Victoria bans solar panel installer Space Solar
Hundreds of Victorians warned their solar panels were installed by a dodgy company using unlicensed electricians.
Hundreds of Victorians have been warned their solar panels installed through a $1.3 billion state scheme were done by a dodgy company using unlicensed electricians.
Community Energy Group Pty Ltd, trading as Space Solar, did 546 installations under the Labor government’s signature solar homes rebate scheme - but not all of the work was up to scratch.
It employed unlicensed electrical workers to carry out works in an unsafe manner, with technical and safety defects found.
“This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable,” Solar Homes Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.
“Customers deserve to know their solar installations are completed to the highest standards and that’s why we have such a strict audit regime.” Those who got work done by Space Solar have been contacted about the audit’s findings.
The sole director of Community Energy Group has had their electrical registration cancelled by Energy Safety Victoria.
Some of the defects were minor and easily fixed, but a number were far more serious and “demonstrate a wilful disregard for Victoria’s strict solar safety standards” the government said.
The issues have now all been rectified.
The solar homes program helped sweep the Andrews Labor government to a second term in 2018.
However, it’s been plagued with criticism for the way it has been rolled out, with customers not buying panels unless they have a rebate, drying up business. It led to the government rejigging the way the rebates were issued to try and keep a more continuous level of work for installers.
AAP