The Andrews Government announced on 22 March 2019 that From 1 July 2019, Victoria’s top 150 solar retailers (based on the total number of systems they’ve installed under the Solar Homes program) will have to be approved under the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Retailer Code of Conduct if they want to continue to take part in the Solar Homes program.
Solar retailers outside the top 150 have until 1 November 2019 to become approved signatories to the CEC’s Retailers Code of Conduct if they are to take part in the program.
Solar Victoria, who are responsible for administering the Solar Homes rebates says that they are bringing in these mandatory requirements “to ensure that people getting rebates from the Solar Homes program get quality service and only reputable retailers take part in the program.”
They state that, “Mandating that all solar retailers must be signatories to the Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) Code of Conduct will help establish a level playing field for all solar retailers and help protect consumers from unscrupulous operators.”
Jo Kaptein, Manager of the MASH and Hepburn community solar bulk-buys says, “We welcome these tighter rules from Solar Victoria and the higher standards that they will set for the solar industry. The end result will be a better outcome for householders buying solar.”