Updated September 2026
Best Solar Installers in Melbourne
Melbourne's solar market is one of Australia's most competitive, with hundreds of installers servicing the metro area. That competition is good for homeowners since it drives quality up and prices down, but it also makes choosing the right installer harder. We looked at accreditation, years trading, warranty terms, local reputation and pricing transparency to narrow the field.
Our Top Melbourne Solar Installers
6 established solar companies working in Melbourne, rechecked on 30 September 2026 against each company's own website, its ABN record and dated customer reviews. We list only companies that are trading and have an office serving Melbourne; any that close, leave solar or move on come off the list. They run by years trading, longest first, and the details come from each company's own website and public records. We don't accept payment for places on this list, and being listed here is not the same as being Why Solar Approved.
| Installer | Office | Trading since | NETCC approved seller | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1KOMMA5° Melbourne | Abbotsford | 2009 | Not confirmed | Homeowners who want a large, long-running company behind the warranty |
| JWS Electrical Services | East Keilor | 2011 | Yes | North-west Melbourne homeowners wanting an electrician-run local business |
| Essential Solar | Tullamarine | 2012 | Yes | Homeowners wanting a well-established installer with a wide battery range |
| Chief Electricians | Braeside | 2016 | Yes | South-east Melbourne homeowners wanting solar and a battery from one electrical crew |
| Jet Solar | Rowville | 2019 | Yes | Eastern suburbs homeowners adding a Tesla Powerwall |
| Green Line Solar | Heatherton | 2021 | Yes | Bayside and south-east homeowners who put the workmanship warranty first |
1KOMMA5° Melbourne
Formerly Solaray Energy
Solaray Energy, one of the longer-running residential installers on the east coast, was bought by the German energy group 1KOMMA5° in January 2023 and now trades under that name. Its Melbourne showroom is in Abbotsford, alongside its North Sydney base.
- Office:
- Abbotsford, serving Melbourne
- Years in business:
- 17 (since 2009, as Solaray Energy)
- Accreditation:
- Ask for its NETCC approved seller status and the SAA numbers of the installers on your job
- Best for:
- Homeowners who want a large, long-running company behind the warranty
- Trading since about 2009 under the Solaray name
- Backed by a larger international energy group since 2023
- Uses a mix of its own and subcontracted installers, so ask who will do your job
JWS Electrical Services
A family-owned electrical and solar business in East Keilor, in Melbourne's north west. It says all of its staff are in house, and it installs Tesla Powerwall, Sigenergy, GoodWe and BYD batteries.
- Office:
- East Keilor, serving Melbourne
- Years in business:
- 15 (since 2011, the trading name; the company was incorporated in 2021)
- Accreditation:
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
- Best for:
- North-west Melbourne homeowners wanting an electrician-run local business
- Family owned
- In-house staff rather than subcontractors
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
Essential Solar
A Tullamarine installer that has sold solar under the Essential Solar name since 2012. It is a Fronius Solutions Partner, says it is a Tesla Powerwall certified installer, and fits Sigenergy, BYD, SolarEdge and Tesla batteries.
- Office:
- Tullamarine, serving Melbourne
- Years in business:
- 14 (since 2012, in solar; the company behind it dates from 2001)
- Accreditation:
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
- Best for:
- Homeowners wanting a well-established installer with a wide battery range
- Fronius Solutions Partner
- Tesla Powerwall certified installer
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
Chief Electricians
An electrician-founded solar and battery business at Braeside in Melbourne's south east, started by electrician Adam Bau. It says it does not use external subcontractors, and it partners with Tesla, Sigenergy, Sungrow, BYD and Enphase.
- Office:
- Braeside, serving Melbourne
- Years in business:
- 10 (since 2016)
- Accreditation:
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
- Best for:
- South-east Melbourne homeowners wanting solar and a battery from one electrical crew
- Founded and run by an electrician
- No external subcontractors
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
Jet Solar
A Rowville installer in Melbourne's outer east. It says every member of staff is an employee and it does not use subcontractors, and it is a Tesla Powerwall Certified Premium Installer.
- Office:
- Rowville, serving Melbourne
- Years in business:
- 7 (since 2019)
- Accreditation:
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
- Best for:
- Eastern suburbs homeowners adding a Tesla Powerwall
- Employees only, no subcontractors
- Tesla Powerwall Certified Premium Installer
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
Green Line Solar
A family-owned installer at Heatherton in the south east, trading since early 2021. It says it never subcontracts and gives a 10-year workmanship warranty.
