Solar Installer Suspended for 12 Months Amid Regulatory Oversight
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) in Australia has taken the unprecedented step of disqualifying a rooftop solar installer for breaking important installation rules under the federal government’s rebate scheme. David Coulthard, a Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited installer, provided false written statements claiming he supervised 12 solar system installations between February 2022 and August 2022. However, investigations revealed that Coulthard had not been present at any of the installations he claimed to have supervised. As a result, Coulthard has been declared ineligible to install solar systems under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) for 12 months, and any systems installed by him during this period will not be eligible for the rebate’s Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs).
This disqualification marks the first time the CER has exercised its additional powers to disqualify an installer since the amendments to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 came into effect. The tightening of rules surrounding the retail and installation of rooftop solar systems in Australia aims to eliminate unscrupulous operators and ensure the installation of safe and high-quality systems. One of the key rule changes requires CEC accredited installers to be physically present at the site during setup, installation, and commissioning, with evidence of compliance provided through “selfie photographs.”
The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the person responsible for the safety and quality of the installation is on-site when needed. In the case of Coulthard, who was caught, fined, and stripped of accreditation in 2022, it was discovered that he was not present at the installation site and was instead in another country. The CER has decided not to pursue court action against Coulthard but instead impose a 12-month ban from the rebate scheme. This serves as both a consequence for Coulthard and a warning to the wider industry that rules must be followed.
The CER has made extensive efforts to communicate the importance of compliance to industry participants through website updates, webinars, emails, and direct engagement. The regulator emphasizes that accredited installers must physically attend the site during job setup, mid-installation check-up, and testing and commissioning to be eligible for STCs. The CER is determined to take action against those who fail to fulfill their obligations, stating, “We will not tolerate those who are unwilling to do the right thing.”
Sophie Vorrath, editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of Renew Economy, has been reporting on clean energy for over a decade.
