Electrical industry body sets up solar inspection service

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has established a solar generation inspection service for NSW residents. The announcement comes on the back of NSW Fair Trading pursuing legal action against a number of unlicensed contractors, for installing solar panels, and some licensed contractors, for failing to meet current regulations.

"NECA members with the required experience, insurance and solar installation accreditation are available to conduct safety inspections and rectification work for members of the public that are concerned their solar installation isn’t compliant," said NECA NSW chief executive, Lindsay Le Compte. NECA members with accreditation in solar installation were appointed by NSW Fair Trading as inspectors to conduct the recent audit of rooftop solar systems in western Sydney that revealed major non-compliance.

"The government has now announced that it has taken legal action against a number of installers, some of whom were unlicensed, and it has directed others to undertake further training in how to properly install solar panel systems," said Le Compte.

According the NECA, the audit in western Sydney demonstrates that there is a reasonable risk that a significant number of installed systems are defective and the defects should be rectified. It also considers that the audit demonstrated that many installers need to have further training in solar installation work.

"NECA’s training arm in NSW, NECA Training Limited, will be working with government and industry to provide additional training to electricians involved in the installation of solar generation systems to ensure that the recent adverse audit is addressed and to maintain public confidence in the renewable energy sector," said Le Compte. "There is a place for green energy in the future and it is important that workers in the industry get the installations right so this form of energy is not only safe but effective."

NECA has arranged for a number of its members with solar energy training and accreditation to be available to undertake inspections of solar generation systems to provide the public with reports as to the safety of their systems. This service is available for a fee that will be negotiated with individual members of the public based on the size and location of the system to be inspected.