Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA): What It Means and How to Check Your Installer
Quick answer: Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) runs accreditation for people who design and install small-scale solar and battery systems. The Clean Energy Regulator approved SAA for this role on 29 February 2024, taking over from the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Accreditation is held by individual electricians, not companies. To check your installer, search their name or accreditation number on SAA’s accreditation status check, then check their electrical licence on the Building and Energy WA licence search.
If you are comparing solar quotes in Perth, you will still see “CEC accredited” on websites, vans and quotes. That wording is out of date. It does not mean the business is dodgy, but it does mean you should check the right register.
This guide explains what changed, who holds which credential, and how to check the electrician who will be on your roof.
What changed: CEC to SAA
Installer accreditation moved from the CEC to SAA in 2024. On 29 February 2024 the Clean Energy Regulator approved Solar Accreditation Australia as the accreditation scheme operator for installers and designers under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The CEC chose not to apply to keep the role, and its accreditation services ended.
There was a short transition period:
- 29 February 2024: SAA approved as the new accreditation scheme operator. SAA also began accrediting battery installers from this date.
- 29 May 2024: deadline for accredited installers and designers to transfer from the CEC to SAA to keep their accreditation and remain eligible for small-scale technology certificates (STCs).
- Transfer terms: no transfer fee, and existing expiry dates carried over.
So if someone says they are “CEC accredited” today, what they should mean is that they hold current SAA accreditation. The Clean Energy Regulator’s announcement sets out the change.
Accreditation belongs to people, not companies
A company cannot be SAA-accredited. Only individuals can. SAA accredits people for specific types of work, such as grid-connected solar or grid-connected battery systems. A solar business employs, or contracts, people who hold that accreditation.
That changes the question you should ask. Not “Is your company accredited?” but “Who will design and install my system, and what are their accreditation numbers?”
It helps to know which credential belongs to whom:
| Credential | Held by | Issued by | What it means | How to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAA accreditation | Individual installer or designer | Solar Accreditation Australia | Qualified to design or install small-scale solar or batteries for STC and rebate purposes | SAA status check |
| Electrician’s licence | Individual | Building and Energy WA | Legally allowed to do electrical work in WA | Licence search |
| Electrical contractor licence | Business | Building and Energy WA | Legally allowed to contract for electrical work in WA | Licence search |
| NETCC Approved Seller | Business | New Energy Tech Consumer Code program | Signed up to a voluntary consumer protection code for sales, contracts and warranties | Find an Approved Seller |
| CEC approved product | Panel, inverter or battery model | Clean Energy Council | Product meets listed standards; needed for STCs and some rebates | CEC product lists |
How to check an installer
Check two things: SAA accreditation and a WA electrical licence. Both are free, public and take a few minutes.
- Ask for names and numbers. Ask the company who will install your system and who designed it, plus their SAA accreditation numbers.
- Search SAA. Enter the name or number on SAA’s “Is my installer accredited?” check. Confirm the accreditation is current.
- Match the accreditation to the job. A battery install needs battery accreditation, not just solar. If you are adding a battery, check for it specifically.
- Check the WA licence. Search the Building and Energy licence and registration search for the electrician’s licence and the business’s electrical contractor licence. The register does not list trading names, so ask for the contractor licence number.
- Check the seller, if it is a separate business. If you are buying through a retailer that subcontracts the install, look it up on the NETCC Approved Seller list.
- Confirm on the day. Ask the person who arrives for their name, and make sure it matches the person you checked.
Worth knowing: Our guide to questions to ask a solar installer in Perth has a full checklist to take into your quote meetings.
What the CEC still runs
The CEC no longer accredits installers, but it still maintains the approved product lists. These lists cover solar panels, inverters and batteries that meet Australian standards. A system needs listed products to earn STCs, and the WA Residential Battery Scheme also requires listed products.
The CEC Approved Solar Retailer program no longer exists. On 1 February 2023 it was replaced by the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC). Businesses that were Approved Solar Retailers became NETCC Approved Sellers, and the NETCC replaced the old Solar Retailer Code of Conduct.
As of October 2026, here is where things stand:
- The NETCC is a voluntary code overseen by the NETCC Council.
