time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best solar company in Perth?
There is no independent official ranking of Perth solar companies, so the right company is the one that passes your checks. Look for SAA-accredited electricians employed by the company, a written workmanship warranty of 10 years or more, a written fault-response time, an itemised quote with exact models, and plenty of recent Google reviews. Compare at least three quotes on those points before you compare prices.
How do I check that a solar installer is accredited?
Ask for the accreditation numbers of the electricians who will do your installation, then check them with Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). Accreditation is held by individual electricians, not by companies. SAA took over installer accreditation from the Clean Energy Council. You can also check the company’s WA electrical contractor licence with Building and Energy WA.
Does a longer workmanship warranty matter?
Yes. The workmanship warranty is the only warranty that covers the installation itself: wiring, mounting, roof penetrations and waterproofing. Manufacturer warranties cover the equipment, not how it was installed. Solar systems run for decades, so a short workmanship warranty leaves you paying for installation faults for most of the system’s life.
Should I choose a local Perth installer or a national company?
Either can work if it passes the same checks. The key questions are who installs the system, who comes out when there is a fault, and how quickly. A local team with its own electricians and a Perth address is usually easier to hold to a long warranty, but ask any company for its response time in writing.
Can Talk Energy repair a system another company installed?
No. Talk Energy services and repairs only the systems it installed. If your original installer is no longer trading, contact the equipment manufacturer about product warranty claims and find a licensed electrician who takes on other companies’ systems.
How much does a solar system cost in Perth?
As a rough guide, most Perth homes pay around $5,000–$7,500 for a 6.6 kW system and $8,000–$11,000 for a 10 kW system after the STC discount in 2026. A ~10 kWh battery adds roughly $5,500–$9,000 after federal and WA rebates. Your price depends on your roof, switchboard and equipment, so get a fixed written quote.
