Mistakes, Warranties and Official Help
How to check a battery installer: SAA accreditation, battery endorsement, electrical licence and approved sellers
Check a home battery installer and seller in Australia — Solar Accreditation Australia battery endorsement, state electrical licence, NETCC approved seller and CER ineligible list.
Before you accept a battery quote, check four things: the person who will install it is accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) with a battery endorsement; they hold a current electrical licence in your state; the seller is listed as an approved seller under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) if they say they are; and the retailer is not on the Clean Energy Regulator's list of retailers declared ineligible to make written statements. The federal battery discount requires an SAA-accredited installer with battery endorsement; if the installer isn't accredited, the STCs can't be created and the discount on your quote falls away. Checks take a few minutes and use free public lookups.
For the full list of discount conditions, see eligibility rules.
The four checks
| Check | Where | What you're looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Installer accreditation | SAA's accreditation status lookup | Named installer, current, with battery endorsement |
| Electrical licence | Your state licensing body | Current licence in the installer's name |
| Seller's code membership | NETCC "Find an Approved Seller" search | The seller's business name, if they claim to be approved |
| Retailer eligibility | CER list of ineligible retailers | The retailer should not appear |
1. Solar Accreditation Australia
SAA accredits solar and battery installers and designers. The Clean Energy Regulator's rules require batteries claiming STCs to be installed by an SAA-accredited installer with battery endorsement, following SAA's technical requirements; only trained, licensed, accredited installers can complete or supervise battery installations. The CER's rooftop solar page also tells consumers to check accreditation using SAA's accreditation status tool and to ask to see the installer's accreditation and licence on installation day.
What to do:
- Ask the seller for the name of the installer (not just the company).
- Look them up in SAA's tool and check that the battery endorsement is shown.
- On installation day, confirm the person installing is the person named, or that the accredited installer is supervising.
Accreditation of installers was previously run by the Clean Energy Council; SAA took over as the scheme operator approved by the CER on 29 February 2024, after which installers had three months to transfer; older documents may still refer to "CEC accredited installers". The CEC continues to publish the approved product lists for batteries, inverters and panels.
2. State electrical licence
Battery installation is electrical work. The installer also needs a current electrical licence in your state. Licensing bodies include:
| State or territory | Electrical licensing body (examples) |
|---|---|
| NSW | Building Commission NSW (named on the NSW battery page for licensing matters) |
| Victoria | Energy Safe Victoria |
| Queensland | Electrical Safety Office |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services (licensing) |
| Western Australia | Building and Energy, Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS) |
| Tasmania | Consumer, Building and Occupational Services |
| ACT | Access Canberra |
| Northern Territory | NT WorkSafe (Electrical Safety Regulator; took over from the former Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board on 1 July 2024) |
Most of these offer a public licence check. After installation you should receive a certificate of electrical compliance or safety (the name differs by state).
3. New Energy Tech Consumer Code
The NETCC is a consumer protection code for retailers of new energy technology including solar, batteries and EV chargers, designed by industry and consumer bodies. Approved sellers commit to standards on sales, contracts and complaints. Its website has a Find an Approved Seller search and a complaint process. An updated version of the code takes effect on 1 December 2026, according to the NETCC website.
Being an approved seller isn't a legal requirement for the federal discount, but it gives you another avenue if something goes wrong.
4. CER list of ineligible retailers
The CER can declare a retailer ineligible to make written statements, for example after three or more false or misleading statements in a three-year period, and publishes the list. A retailer on that list can't provide the written statement needed for STCs.
Questions to ask the seller
- Who exactly will install the battery, and what is their SAA accreditation number?
- Will they subcontract the installation? If so, to whom?
- Who is responsible for the workmanship warranty if the installer is a subcontractor?
- Is the business an NETCC approved seller?
- Who will lodge the network connection application?
Warning signs
| Sign | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Seller won't name the installer | You can't check accreditation |
| Installer on the day is someone else, not supervised | Risk to STC eligibility and safety |
| "Accredited" claim without a number | Can't be verified |
| Business claims government affiliation | Likely misleading |
| No ABN on the quote | Hard to identify the business |
If an installer isn't accredited or the work seems unsafe, don't use the system until it's been checked by a licensed electrician, and report it to your electrical safety regulator. See where to get help and battery safety and location.
FAQ
Is an electrician enough, or do they also need SAA accreditation?
For the federal discount, the installer must be SAA accredited with a battery endorsement as well as licensed. A licensed electrician without accreditation can't install a battery that claims STCs.
Does SAA accreditation guarantee good work?
No. It shows the installer has met training and accreditation requirements. You still have consumer guarantees for due care and skill under the ACL.
My installer was accredited at the time but isn't now. Does that affect me?
Accreditation is checked for the installation date. Keep a record (a screenshot of the lookup) when you sign.
Sources
- Solar Accreditation Australia — accreditation status lookup
- Clean Energy Regulator — installer requirements and ineligible retailers list
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code — approved seller search and complaints
- Clean Energy Council — approved product lists
- Energy Safe Victoria — Victorian electrical licensing
