Latest news
Winter 2019
energysafe issue 54
No tolerance for substandard
or unsafe solar installations
or inspections
By Neil Fraser, Deputy Director ESV
Over 30,000 households have signed up for rebates
on solar power system installations since the Victorian
Solar Homes program was launched in August 2018.
The growth in solar installations is
expected to continue across the state
when applications for rebates re-open
on 1 July 2019.
ESV is working closely with Solar Victoria
and the Clean Energy Council (CEC)
to ensure all solar photovoltaics (PV)
systems installed in Victoria are safe
and compliant.
Use approved products
All systems installed under the Solar
Victoria package are required to meet
Australian Standards. ESV participates
in the technical committees that develop
the standards for solar installations,
storage systems and the electrical
equipment used.
The Clean Energy Council (CEC)
maintains a list of approved modules and
inverters that meet Australian Standards
for use in the design and installation
of solar PV systems.
The Solar Homes program requires the
installation of solar PV systems included
on the CEC Approved Products list.
For solar hot water, the program requires
the installation of an approved product
from the Clean Energy Regulator’s
Register of Approved Solar Providers
and the Victorian Essential Services
Commission (ESC) Registered
Products list.
12
Use approved installers
All PV installations are required to be
completed by a licensed electrician,
issued a Prescribed Certificate of
Electrical Safety, and be physically
inspected by a licensed electrical
inspector upon completion. Auditing of installations in place
To ensure safety and quality standards
are being met, Solar Victoria is
conducting a program of regular
random auditing of installed systems
in partnership with Energy Safe Victoria
and the Victorian Building Authority.
Occupation Health and Safety
Regulations 2017 require that safe work
methods and fall prevention measures
be in place for each installation. As a result of the auditing process,
installers may be removed from the
CEC accredited lists and electricians
or inspectors found to be incompetent
or negligent will have their electrical
licenses suspended, cancelled or have
restrictions placed on the licence.
The Solar Victoria program explicitly
requires solar providers sign a statement
ensuring these provisions are in place.
Further to these legislated requirements,
the Solar Victoria program requires
additional safety measures:
» » All eligible PV systems are to be installed
by CEC accredited installers, through a
program that has been in operation since
2012, and providing additional training on
safety and quality issues surrounding PV
installation.
» » All installers are required to have had no
prosecutions registered with WorkSafe
Victoria in the past three years (or with
an equivalent authority in another
Australian jurisdiction).
Safety is of the highest concern to
Solar Victoria and ESV. Solar PV panels
have been regularly and safely installed
in Victoria since the 1970’s, and we are
committed to ensuring this remains
the case for years to come.