Solar Installer Suspended for 12 Months Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
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 force. 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 CER’s decision to disqualify Coulthard serves as a warning to the industry that rules must be followed. The regulator has made extensive efforts to communicate the importance of compliance through website updates, webinars, emails, and direct engagement with industry participants. The 12-month ban from the rebate scheme is intended to serve as both a consequence for Coulthard and a deterrent for others.
The CER stated, “To be eligible for STCs, the accredited installer must install or physically attend the site during job set up, mid-installation check-up and testing, and commissioning. The CER 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.
