Major solar retailer banned by regulator after ABC investigation

Prominent solar retailer Solar Power Nation has been banned by the Clean Energy Regulator, meaning it can no longer claim federal government rebates.

The move follows a groundswell of customer complaints detailing unsafe, poorly performing or incomplete solar and battery installations, as well as lengthy delays.

Solar Power Nation has 60 days to request a review of the regulator's decision.

Major retailer Solar Power Nation has been permanently banned by the Clean Energy Regulator, the ABC can reveal.

The prominent company sells rooftop solar and battery systems in five states and is endorsed by sporting celebrities including former cricket captain Michael Clarke, Olympians Kyle Chalmers and Sally Pearson and current NRL and AFL players.

An investigation by 7.30 in August revealed Solar Power Nation was being probed by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) and multiple state authorities after they were inundated with hundreds of complaints from frustrated customers since 2024.

The customers claimed they had experienced unsafe, poorly performing or incomplete solar and battery installations, while some had lengthy delays with little meaningful communication.

At the time, Solar Power Nation insisted to 7.30 it was taking customer concerns seriously and most were satisfied.

There has been a record number of solar batteries installed since the Albanese government launched the Cheaper Home Batteries Program in July 2025.

The generous rebate covers about 30 per cent of the total cost, and 600,000 households have taken advantage of the scheme.

But there has also been a spike in complaints to authorities and disputes before courts and tribunals, leading to calls for better consumer protections.

The Clean Energy Regulator said it had permanently suspended Solar Power Nation and the associated company 1 Solar Australia because it was "no longer satisfied that the company meets the fit and proper person requirements".

In making the decision, the CER pointed to Solar Power Nation being kicked out of a voluntary industry-run scheme called the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) for six breaches, which ranged from contract concerns to safety and installation standards.

It also cited a public warning issued by South Australia's Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, following widespread allegations of customer mistreatment.

The commissioner said Consumer and Business Services had received 94 complaints between July 2025 and April 2026, including consumers claiming to have paid deposits but the company failing to install within a reasonable time frame, products not working properly or potentially being unsafe, and customers being ignored when "chasing installation dates, refunds, warranty queries and defective product queries".

When it raised these issues with Solar Power Nation, the company blamed a surge in customer demand after rebates were cut by state and federal governments, the warning notice said.

The CER's ban is a significant blow because it means Solar Power Nation can no longer create small-scale technology certificates (STCs), which are needed to claim federal government rebates for solar and battery installations under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).

Chair of the CER, Tony Chappel, vowed the regulator would act to protect consumers and the federal scheme.

"If we see companies that are not operating professionally, we will not hesitate to take action to protect the integrity of the SRES," he said.

"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.

"We have a zero-tolerance approach for any poor business practice that can create an adverse outcome for the customer."

The ABC contacted the company for a response but did not receive one prior to publication.