- It covers solar, batteries, EV chargers and other home energy technology, not just solar.
- Approved Sellers commit to standards on sales, quotes and contracts, installation, and warranties and support.
- An updated version of the NETCC takes effect on 1 December 2026.
If a business calls itself a “CEC Approved Retailer” today, it is using a name that was retired in 2023. Check the NETCC list instead.
Why it matters for STCs and the WA Battery Scheme
Without SAA-accredited people on the job, your system may not qualify for STCs or the WA Residential Battery Scheme. That can cost you thousands of dollars in incentives.
STCs (the federal solar and battery incentive)
STCs reduce the upfront price of most solar systems. Under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, the system must be designed and installed by SAA-accredited people and use CEC-listed products. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries program works through the same scheme, so battery installs need SAA battery accreditation too. In most cases your installer claims the STCs and takes their value off your quote.
WA Residential Battery Scheme
The WA scheme offers up to $1,300 for Synergy customers and up to $3,800 for Horizon Power customers. It sets its own rules for who can take part:
- Installers need Grid Connected Battery System accreditation from SAA.
- Vendors must be NETCC Approved Sellers (required since 1 October 2025) and have a WA business address.
- Batteries must be on the approved product list and connected to an approved virtual power plant.
Important: If the person who installs your battery does not hold the right SAA accreditation, the rebate can be refused. Check before installation day, not after.
In-house electricians vs subcontractors
Both can be legal, as long as each person is licensed and accredited. The difference is accountability. Many solar businesses sell the system and send a subcontracted crew to install it. Others employ their own electricians. Neither model is automatically good or bad, but they change what you should check.
- Who you can check in advance. With in-house teams, the company can usually tell you who is coming. With subcontractors, the crew may not be known until close to the day.
- Who stands behind the work. Your contract is with the seller. Ask how they handle a workmanship fault if the subcontractor is no longer working with them.
- Who comes back. Ask who attends service calls and warranty work, and how quickly.
- Design to install. When the same team designs and installs, details from the site visit are less likely to get lost.
Whichever model a business uses, read its workmanship warranty terms closely and check who actually delivers them.
How Talk Energy does it
Every Talk Energy installation is carried out by our in-house SAA-accredited electricians. We do not use subcontractors. Our business holds WA electrical contractor licence EC15564, which you can check on the Building and Energy register.
You are welcome to ask for the name and SAA accreditation number of the electrician booked for your job, and check them yourself. You can also meet our team before you decide.
Get a free quote: request your free solar quote or call (08) 6255 5914.
Frequently asked questions
Is CEC accreditation still valid?
No. The Clean Energy Council stopped accrediting solar installers and designers in 2024. The Clean Energy Regulator approved Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) as the new accreditation scheme operator on 29 February 2024, and accredited people had until 29 May 2024 to transfer to SAA to stay eligible for STCs. Anyone who still says “CEC accredited” should now hold current SAA accreditation, which you can check on SAA’s website.
Can a company be SAA-accredited?
No. SAA accredits individual people, not businesses. A solar company can employ or subcontract SAA-accredited electricians, but the company itself does not hold the accreditation. That is why you should ask who will design and install your system, and check those people by name or accreditation number.
How do I check my installer’s accreditation?
Use SAA’s “Is my installer accredited?” status check at saaustralia.com.au and search by the installer’s name or accreditation number. Make sure the accreditation is current and covers the work, such as batteries if you are adding one. Then check the electrician’s licence and the business’s electrical contractor licence on the Building and Energy WA licence search.
Do I need an accredited installer to claim rebates?
Yes. To earn STCs under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, your system must be designed and installed by SAA-accredited people using CEC-listed products. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries program works through the same scheme. The WA Residential Battery Scheme also requires installers to hold SAA Grid Connected Battery System accreditation.
What is a CEC Approved Retailer, and what replaced it?
It was a voluntary Clean Energy Council program for solar businesses, and it no longer exists. On 1 February 2023 it was replaced by the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC), and Approved Solar Retailers became NETCC Approved Sellers. The NETCC covers solar, batteries and EV chargers, and an updated version takes effect on 1 December 2026. You can check a business on the NETCC Find an Approved Seller page.
