Picking the best solar company Townsville has for your home comes down to checks you can make before you sign: accreditation, warranties, who installs and how the system is mounted for wind region C.
Check SAA accreditation for the designer and installer
Since 2024, Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) has accredited the people who design and install rooftop solar under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, a role the Clean Energy Council held before it. Accreditation belongs to individuals rather than companies. It matters for two reasons. The system must be designed and installed by accredited people for small-scale technology certificates (STCs) to be created, and those certificates fund the upfront discount on your quote. It also shows the designer and installer have been assessed against the Australian Standards for solar design and installation.
Ask for the name and SAA number of the person designing your system and the person who will be on your roof, then look them up on the SAA website. In Queensland the installer also needs an electrical licence and the business needs an electrical contractor licence, which you can check with the Electrical Safety Office. Our SAA number is S1793599 and our electrical contractor licence is EC 91241.
Approved Solar Retailer is now NETCC Approved Seller
Plenty of people still search for a Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer. That program closed in February 2023 and was replaced by the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC), a voluntary code authorised by the ACCC. Retailers who sign up and pass assessment become NETCC Approved Sellers. The code sets rules for how systems are marketed and sold, what a quote and contract must contain, and how complaints are handled, and it covers batteries and EV chargers as well as solar.
The code sits on top of your rights under Australian Consumer Law rather than replacing them. On Point Solar & Electrical is a NETCC Approved Seller. Whoever you deal with, check the current list of Approved Sellers on the NETCC website, because approval can lapse and a logo on a brochure can be out of date.
Product, performance and workmanship warranties
A solar quote carries several separate warranties, and different parties stand behind each one. Ask for every term in writing.
| Warranty | What it covers | Who stands behind it | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel product | Defects in the panel itself | Panel manufacturer | Length in years, and who handles claims in Australia |
| Panel performance | Output staying above a set percentage over time | Panel manufacturer | The guaranteed output at the end of the term |
| Inverter | Faults in the inverter | Inverter manufacturer | Standard term and any extension offered |
| Workmanship | The installation: fixings, cabling, roof penetrations | The installing company | Length in years, and who comes out to fix a fault |
Manufacturer warranties are easier to claim on when the brand has an Australian office handling claims. Roof leaks around penetrations, loose fixings and wiring faults fall under workmanship rather than the panel or inverter warranty, so the workmanship terms are the ones that depend most on the company you hire. Our brand pages, such as Jinko solar panels, set out the panels and inverters we install.
Who does the install, and is it built for wind region C
Ask whether the people on your roof are employees of the company you are paying or subcontractors. Subcontracting is legal and common. What you need to know is who is responsible on the day, who comes back if something needs fixing, and whether the accreditation numbers on your paperwork match the people who did the work.
Townsville sits in wind region C under AS/NZS 1170.2, the Australian standard for wind loads. Racking and fixings have to be rated for the wind region, terrain and roof height at your address, and racking manufacturers publish certification and span tables for this. Ask which racking system will be used, whether it is certified for region C, and how the fixings are anchored into rafters or purlins. Our guide to cyclone-rated solar in Townsville goes through what a sound region C install involves.
STC paperwork and the Ergon connection
The STC discount should appear as a line on your quote, showing the number of certificates and the price per certificate. The retailer normally creates and sells the certificates, and you sign an assignment form at installation. The number of STCs a system earns falls each year until the scheme ends in 2030, so the same system quoted a year apart will carry a different discount.
Before installation, the installer applies to Ergon Energy to connect the system. Ergon decides the inverter size and export limit it will approve for your connection, and the inverter has to be set to match. After installation your meter may need to be reconfigured or replaced for solar, which is arranged through your electricity retailer. Ask who lodges each piece of paperwork and who to call if the meter change stalls.
Checklist: choosing the best solar company Townsville wide
Take these questions to every company you get a quote from. Write each answer down so you can compare quotes like for like.
| Question to ask | A good answer includes |
|---|---|
| Who designs and who installs my system, and what are their SAA numbers? | Names and numbers you can look up on the SAA website |
| Are you a NETCC Approved Seller? | Yes, and the company appears on the current NETCC list |
| What is your electrical contractor licence number? | A Queensland licence number you can verify |
| Will your own staff install, or subcontractors? | A clear answer, and who returns for warranty work |
| What racking is used, and is it certified for wind region C? | Brand, certification and fixing method |
| What are the panel, inverter and workmanship warranties? | Each term in years, in writing |
| How many STCs are included, and at what price? | A separate line on the quote |
| Who lodges the Ergon application, and what export limit applies? | Lodged before install, with the outcome shared with you |
| Where will the inverter be mounted? | A ventilated spot out of direct afternoon sun |
| What happens at handover? | Commissioning, monitoring set up and the shutdown procedure explained |
If you are still settling on system size, our 10kW solar system guide compares the common sizes. You can read more about On Point Solar & Electrical, or see what a quote covers on our Townsville solar installation page.
Ready to get it sorted?
We handle solar power systems across Townsville and the Burdekin — quoted upfront, installed by our own accredited local team.