- Office:
- Heatherton, serving Melbourne
- Years in business:
- 5 (since 2021)
- Accreditation:
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
- Best for:
- Bayside and south-east homeowners who put the workmanship warranty first
- 10-year workmanship warranty
- Never subcontracts, according to the company
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code approved seller
How We Chose These Installers
We're a comparison platform, not an installer. We don't sell solar systems, no installer owns a piece of Why Solar, and nobody pays to appear on this page. This list started as our own research into the Melbourne market. On 30 September 2026 we rechecked every company against its own website, ABN Lookup and dated customer reviews, and took off any that had closed, left solar, could not be found or worked in another city. The ones left are real, trading and local.
The installer we match you with is held to a higher bar. An installer earns the Why Solar approval by passing six checks before they see a single homeowner. Together they are the Why Solar Approved standard:
Credentials
Accreditation and licensing, current and genuine, checked rather than assumed.
Staying power
Years actually trading, and the financial stability to still be here in a decade to honour what they promise.
Proof of work
Real installations we can examine, not a folder of stock photos and slogans.
The actual hands
Who physically turns up to do the job, not the cheapest available subcontractor.
What goes in
Genuine, traceable components that match the quote exactly. No quoting German and fitting Chinese.
How they handle trouble
How they behave when something goes wrong. That, not the sales call, is the true measure of a company.
In Melbourne those checks have a local edge. Credentials means the licences and accreditation for this state, and experience with the five distributors that run the Melbourne network. Staying power means years trading under the same name, because a warranty is only as good as the company behind it. The actual hands means the licensed electricians and accredited installers who turn up, not the cheapest subcontractor available that week.
After every match, one of our team calls you to make sure they turned up, quoted what they said they would, and treated you properly. Installers who don't measure up are removed from the network. Some already have been.
What solar costs in Melbourne
Typical installed prices in Melbourne by system size, before and after the federal STC rebate. Melbourne is in STC Zone 4, which sets how many certificates a system earns. The rebate falls every 1 January until the scheme ends after 2030, so the same system earns less the longer you wait.
| System size | Installed price (before rebate) | STC rebate in Melbourne | Price after STCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | $4,500 to $6,500national band | $1,102 (29 STCs) | $3,398 to $5,398 |
| 6.6 kW | $5,500 to $7,200 | $1,482 (39 STCs) | $4,018 to $5,718 |
| 10 kW | $8,000 to $10,500 | $2,242 (59 STCs) | $5,758 to $8,258 |
| 13 kW | $10,000 to $15,000national band | $2,926 (77 STCs) | $7,074 to $12,074 |
Assumptions: installed prices are indicative ranges from our solar panel cost guide: the Melbourne bands for 6.6 kW and 10 kW and the national bands for 5 kW and 13 kW. STC rebate: system size × STC zone multiplier × deeming years, rounded down to whole certificates (6.6 kW × Zone 4 multiplier 1.185 × 5-year 2026 deeming period = 39 certificates at $38 each). Retailers usually apply it as a discount on the quote. State programs are not included. Actual quotes vary with the roof, the equipment and the switchboard.
Solar payback in Melbourne
How long a 6.6 kW and a 10 kW system take to pay for themselves in Melbourne, on the price after STCs above. The range runs from a cheap install on a good feed-in rate to a dear install on a poor one.
| System | Yearly generation | Yearly saving | Price after STCs | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 kW | 8,395 kWh | $899 to $1,011 | $4,018 to $5,718 | 4 to 6 years |
| 10 kW | 12,720 kWh | $1,362 to $1,531 | $5,758 to $8,258 | 4 to 6 years |
Assumptions: 4.1 peak sun hours a day (our postcode solar data for 3000) × 365 days × 85% system efficiency. 30% of the generation is used in the home at 28c per kWh, the VIC average retail rate in our electricity data, and the rest is exported at 3.3c to 5.2c per kWh. Payback is the price after STCs divided by the yearly saving, with no battery, tariff changes or panel degradation. A household that uses more of its solar at home pays back faster.
Solar in Melbourne: What You Need to Know
How much solar Melbourne is installing
In the 12 months to 1 October 2026, 32,218 small solar systems were installed across Greater Melbourne, averaging 9.5 kW each, according to the Clean Energy Regulator's postcode data. That brings the total to 509,845 systems since records began.
The growth corridors in the west, north and south east are where the big systems go: new homes there are built with roofs and switchboards that suit 10 kW and more, often with room for a battery. Inner-city heritage streets are where systems stay small, and a Californian bungalow in the inner north might carry a few kilowatts on its one clear plane.
Local considerations
Melbourne has five different electricity distribution networks. Your network determines export limits, meter types, and connection timelines. Make sure your installer is experienced with your specific distributor.
Victoria's variable weather means a north-facing roof orientation matters more here than in sunnier states. A good installer will use shading analysis software rather than eyeballing it.
