Solar and battery buying guide

1. Is solar worth it for your home?

Whether solar pays off depends on how much power you use, when you use it, your roof, and your electricity tariff. A system that suits one home can be the wrong size for the house next door, so treat any general claim about savings with care. A proper quote should be based on your own bills and roof.

Things that usually make solar a better fit: you own the home or have the owner's consent, you use power during the day or plan to add a battery, and you have a reasonable amount of unshaded roof facing north, east or west.

2. Start with your power bill

Your bill is the most useful document you have. Look for:

• Average daily usage in kWh, and how it changes between summer and winter.
• Your tariff type (for example a flat rate or a time-of-use plan) and your retailer, such as Synergy or Horizon Power in WA.
• Whether you already have solar, and how much you export.
• Your NMI (meter number), which is needed for the network connection application.

If you can, download interval data from your retailer's online account. It shows when in the day you use power, which matters a lot for battery sizing.

3. Check your roof and switchboard

• Space and direction: north-facing roofs get the most sun across the day; east and west roofs suit morning and afternoon use.
• Shade: trees, neighbouring buildings and chimneys reduce output. Partial shade can be managed with the right inverter or optimisers.
• Roof condition: panels stay on the roof for many years, so fix leaks or damaged tiles first.
• Switchboard: older boards sometimes need an upgrade before solar or a battery can be connected. A licensed electrician checks this during the site assessment.
• Single or three phase: this affects which inverters and battery sizes the network allows.

4. The parts of a system

• Solar panels turn sunlight into DC electricity. Compare the panel's power rating, product warranty and performance warranty, and check it is on the Clean Energy Council approved list.
• Inverter converts DC to the AC power your home uses. It is the part that works hardest, so warranty and local support matter. See our inverter guide.
• Mounting (racking) holds the panels to the roof and must suit WA wind conditions.
• Monitoring lets you see generation and use in an app. A consumption meter shows what the house is using, not just what the panels make.
• Battery (optional) stores daytime solar for the evening.

5. Sizing solar

System size is measured in kilowatts (kW). The right size depends on your usage, your roof space, your budget and the export limits set by the network. In WA, Western Power and Horizon Power set limits on inverter size and how much you can send to the grid, and these depend on your address and whether you are single or three phase. Your installer should check these before quoting.

Many installers fit slightly more panel capacity than inverter capacity. This is common practice within the limits allowed by Clean Energy Council guidelines.

6. Do you need a battery?

A battery may suit you if you use a lot of power in the evening, export much of your solar for a low feed-in credit, want backup during outages, or want to join a virtual power plant (VPP). It may not pay off if you use most of your solar during the day already.

• Usable capacity (kWh) is what you can actually draw on, which is the number that counts.
• Power (kW) is how much it can supply at once.
• Backup: not every battery powers the house in a blackout. Ask which circuits are backed up.
• Adding to existing solar: often possible with an AC-coupled battery or by replacing the inverter with a hybrid.
• Rebate eligibility: federal and WA battery incentives have conditions. See the rebates guide.

7. Quality and warranty checklist

• Panels, inverter and battery are on the Clean Energy Council approved product lists.
• You get the product warranties in writing, and know who to call if something fails, including if the manufacturer has no local office.
• The installation has its own workmanship warranty.
• The equipment meets the relevant Australian Standards.
• You tell your home insurer about the new system.

8. Choosing an installer

• The retailer is a New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller. Total Solar is one.
• The design and install are signed off by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer, with battery endorsement for batteries.
• Electrical work is done by licensed electricians. Our WA electrical contractor licence is EC17964.
• The quote is written, itemised, names the brands and models, and explains any rebate.
• You get a cooling-off period and no pressure to sign on the day.
• Be wary of unsolicited calls or door knocks promising "free" systems or very fast payback.
• Ask who handles service and warranty claims after the installation.

9. Paying for it and incentives

You can pay upfront or use finance. If you use finance, compare the total amount repayable, not just the repayment, as "interest-free" offers can carry fees or higher prices. Under the NETCC, an Approved Seller must give you clear information about any finance offered.

Incentives include Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) for solar and eligible batteries under the federal scheme, and the WA Residential Battery Scheme for eligible households. These are usually applied as a discount on your quote. See how rebates work in WA and our rebates by state page.

10. Approvals, installation and switch-on

1. Site assessment and quote. We look at your roof, switchboard and bills, then give you a written quote.
2. Network application. We apply to Western Power or Horizon Power for approval to connect.
3. Installation. Licensed electricians install the panels, inverter and any battery, usually in one or two days.
4. Paperwork. You receive the electrical safety certificate, compliance documents and warranties.
5. Meter and retailer. Your meter may need reconfiguring, and your retailer sets up the feed-in arrangement. This can take a few weeks.
6. Switch-on and app. We show you how to monitor the system and how to shut it down safely.

11. After installation

• Check the monitoring app now and then. A sudden drop in output can mean a fault or shading.
• Keep a note of any fault codes. Our fault code library explains common ones.
• If the app goes offline, see our Wi-Fi setup guides.
• Know the safe shutdown steps. Never open the switchboard or take apart the inverter or battery. Call a licensed electrician.
• Have the system inspected periodically by a licensed electrician.