Regulator permanently suspends Solar Power Nation from SRES

The Clean Energy Regulator has permanently suspended 1 Solar Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Solar Power Nation, as a registered person under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, cutting the Sydney-based retailer off from the certificate mechanism that carries federal government rebates.

The suspension means the company can no longer operate as a registered agent under the SRES or create the small-scale technology certificates (STCs) that make rooftop solar and battery systems cheaper for households. The regulator said it is no longer satisfied that the company meets its "fit and proper" person requirements.

"If we see companies that are not operating professionally, we will not hesitate to take action to protect the integrity of the SRES," CER Chair Tony Chappel said. "We have a zero-tolerance approach for any poor business practice that can create an adverse outcome for the customer."

What triggered the decision?

Solar Power Nation sells rooftop solar and battery systems across five states and has traded on endorsements from sporting celebrities, including former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. The CER's move follows multiple investigations into the company's conduct.

The ABC reported earlier this year that the installer and retailer was under investigation in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia after authorities received hundreds of complaints dating back to 2024. The complaints ranged from allegations of unfinished or defective work to unrefunded deposit payments for installations that never took place.

NSW's Building Commission, which regulates building and electrical work for solar and battery installations in that state, said it had received more than 240 complaints about the company. The Commissioner for Consumer Affairs in South Australia has issued a Public Warning Notice against Solar Power Nation.

The company was also expelled late last year as an approved seller under the industry-run New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC), for breaches relating to contract issues and safety and installation standards. The Clean Energy Council administers the code, which sets standards for advertising, sales practices, installations and complaint handling among approved sellers.

What does this change for the installer and the scheme?

For Solar Power Nation, the suspension removes access to the STC market that underpins the federal rebate for small-scale solar and battery installations. Customers who signed contracts expecting subsidised pricing now face a seller that cannot generate certificates on their behalf.

For the scheme itself, the decision signals that the CER will use its registration powers against retailers already sanctioned by state agencies and industry bodies. Chappel said the work of other industry bodies and the outcomes of their investigations had helped inform the regulator's decision.

"We work closely with consumer protection agencies, industry bodies and other regulators to share intelligence and identify and address any systemic risks within the solar and battery industry," Chappel said.

What happens next?

1 Solar Australia has 60 days to request a review of the CER's decision. The company was contacted for comment but did not respond prior to publication.

That review window now decides whether the suspension stands. If it does, Solar Power Nation remains excluded from the SRES while state investigations in Queensland, NSW and South Australia continue to work through the complaint backlog that stretches back to 2024.