Heritage overlays in inner-city suburbs (Fitzroy, Carlton, South Melbourne) can restrict panel placement. Check with your council before signing a contract.
Winter output in Melbourne is a fraction of summer output, so a system sized on a summer estimate will leave you buying power from May to August. Ask for a month-by-month generation estimate, not just a yearly total.
Electricity networks and export limits
- CitiPower (inner city)
- Powercor (west and north-west)
- Jemena (north)
- AusNet Services (east and outer south-east)
- United Energy (south-east and Mornington Peninsula)
All five Melbourne distributors apply a standard single-phase export limit of 5 kW, with three-phase homes allowed more, and several now offer flexible export arrangements that lift the limit when the local network has room. Your installer should know which distributor you are on from your address and tell you the limit before quoting a size.
The bigger local factor is the feed-in tariff. Victoria's minimum feed-in tariff has fallen a long way, so an exported kilowatt hour earns very little. A Melbourne system earns its keep through the power the household uses itself, which argues for sizing to your daytime load, putting some panels on a west-facing plane to catch the late afternoon, and pricing a battery if the house is empty during the day.
State rebates and incentives
On top of the federal STC rebate in the table above, and the federal battery rebate if you add a battery: Victoria offers $1,400 on panels through Solar Victoria for eligible households. Victoria rebates in full
What to look for in a Melbourne installer
- SAA-accredited installers on your job (mandatory for STC rebates)
- At least 5 years in business with a track record of Melbourne installations
- Familiarity with your specific electricity distributor
- Workmanship warranty of 5+ years on top of manufacturer panel and inverter warranties
- Willingness to do a site inspection before quoting (not just Google Earth)
- Clear breakdown of costs including any switchboard upgrade or meter change fees
Melbourne Suburbs We Cover
Our installer directory covers all of Greater Melbourne, including:
Installs, rebates and feed-in tariffs suburb by suburb: solar panels in Melbourne.
Questions about solar installers in Melbourne
Who is the best solar installer in Melbourne?
There is no single best installer for every Melbourne home: the right one depends on your roof, your network and whether you want a battery. We judge installers on the six checks of the Why Solar Approved standard: credentials, staying power, proof of work, the actual hands, what goes in and how they handle trouble. The companies on this page are established Melbourne installers worth comparing. If you want one that has passed all six checks, the rebate quiz matches you with one Why Solar Approved installer near you, and a solar expert calls you before you sign anything.
How much does it cost to install a solar system in Melbourne?
A 6.6 kW system, the size most price comparisons use, typically costs $5,500 to $7,200 installed in Melbourne before rebates. The federal STC rebate on that system in Melbourne (STC Zone 4) is worth about $1,482 this year, which brings the price to about $4,018 to $5,718. A 10 kW system is typically $8,000 to $10,500 before the rebate and $5,758 to $8,258 after it. Retailers usually take the STC value off the quote for you. Tile roofs, two storeys, switchboard upgrades and premium panels or inverters push the price up.
What is the 20% rule for solar?
It is a rule of thumb for sizing panels against the inverter: fit around 20 to 33 percent more panel capacity than the inverter is rated for. Panels rarely deliver their full rating on a roof, because heat, dust and the angle of the sun all take a share, so a slightly larger array keeps the inverter working close to capacity for more of the day. The Clean Energy Council's rules allow panels up to a third larger than the inverter, which is why a 5 kW inverter is usually paired with 6.6 kW of panels and a 10 kW inverter with up to 13.3 kW. Oversize beyond that and the system is not eligible for STCs. Ask your installer to show the panel-to-inverter ratio on the quote.
Why are people getting rid of their solar panels?
Mostly they are not giving up on solar, they are replacing a bad system or a small old one. The common stories are an installer that went broke and left nobody to honour the warranty, a cheap inverter that failed after a few years, panels mounted badly enough to leak or come loose, and an export limit that stops a large system earning what the salesperson promised. Our register of collapsed solar companies lists 68 that operated in Victoria. Some owners are also swapping early systems of a kilowatt or two for a modern array and a battery. Solar itself is rarely the problem; the company behind it often is, which is why staying power is one of our six checks.
How much does a solar installer charge?
Installers price the whole job rather than charging for labour separately. The quote covers the panels, inverter, mounting, cabling, the electrician's time, the connection paperwork and the STC claim. In Melbourne that works out to about $833 to $1,091 per kilowatt for a 6.6 kW system before the rebate, and less per kilowatt for bigger systems. Extras that appear on some quotes: a switchboard upgrade, a meter change, tilt frames, work on a steep or two-storey roof, and a three-phase connection. Our service is free for homeowners.
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