On this page:
The guidance on this page complements information in our Notice to Market, which sets out the mandatory and recommended requirements for retailers and installers to participate in the Solar Homes and Solar for Business programs.
Use this guidance along with our Solar PV Audit Checklists and Battery Audit Checklist to ensure installations under our programs are compliant and meet the high standards we have set.
Legislation and regulations
Commonly identified legislation and regulations within the solar industry include:
- Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Electricity Safety Act
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
- Electricity Safety (General) Regulations
A full list of legislation and regulations related to the solar industry is listed on the Energy Safe and websites.
Compliance codes and codes of practice also play an important role. They explain your duties or obligations under legislation in practical ways that are aimed to help you comply.
See WorkSafe compliance codes and codes of and ESV electrical technical guidelines and .
Australian Standards
Installers in our solar programs must adhere to current and relevant standards for the design and installation of solar and battery storage systems.
These are made mandatory through:
- legislation and/or regulations; and/or
- normative reference from a mandated standard (commonly AS/NZS 3000 – Wiring Rules); and
- are required by the Solar Victoria Notice to Market
Penalties for failing to meet Australian Standards vary. Solar Victoria may suspend or cancel an installer or retailer from its programs for non-compliance. See Installer terms and conditions and Retailer terms and conditions.
Commonly identified AS/NZS Standards within the solar industry include, but are not limited to:
| AS/NZS 1170 Series | Structural Design Actions(All parts) |
| AS/NZS 1768 | Lighting Protection |
| AS/NZS 3000 | Electrical Installations (known as Wiring Rules) |
| AS/NZS 4509 Series | Stand-alone power systems
|
| AS/NZS 4777 Series | Grid Connections of Energy Systems via Inverters
|
| AS/NZS 5033 | Installation of photovoltaic (PV) arrays |
| AS/NZS 5139 | Electrical installations – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment |
Guidance notes
Industry guidance notes inform retailers and installers of leading practice. They may be voluntary in nature or made mandatory through the Solar Victoria Notice to Market.
Energy Safe Victoria and WorkSafe develop guidance notes to inform installers and retailers of non-compliances found within installations. The solar industry guidance listed below can be found on the Energy Safe Victoria .
How to ensure you have a compliant PV installation
Energy Safe Victoria developed this guide to help licensed electrical workers ensure PV installations are installed and tested in accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 1998 and relevant Australian Standards.
Guide: Ensuring you have a compliant PV
Working safely when installing photovoltaic (PV) systems
Energy Safe Victoria and WorkSafe developed this guide to outline how to work safely and control risks during solar installation and connection work.
Guide: Working safely when installing photovoltaic (PV)
Identifying mismatched d.c. connectors in PV installations
Energy Safe Victoria developed this guide to assist all parties involved in installation, inspection and auditing of solar installations, to ensure compliance and safety requirements are met.
Guide: ESV Guide – d.c. connectors in PV
PV d.c. isolator installation
Energy Safe Victoria developed this guidance to assist industry with the installation of PV d.c. isolators. It is in addition to the requirements of AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 5033 and all other applicable standards.
Guide: ESV Guide – PV d.c. isolator
Electrical Information Sheet 003 – Solar panel disconnection point
Energy Safe Victoria developed this guidance to help address issues it detected with the installation of some disconnection points at solar panels and to better understand the requirements outlined in AS/NZS 5033:2021
Information sheet: Electrical Information Sheet 003 – Solar panel disconnection
Electrical Information Sheet 004 – Battery installation – Neutral continuity and MEN
Energy Safe Victoria developed this guidance to respond to the risk of electric shock with the installation of a battery system where there is no continuity between the main neutral bar and the back-up circuit neutrals.
Information sheet: Electrical Information Sheet 004 – Battery installation – Neutral continuity and
The Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council also provides electrical installation and solar/small scale generation resources and publications.
Reviewed 18 January 2023
