Compliance enforcement actions

A retailer was cancelled for breaching Solar Victoria’s installation safety requirements. The cancellation followed prosecution of the retailer by Worksafe Victoria. The retailer was engaged as the registered electrical contractor for the installation at the time of the safety incident. The retailer’s director was disqualified for 18 months as a result of the breach.

A retailer was suspended for 12 months for unsafe installation practices.

An installer was suspended for 18 months and another installer for 6 months for breaching Solar Victoria’s installation safety requirements. The suspension followed prosecutions by WorkSafe Victoria.

A retailer was suspended for 12 months for:

• breaching Solar Victoria’s installation safety requirements following a prosecution by WorkSafe Victoria; and
• repeated installation of non-compliant solar PV systems, as identified by Solar Victoria’s independent auditors.

Non-compliant systems increase the risk of safety incidents and constitute a breach of legislation, regulations, applicable standards, and our solar PV audit checklist.

A reprimand and warning was issued to an installer for repeated installation of non-compliant hot water systems. The non-compliant systems were identified by Solar Victoria’s independent auditors.

Non-compliant systems increase the risk of safety incidents and constitute a breach of legislation, regulations, applicable standards, and our hot water audit checklist.

A retailer received a six-month suspension for:

• installing non-compliant systems as found by Solar Victoria’s independent auditors
• applying for rebates on behalf of customers
• failing to scan the QR code at the commencement of an installation on multiple occasions; and
• submitting quotes for customers who were ineligible to receive a rebate.

An immediate 3-month suspension was issued to an installer currently under investigation by the Essential Services Commission for non-compliant installations under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

A second installer who is under investigation for similar allegations has had their invitation to register in the Solar Homes program withdrawn. The installer may not reapply for 3-months.

A 3-month suspension issued to both the retailer and the responsible installer following a prosecution by WorkSafe Victoria for failing to provide a safe workplace and for not using fall prevention measures at an installation.

While installers are responsible for undertaking safe work practices at an installation, the retailer who contracted the installer is ultimately accountable for ensuring safety standards are adhered to in all their business undertakings.

An immediate 3-month suspension issued to a retailer currently under investigation by the Essential Services Commission for alleged fraudulent activity in the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. A second retailer who is under investigation for similar allegations, has had their application to join the Solar Homes Program suspended for 3-months.

Retailers and installers who contravene laws and standards are held accountable across Victorian Government programs and are subject to enforcement actions in the Solar Homes Program.

• A 2-year suspension issued to a solar retailer following an allegation of unsafe installation practices, to which the retailer failed to respond to Solar Victoria's show cause notice.
• A warning issued to a retailer whose installer completed an unsafe solar installation, and whose installer failed to scan the QR code at the commencement of the installation. The retailer is ultimately responsible for any installation arranged through them. See Accessing accreditations and scanning QR codes.

A solar retailer was cancelled from the Solar Homes Program where the director was continuing to participate in the program whilst disqualified and continued to employ high pressure sales tactics with customers.

Such practices may take advantage of vulnerable customers and expose them to unauthorised financial burdens, higher costs and lower quality systems.

Deliberate attempts to bypass a suspension shows a disregard for the enforcement mechanisms of the program and undermines credibility and integrity of the program.

For more information, see Advertising and sales tactics.

Reprimand and warning issued to a retailer for repeated installation of non-compliant hot water systems, as identified by Solar Victoria’s independent auditors.

Non-compliant systems increase the risk of a safety event occurring, and are a breach of legislation, regulations and standards and the audit checklists located on the Solar Victoria website.

See our Hot water audit checklist and guidance.

A 3-month suspension issued to a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) for the unsafe installation practices of their lead installer, for which the REC was ultimately responsible.

The installer was found to be working at heights without required safety measures in place, as detected by WorkSafe Victoria, and was also suspended from the program for three months.

An immediate 3-month suspension issued to an authorised retailer following a permanent suspension imposed by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).

The CER deemed that due to the “misleading responses” to the CER’s enquiries, this retailer is no longer a fit and proper entity under the Renewable Energy Electricity Act and therefore cannot create STCs.

This matter occurred outside of the Solar Homes Program, and further CER investigation is underway.

We act with an abundance of caution and are strictly averse to any activities in and outside the Solar Homes Program that could bring harm to the program and its participants.

Reprimand and warning issued to a retailer for the unsafe work practices of their outsourced installers, for which the retailer was ultimately responsible.

The installers were found to be working at heights without required safety measures in place.

Retailer suspended for 3-months for submitting rebate applications on behalf of customers.

This is a breach of the Retailer Terms and Conditions and may result in rebate claims being denied, or rebates and loans already paid may be recovered by Solar Victoria.

An immediate suspension issued to an authorised retailer found to have been engaged in fraudulent activity in the VEU program.

We act with an abundance of caution and are strictly averse to any activities in the Solar Homes Program, alleged or otherwise, that could harm the program and its participants. This includes harm to consumers, financial loss, and reputational damage.

We also scrutinise the actions of sub-contractors for adverse impacts on program participants.

Two retailers suspended for 6 months for enabling a suspended retailer to continue operating in the program. This is strictly prohibited during a suspension.

Deliberate attempts to bypass a suspension, and facilitating this behaviour, shows a disregard for the enforcement mechanisms of the program and undermines credibility and integrity of the program.

Four retailers were found to have claimed multiple rebates at a higher value than permissible under the program. Two have been suspended from the program and all must repay overclaimed rebates to Solar Victoria.

Any retailer found to be overclaiming rebates risks their continued participation in the program and may be subject to further legal action.

An immediate suspension issued to a retailer for continued high-pressure sales practices under the direction of a disqualified director.

Such practices may take advantage of vulnerable customers and expose them to unauthorised financial burdens, higher costs and lower quality systems.

Four installers issued warning notices for repeat installation of systems identified as non-compliant by Solar Victoria’s independent auditors.

Non-compliant systems increase the risk of a safety event occurring, and are a breach of legislation, regulations and standards and the audit checklists located on the Solar Victoria website.

Cancellation from Solar Homes Program: Retailer engaged in high pressure sales tactics, false representation to secure sales and abusive conduct of sales agent, which is a breach of the Solar Victoria Retailer Terms and Conditions, and the New Energy Tech Consumer Code.

Retailers are accountable for the conduct of all agents representing them in the sales process.

Two retailers issued warning for insufficient monitoring of installation practices, by an outsourced provider: working at heights without required safety measures in place; inadequate supervision of workers undertaking solar installation.

Retailers are accountable for the safe work practices of all installers working for them.