Browse Forums Eco Living 1 Feb 19, 2011 10:54 am Choosing a solar system is like walking through a minefield blindfolded, trying to avoid the scores of questionable companies. This problem is compounded by solar retailers proudly displaying the Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) logo, giving the impression they are ‘endorsed’ or accredited’ by the CEC. This is misleading and wrong and should be changed, before it ends up in a shambles equal to the pink-batts disaster. The CEC are an industry body with regulatory powers over solar installers, but strangely have no control over solar retailers, who are our only contact in choosing a system until an accredited installer arrives at one’s home to install it. Stranger still because the CEC accredited installer is given the responsibility of designing your system to supposedly meet your needs. How can he do that having never seen your home before installation day? Then we come to a scenario should you have a fault with your installed system. You contact the retailer, who will contact the installer and if he finds time, he might attend. If he doesn’t then it becomes an “I said—they said” squabble. I'm thinking perhaps it's best to avoid large solar retailers who can promise the earth to gain your signature and have numerous faceless contract installers, selecting smaller accredited retailers who have employees doing installations. What do you think? Arfur Re: The Clean Energy Council? 2Feb 19, 2011 1:46 pm I think it might be harder to access the solar credits by doing it yourself The following site publishes references for a lot of the solar companies and is worth a look. http://www.solarquotes.com.au The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: The Clean Energy Council? 3Feb 20, 2011 2:28 pm I am trying to see how your response is relevant in any way to my post. I never mentioned 'credits', but to continue-- Here is the reply I received from CEC-- "The CEC run’s an accreditation program for individual solar installers. This program requires installers to have completed substantial training specifically in the design and installation of solar panels at a registered training organisation. We do not however give accreditation to Solar Retail Companies. As a way of helping to ensure the quality of solar power systems nationwide, we recommend that consumers use installers who are accredited with the CEC. When talking to the company you are dealing with, you should ask that whoever installs your system is CEC accredited. You should also ask to see the installer’s photo ID when they come to your house. I repeat -- As the installers are given the responsibility for the system design, but dont get to see your home until the day of installation how can they complete a competent design suitable to one's needs? This is usually done by the retailer who is NOT accredited. Arfur Re: The Clean Energy Council? 4Mar 10, 2011 8:36 pm Some large companies do generic designs often using software,with a designers accred on it. The specifics of the equipment are on it. The install is the install. Design and install are two tickets The installer is only responsible for the generic design if he is the designer or changes the design. Some big companies are often all about the money,goes without saying, they often give installers inferior information and equipment and get the installers to sign off on the jobs. If there's a problem the paperwork trail would more often lead back to the accredited installer/designer, who's suppose to be a genius then and totally infallable who has to carry all the responsibilty of fixing the job because when you say there would be a to and fro as who is responsible for attending to the problem, the company or the installer Why not get in touch with an accredited bloke directly. If you want a job done by an installer in your area go to the link below. Send a mail might get lucky and find one who can do your job, cut out the middle men with hardly a ticket between and often little or nothing to loose these blokes, they can go back to running a fast food buis or such. http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/acccec/consumers/findaninstaller Sick@solar only because of these companies, middle men taking all the taxpayers money and shirking all the real work, if you new the difference between the mark up the company makes in relation to what installers get. 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