The Fine Print

Installation standards and financial incentives for solar panels and feed-in tariffs

 

A Standard Install for Customers

Price is for a single storey pitched roof for customers within Geraldton areas, (20kms from CBD)

Solar Install address must:

 

  • have clear, unhindered vehicle access for installers
  • have a completed home not under construction with wiring/power supply complying with current electrical standards
  • be a single storey with a pitched tin roof (extra cost may apply for other roof types)
  • have a suitable location for the inverter. If location is exposed to elements a weather proof cover may be required (not required for micro-inverter system)
  • understand that the solar system will be installed, and your Energy Supply Authority supplies final approval and connection to the grid
  • Micro-inverter systems have the ability to be connected to the internet, to show data to both the customer and the supplier. For this to happen, the system must have access to your router, suitable for connection. If not suitable connection, alternative arrangements can be made to obtain system access to the internet.

 

Additional cost

Additional cost can be occurred if the following happens:

 

  • Incorrect details supplied to supplier, by customer
  • Exiting electrical system is sub-standard and considered unsafe by any electrician
  • Double story and high roofs above 3 meters. require access equipment to lift equipment up to roof, for safety reasons we will supply a purpose built elevating work platform.
  • Split array, where the system must be cabled from one roof to another roof area
  • Existing neutral connection point is sub-standard and classed as electrically unsafe by any electrician

 

REBATES

Solar panel systems are entitled to a number of small-scale technology certificates (STCs) if the system is eligible. This is based on the amount of electricity in megawatt hours (MWh) the system generates over the course of its lifetime. Sun City Solar trades these certificates on the open market through companies like Green Energy Traders.

 

APPLICATIONS

Sun City Solar has supplied the application to Synergy for Renewable Buyback Scheme (REBs). You are required to fill this application out and email to service@suncitysolar.com.au upon completion of your transaction to purchase a system. If Synergy requires additional information, Synergy will contact Sun City Solar or you, it is imperative that all correspondence is answered in a timely manner and inform us of any additional information required. Synergy will not accept or liaise with a business that is not the end of line customer, YOU. This is to avoid delays experienced in their “due process”

 

Sun City Solar is not liable for inclusion or exclusion to REBs or changes in any such scheme, which is dictated by scheme organizers and government policy.

 

Upon Synergy approval and reference number received, we will apply to Western Power for approval to connect to the grid. Sometimes Western Power will reject system sizing. We will fight for approval, but this usually means downsizing from the original application size of system, or in extreme cases full refusal by Western Power to connect. These are fully out of control of Sun City Solar.

 

We generally cannot install your system until we have Western Power approval.

 

INSTALLATION

Australian Standards apply, this means that ALL solar cabling “Solar DC” must be in conduit from the array to the inverter. The special rule states that the cabling be surface mount medium duty (grey) conduit on the surface of the exterior of the building. Any surface classified as inside, like garages, enclosed carports must be in heavy duty conduit, which is coloured orange.

NOTE Micro-inverter systems do not have DC Solar wiring, so no conduit required on walls or inside roof spaces.

Our systems are based on surface mounted conduit; if you require internal hidden wiring then additional costs apply. To run internal, we must fully enclose DC cabling in Heavy duty conduit, including inside wall cavities. As you can see conduits in wall cavities will be extremely difficult.

 

Location of inverters is recommended by Western Power, best work practices, to be outside building, near meter or load centre (fuse board). This is so fire and emergency services can access your system to shut it down in case of an emergency. Emergency can be kitchen fire, storm damage, flood damage etc.

 

Location of equipment is determined by Sun City Solar’s extensive experience. If there is an area you do not wish to have the inverter, or Photovoltaic array, it has to be noted in writing by emailing service@suncitysolar.com.au.

If a customer wants equipment moved, after we have installed it, it will be at customer cost.

 

We cannot predict the future rules and requirements. Sun City Solar will not be responsible for any changes in the future, whether it be to buyback schemes, location of equipment or any other changes by any authority.

 

Equipment failure or faults must be checked out. First is having a look at fault finding section of inverter manufactures supplied book. Determine the fault; write down the fault and any fault codes. Majority of faults come up with “grid fault” which is a fault outside the area of work and equipment we supplied. Do contact us and we will assist, and who to contact and what remedies can be done. If there is a physical change to customers household wiring, load centre cabling etc. then this is a chargeable cost to the customer.

 

The equipment has been supplied with instructions, please read manual and familiarizes yourself with YOUR equipment.

 

Please familiarize yourself with Synergy and Western Power web sites. There is a wealth of information there. Information on tariffs and reading your meter and other general information including complaint phone numbers for Western Power and Synergy.