Before paying a deposit
Before you pay the deposit, find out who is putting their name on the work.
The proposal can look clean and the savings can sound convincing. You still need to know who is responsible for the electrical work, whether the roof attachment makes sense, and who answers if the inverter fails.
The electrician
Ask for a name and registration number.
Government Electrical Regulator registration belongs to an individual electrician. Ask for the responsible person's full name, category, number and expiry date, then check it against the current register. Ask who will perform the electrical inspection as well.
- Responsible electrician's full name and GER category
- Registration number and expiry date
- Name and licence details of the electrical inspector
The roof
“It fits” is not a structural assessment.
Ask the installer to inspect the roof and explain how the panels will be secured against strong winds. Get a written plan showing where they attach to the building and how any holes in the roof will be kept watertight. The panel and roof guide explains the specific mounting details worth comparing.
- Written panel layout showing usable roof space and shading
- Attachment method fixed into the roof structure, not loose ballast
- How every hole in the roof will be sealed and protected against leaks
- Electrical safety measures shown in the design, including earthing, surge protection and safe shut-off switches
The quote
Compare equipment and assumptions, not just totals.
- Panel, inverter and battery manufacturer and exact model numbers
- Combined panel size (kW) and the energy the battery makes available (usable kWh)
- Expected annual production and the assumptions behind it
- Net-billing licence, JPS, tax-credit, inspection and any civil-work costs itemised
- A non-battery option where backup power is not essential
After installation
A warranty is only useful if someone answers.
- Written workmanship warranty and response target for faults
- Manufacturer warranties for panels, inverter and battery
- Who submits inspection and net-billing paperwork
- Monitoring access owned by the homeowner, not only the installer
- Three recent customer references for work like yours, including someone who needed a repair