The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) announced it has permanently suspended solar retailer 1 Solar Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Solar Power Nation, as a registered person under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
The CER said it is no longer satisfied that the Sydney-based company meets the “fit and proper” person requirements, meaning the company can no longer operate as a registered agent under the SRES or create the small-scale technology certificates (STCs) needed to access federal government rebates.
“If we see companies that are not operating professionally, we will not hesitate to take action to protect the integrity of the SRES,” CER Chair Tony Chappel said. “We have a zero-tolerance approach for any poor business practice that can create an adverse outcome for the customer.”
The CER’s move comes after Solar Power Nation, which sells rooftop solar and battery systems in five states and is endorsed by sporting celebrities including former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke, was subject to multiple investigations.
The ABC earlier this year reported the installer and retailer was under investigation in Queensland, New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia after authorities received hundreds of complaints dating back to 2024. The complaints ranged from allegations of unfinished or defective work to unrefunded deposit payments for installs that never happened.
NSW’s Building Commission, which regulates the building and electrical work for solar and battery installations in that state, said it had received more than 240 complaints about the company.
The Commissioner for Consumer Affairs in South Australia has issued a Public Warning Notice about Solar Power Nation and late last year it was expelled as an approved seller under from the industry-run New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) for breaches relating to contract issues and safety and installation standards. The NETCC, administered by the Clean Energy Council (CEC), oversees approved sellers with standards for advertising, sales practices, installations and complaint handling.
Chappel said the work of other industry bodies and the outcomes of their investigations had helped inform the CER decision.
“We work closely with consumer protection agencies, industry bodies and other regulators to share intelligence and identify and address any systemic risks within the solar and battery industry,” he said.
1 Solar Australia has 60 days to request a review of the CER’s decision.
The company was contacted for comment but did not receive one prior to publication.
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