Solar supplier advertising common traps to watch out for

Since the solar industry has expanded significantly in Australia over the last decade, many new players have entered the market. This includes some very savvy marketers who have carefully crafted their messaging to hook consumers in, even when the implications are questionable.

We have been operating in the solar industry for more than 20 years combined and wanted to share some of the common hooks we see in solar ads that should be cause for caution.

$0 power bills from solar

You may see ads that say you’ll get to $0 power bills from solar alone. This was possible a few years ago, but it isn’t possible anymore. These days, the goal is energy independence by using solar to generate energy during the day, and then a battery system to store and utilise the energy at night. This combination of technology can certainly deliver a $0 power bill but be wary of advertising that claims solar itself is the solution.

Postcode Promotions

Have you been seeing ads that feature hooks like ‘submit your postcode to see if you qualify’ with regards to solar rebates? This kind of advertising is actually just a sales generation tactic designed to encourage potential customers to hand over their contact details. At the time of writing, Federal Government solar rebates are available nationwide until 2030. There are additional benefits and incentives available on a state-by-state basis, but the standard Federal Government rebates are not limited by location. Advertisements that imply eligibility for these rebates based on postcode are potentially misleading, and we encourage you to seek out alternative suppliers.

‍Huge Rebate Numbers

It’s very common to see solar companies advertising based on inflated rebate potential. Big numbers like ‘$20,000’ are often used in advertising to hook potential customers. It is possible to benefit from significant rebates, but the main factor that determines rebate availability is system size. The reality is that most Australian homes don’t consume anywhere near enough energy to warrant excessively large systems, and therefore won’t attract the huge rebates often advertised.

For example, a typical 7.5kW residential system could attract a rebate of around ~$3,000AUD. To achieve a rebate of $20,000AUD, the system size would most likely need to be around 50kW. We conduct significant energy consumption analysis for each client to determine the right size system and would never recommend installing an oversized system simply to achieve a high rebate. Instead, we install systems that match the energy needs of the customer, ensuring the most cost-effective outcome in the long run.

Instant Quote & Phone Quotes

We understand how important time and convenience are for our customers, and we appreciate why an instant or telephone quote is attractive. However, we always suggest an on-site inspection to ensure the most accurate quote possible.

To accurately quote for a solar and battery system, the inspection provides critical information to determine the overall system configuration, which is a main driver of price. Without the inspection, most suppliers are forced to over-quote to ensure they are covering potential inaccuracies or their contracts make allowances for variations that are only apparent at the time of installation.

We often deal with customers who have received inaccurate quotes from other suppliers and could have easily been stung with unnecessary costs because of aggressive sales tactics. For the most accurate price, make sure you undertake an on-site inspection.