A good Adelaide solar company sizes the system from your bills, names the panel and inverter brands, holds an electrical contractor licence and Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accreditation, gives a free itemised quote with the rebates shown separately, and backs the job with a workmanship warranty and local support. Check reviews, the licence number and who designs and signs off the work.
- Good installers size from your bills, not from a package deal.
- Brands and models should be named on the quote.
- Check the licence number, SAA accreditation and NETCC approved seller status.
- Rebates should be shown as separate lines with honest timing.
- Read reviews for the install and after-sales, not just the sales visit.
1. They start with your home, not a package
A good installer asks about your bills, when you use power, and what's coming: an EV, a pool, a heat pump, kids moving out. They size the system from that, not from a one-size-fits-all deal.
They'll also look at your roof, shading and switchboard before quoting, or ask for photos. If someone gives you a price over the phone without seeing your bill, they're guessing. Our guide on how many solar panels you need shows what proper sizing looks like.
A good sign is when they talk you out of something. If your solar is too small to fill a battery in winter, or your switchboard needs work first, an honest installer says so upfront rather than selling you the bigger ticket item.
2. They name their gear and explain the warranties
The quote should list the panel, inverter and battery brands and models, by name. Vague terms like "tier 1 panels" or "premium inverter" aren't enough to compare.
Ask about three warranties: the panel product and performance warranties, the inverter warranty, and the installer's workmanship warranty. Product warranties come from the manufacturer, so a brand with local support matters. NG Elec installs panels from AIKO, Jinko and Trina, inverters from Fronius, GoodWe, Sungrow, Sigenergy and Selectronic, and batteries from Tesla, Sigenergy, GoodWe, Sungrow and BYD, with a lifetime workmanship warranty on our installs.
Send us a recent bill. We'll size it properly, name every brand and itemise every line, rebates included.
3. They're licensed, accredited and insured
- Electrical contractor licence. Ask for the number. Ours is PGE285103.
- Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). SAA replaced the old Clean Energy Council installer accreditation. Without it, the STC discount and battery rebate don't apply.
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) approved seller. It sets standards for how solar and batteries are sold to you.
- Public liability insurance. We carry $20M.
- Licensed electricians on the job, with the work designed, managed and signed off by the company you signed with.
NG Elec is also a Tesla Certified Installer, a Master Electricians member and a Selectronic accredited integrator for off-grid systems.
All of this is easy to check. Ask for the numbers in writing and look them up before you sign.
4. Their quote is itemised and their rebate advice is honest
A good quote shows every line: system size, brands, any switchboard work, SA Power Networks approval, the STC discount and any battery rebate, each on its own. Nothing added later.
Honest rebate advice means explaining that the battery rebate is federal, tiered by battery size and drops every January and July, with the next drop on 1 January 2027. It doesn't mean pressure to "sign today before it ends". See our battery rebate guide for the facts.
Be wary of fixed savings or payback promises. Savings depend on your use and rates, so an honest installer shows you the inputs instead.
5. They have a local track record and stick around
Check reviews on more than one site, and read what people say about the install and after-sales, not just the sales visit. NG Elec has a 4.8 rating on SolarQuotes and 115+ Google reviews. As Michael wrote in January 2026: "Nathan, your team is a credit to you, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend NG Elec to anyone."
After the install, you want someone local to call if a setting needs a tweak, a panel needs a check or you want to add a battery later. Ask who handles service and how. We've been trading since 2011, first as Nathan's own business and as NG Elec since 2017.
We're based in Hackham and work right across SA, with trusted install partners in the South East, Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula. Every job is still designed, managed and signed off by NG Elec, with licensed electricians on every job.
Questions to ask any solar installer
| Ask | A good answer |
|---|---|
| What's your electrical licence number? | Given straight away, and you can check it |
| Are you SAA accredited and a NETCC approved seller? | Yes to both |
| How did you size this system? | From your bills, with winter in mind |
| Which panels, inverter and battery, exactly? | Brand and model named on the quote |
| What's included and what isn't? | Switchboard work, approval and monitoring itemised |
| How is the rebate shown? | STC and battery rebate as separate lines |
| What's your workmanship warranty? | Clear, written terms |
| Who do I call after the install? | A named local business, not a call centre |
Red flags
- A price before they've seen your bill or roof.
- Pressure to sign on the day.
- No brand names, or brands with no local support.
- Rebates lumped into one vague discount.
- Savings or payback promised as a fixed number.
- No licence number on the paperwork.
For more on reading a quote, see what affects your solar quote, or check out our home solar installs.