Published Date: 03/05/2025
Source: Standard Bank

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Do your homework before choosing a solar provider, says Standard Bank

 

5 March 2025 – The sudden return of load-shedding and heightened electricity prices may once again prompt South African households and businesses to install solar. For homeowners considering making the move to solar, however, reports of faulty equipment and dangerous installations causing damage are a cause for concern. This is not a concern to take lightly, as evidenced in the warning issued by the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) which noted a rise in the number of complaints about solar systems and generators.

 

Insurers have also started to see a rise in unqualified and inexperienced solar installers leaving households with a power solution that doesn’t work, structural damage to the home due to defective design and workmanship or costly repairs that are not covered by homeowners’ insurance policies.

 

In the absence of legal requirements to become a solar installer, it’s essential that consumers do their homework before choosing a supplier to ensure that the job is completed properly, safely and securely by a reputable and legitimate solar provider.

 

While some homeowners and even businesses consider insurance to be a concern that comes after a solar installation, understanding what an insurer requires provides helpful guidance when considering offerings from various providers.

 

Dr Hardy Ncube, Head of Personal Products at Standard Bank Insurance, points out that it’s important to note that, as with other areas in the home, insurers do not cover faulty equipment, defective design or non-compliant installation including damage to the home resulting from such.

 

To ensure this is not the case, your insurer will typically ask you to provide an invoice detailing the brand, size, type and number of solar panels, inverters and batteries; an Electrical Certificate of Compliance as required by regulation; municipal approval where required; and sometimes a structural engineer’s certificate to ensure the structural soundness of the installation (i.e. the condition of the roof and its ability to carry the weight of the solar panels).

 

Finding a reputable, accredited solar provider

These are also the key areas that homeowners should be looking at when considering a solar purchase, explains Dr. Ncube.

 

“The first point to consider is whether the solar installer is qualified, experienced and reputable. We recommend that consumers conduct online searches of each installer and assess reviews of their services by previous clients before turning to the more technical qualification checks,” he says.

 

In response to the problem of non-compliant installations, the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) reviewed its current registration system and created the PV Green Card assessment as a form of accreditation that separates the qualified and trained installers from the so-called bakkie brigade – installers who claim to do the job but use components that have not been certified or that don’t have proper warranties.

 

It’s also essential to confirm that a registered electrician will be used to connect the system to the main distribution board and that the required Certificate of Compliance will be issued.

Notably, a reputable solar installer will conduct a site visit to assess the conditions of the roof and property before finalising a quotation, says Dr Ncube, and this should always offer a workmanship warranty.

 

“Finally, it is always a good idea to ask anyone doing work on a property to provide proof of appropriate insurance to cover any damage that may take place,” he says.

 

Do your product research

Once the reputation and expertise of an installer has been confirmed, it’s important to take a close look at the details of the system being offered.

 

“Unfortunately, the high demand for solar in South Africa has seen a flood of sub-standard equipment into the market. While the prices of these components may look attractive, the long-term costs of inefficiency, failure and electrical and fire hazards make this a route to avoid,” Dr Ncube explains.

 

Online research is again suggested as well as making sure the products offered are backed by appropriate manufacturers warranties or guarantees and the company carries the relevant licenses or accreditation to install.

 

Alternatively, homeowners and businesses looking to install solar can take advantage of Standard Bank’s LookSee and PowerPulse platforms, which match customers with vetted and accredited suppliers and installers.