About the safety audit
We may select your solar panel (PV), battery or hot water system for an audit to check it has been installed to the highest standard of safety and quality, up to six months after installation.
Audits are conducted by independent qualified technicians with TechSafe . Their work with us helps to identify areas across the solar industry that need improvement, and if there are issues that need to be followed up with your retailer.
Our safety and quality checks are different to a Certificate of Electrical . They provide a comprehensive assessment of the design and operation of your solar panel (PV), battery or hot water system as a whole – not just the safety and compliance of electrical work.
Other system checks include:
- A Certificate of Electrical which must be issued by a licensed electrical inspector before your system can be connected to the energy network.
- On-site inspections by WorkSafe Victoria and Energy Safe Victoria. For this extra level of safety, it is important your installer scans your QR code on the day of your installation and before work starts. For more information, see Consumer protection.
- Post-installation audits by the Clean Energy which may happen 12 to 18 months after installation.
How installations are selected for an audit
Not all systems installed under the Solar Homes Program will be audited. Every year we select five per cent of all systems for an audit as part of our commitment to safety and quality.
We select installations based on different factors to ensure a range of systems across Victoria are audited.
Benefits of an audit
Safety is our top priority. We encourage you to agree to this free safety and quality check so you can be assured your system has been installed to the highest standards of quality and safety.
Your participation in an audit is voluntary and will also help ensure retailers and installers in our program maintain high standards. If you choose to take part, a TechSafe representative will ask you to sign a consent form when they first schedule a time with you, or on the day.
To ensure the electrical safety of your system, the auditor will check that:
- only products on our product lists have been installed and are covered by manufacturer warranties
- 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.
If you would like to see what they will look for in your installation:
Systems found to be faulty or not installed correctly
The auditor will speak with you about the findings. The retailer of your system is responsible for correcting any faults where it is found to be unsafe or has the potential to become unsafe.
We will continue to monitor the installation until any issues detected have been resolved. There will be no cost to you.
We will also inform regulatory agencies, including Energy Safe Victoria, Consumer Affairs and the Clean Energy . For hot water installations, we will notify the Victorian Building .
Your information and data
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 action can be taken, if required. This information will also inform education and training for the solar industry to ensure the safety and quality of installations.
The records from this inspection will be confidential. We collect, use and disclose your personal information for the purpose of administering the 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.
More information
If you have any questions or feedback about these audits, please email quality.assurance@team.solar.vic.gov.au.
Reviewed 25 July 2023
