Safety audit for your solar system

What is a safety audit?

To make sure that your solar system has been installed to the highest standard of safety and quality, we have appointed qualified inspectors to undertake safety audits of selected systems installed under the Solar Homes and Solar for Business programs.

The free audits are part of Solar Victoria’s commitment to safety and quality. These audits are designed to help ensure consistent standards are being applied across the solar industry.

Your system may be selected for audit up to 6 months after installation. We have engaged independent auditors, TechSafe Australia, for the inspection of solar PV, solar battery and solar hot water installations.

Isn’t my system checked following installation?

Our comprehensive safety audits consider factors such as the design and operation of your system.

Other system checks outside the safety audits, include:

• Prior to connection of your system to the energy network, every system is checked by a licensed electrical inspector and a Certificate of Electrical Safetyissued.
• As part of the solar rebates process, we ask homeowners to register for safety visits by WorkSafe Victoria during installation, to check on installer safety.
• The Clean Energy Regulator may do a post-installation audit on selected systems, 12 to 18 months after installation.

How are home solar systems selected for an audit?

Not all solar systems will be audited. We base audits on a number of factors to ensure we are auditing a range of systems across the state.

What are the benefits of participating in an audit?

The safety and function of your solar system is of paramount importance to you as a home or small business owner, and to us at Solar Victoria. By participating in an audit, you can be assured that your system has been installed to the highest standards of quality and safety.

Auditors will ensure the electrical safety of your system and check that:

• Approved products are installed and are covered by manufacturer warranties
• Solar PV systems have been designed appropriately with correct sizing, aspect and shading tolerances, and that they are operating as expected
• Installers’ accreditations, licences and required installation documentation are correct.

Am I required to take part in an audit?

Your participation in an audit is voluntary. If you choose to take part, the auditor will ask you to sign a consent form, either at the commencement of the audit or provided electronically at the time of scheduling.

What happens if my system is found to be faulty or not installed correctly?

When the audit is complete, the findings will be communicated to you. If a solar installation is found to be unsafe, or has the potential to become unsafe, the retailer of the system will be responsible for correcting any faults. Solar Victoria will continue to monitor the installation until the issue has been resolved and there will be no cost to you.

We will also inform regulatory agencies, including Energy Safe Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Clean Energy Council. For solar hot water installations, the Victorian Building Authority will be notified.

Will my involvement in the audit program and my data be kept confidential?

We will use the information collected as part of the audit to assess the safety and quality of your installation. This information will be shared with government regulators and relevant third parties so that, if required, action can be taken. This information will also inform education and training for the solar industry to ensure quality and safe installations.

The records from this inspection will be confidential. Solar Victoria collects, uses and discloses your personal information for the purpose of administering Solar Victoria’s Solar Homes Program and may not be able to do so without this information. We will handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and our Privacy Statement.

Any questions or feedback?

If you have any concerns or feedback regarding the conduct of this inspection, please contact our Quality Assurance team at quality.assurance@team.solar.vic.gov.au.