Common battery buying mistakes, door-to-door and phone sales rules, warranties and consumer guarantees, installer accreditation and where to complain.
Most home battery problems follow a few patterns: a battery sized to maximise the discount rather than the household's needs, a high-pressure sale at the door or over the phone, a quote that left out switchboard work, a VPP contract that was not explained, a system that underperforms, or an installer who disappears when something goes wrong.
This section explains what the rules say and who can help. The Australian Consumer Law gives you consumer guarantees that sit on top of any manufacturer warranty, and special rules for unsolicited sales, including a 10 business day termination period. The Clean Energy Regulator sets eligibility rules for the STC discount and can act against retailers who make false statements. Solar Accreditation Australia accredits installers, and the New Energy Tech Consumer Code lists approved sellers. Fair trading agencies in each state handle consumer disputes, and energy ombudsmen handle complaints about retailers and VPP billing.
The guides are general information, not legal advice. For a large dispute, contact your state fair trading body or a community legal centre before you stop paying or sign anything new.
Mistakes, Warranties and Official Help
Where a home battery can and cannot be installed in Australia under AS/NZS 5139, heat and ventilation, garage and outdoor sites, labelling photos, recalls and what to do after a fault.
Mistakes, Warranties and Official Help
How home battery warranties work in Australia — years, throughput and retained capacity limits, workmanship warranties — and the ACL consumer guarantees that apply on top.
Mistakes, Warranties and Official Help
Check a home battery installer and seller in Australia — Solar Accreditation Australia battery endorsement, state electrical licence, NETCC approved seller and CER ineligible list.
Mistakes, Warranties and Official Help
The home battery mistakes that cost Australian households money — sizing to the discount, staying on the wrong tariff, ignoring winter, quote gaps, install-date slips and VPP lock-ins.
Mistakes, Warranties and Official Help
Australian Consumer Law rules for batteries sold at your door or by unsolicited phone call — permitted hours, the 10 business day termination period, no payment, and how to cancel.
Mistakes, Warranties and Official Help
Battery not performing, installer gone, VPP billing wrong or unsafe work? The order of complaint in Australia — seller, fair trading, energy ombudsman, CER, safety regulator.
