Key points
- The solar installation process has nine steps, from energy review to meter change. Most homes go from signed contract to switch-on in about 2–6 weeks.
- Installation day itself usually takes one day for a 6.6–10 kW system, or up to two with a battery or a complex roof.
- Your installer must get network approval before installing. SA Power Networks can auto-approve standard systems; all Victorian distributors require pre-approval.
- In Victoria a licensed inspector must check the system within 8 business days and it can’t be switched on until then. In SA the electrician must certify the work before energising and give you the certificate within 30 days.
The solar installation process runs in nine steps: energy review, site inspection, quote and contract, rebate applications, network approval, installation day, safety certification, meter reconfiguration and handover. For a typical home in Adelaide or Melbourne, it takes about two to six weeks from signing to switching on, and the installation itself is usually done in a day. Here is what happens at each stage, who is responsible, and the paperwork you should end up with.
How long does the solar installation process take?
| Step | Who does it | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Energy review | You and the retailer | 1–3 days |
| 2. Site inspection and design | Retailer or designer | Within 1–2 weeks |
| 3. Quote and contract | You and the retailer | Quote valid at least 10 business days for Approved Sellers |
| 4. Rebate and finance applications | Retailer, you | A few days (VIC Solar Homes); none needed for STCs |
| 5. Network connection approval | Installer | Same day to a few weeks |
| 6. Installation day | SAA-accredited installer and electrician | 1 day (up to 2 with a battery) |
| 7. Safety certificate and inspection | Electrician, inspector (VIC) | VIC inspection within 8 business days |
| 8. Meter change or reconfiguration | Your energy retailer and metering provider | Days to a few weeks |
| 9. Handover and STC paperwork | Installer | At or soon after switch-on |
Timeframes vary with the season, your distributor and whether you need a switchboard upgrade. This step-by-step is part of our home solar panels buying guide.
Steps 1–3: energy review, site inspection and quote
1. Energy review
A good installer starts with your electricity bills. A year of usage data, or interval data from your smart meter, shows how much power you use and when. That decides the system size and whether a battery makes sense. Our guide to sizing a solar system walks through the maths.
2. Site inspection and design
Satellite images are useful, but Solar Victoria recommends at least one onsite inspection before you commit. The installer checks:
- Roof type, condition, pitch and direction
- Shading from trees, chimneys and neighbours across the year
- Your switchboard, meter box and main cable, which may need upgrading
- Single-phase or three-phase supply, which affects inverter size and export limits
- Where the inverter (and any battery) can go, out of direct afternoon sun
Under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC), Approved Sellers must give you a site-specific design and a site-specific performance estimate for a custom installation.
3. Quote and contract
Your quote should list the exact panels, inverter, price after discounts, any extra charges and the warranties. For typical 2026 prices, see our guides to solar panel costs in Adelaide and solar panel costs in Melbourne. Approved Sellers must keep their price valid for at least 10 business days. If the sale came from a door-knock or unsolicited phone call, you have a 10-business-day cooling-off period under the Australian Consumer Law. Before signing, read our checklist on how to compare solar quotes.
Step 4: rebate and finance applications
Almost every home system gets the federal STC discount. You don’t apply for it yourself. You sign a form assigning your STCs to the installer’s registered agent, and the value comes straight off your invoice. In 2026 a 6.6 kW system earns about 45 STCs in Adelaide and about 39 in Melbourne, worth roughly $1,800 and $1,550. Read more in our guide to how the STC solar rebate is calculated.
In Victoria, eligible owner-occupiers can also claim the Solar Homes rebate of up to $1,400, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to $1,400. Your retailer must be authorised by Solar Victoria. The usual order is: get a quote, get network pre-approval, apply online, receive your eligibility QR code, then install within 120 days.
South Australia has no state solar rebate in 2026, so the STC discount is the only upfront incentive for most homes.
Step 5: network connection approval
Every grid-connected system needs approval from your electricity distributor, the company that owns the poles and wires. Your installer normally applies on your behalf.
- South Australia: the installer applies through the SA Power Networks portal. Standard applications that meet SAPN’s technical rules can be automatically approved, up to 10 kW of solar inverter capacity per phase (plus up to 10 kW of battery inverter capacity per phase, with a 30 kW cap per site). You choose between flexible exports of up to 10 kW per phase and a fixed limit, normally 1.5 kW per phase. Constrained areas and rural SWER lines need extra assessment.
- Victoria: all five distributors (AusNet, CitiPower, Powercor, Jemena and United Energy) require pre-approval before installation. The approval sets your export limit.
If the retailer arranges approval, the NETCC says they must not install until approval is granted, and must give you a full refund if it isn’t.
Step 6: what happens on installation day?
A typical 6.6 kW or 10 kW system on a single-storey home takes one day. Double-storey homes, tile roofs, three-phase systems and batteries can push it to two. A normal installation day looks like this:
- Safety set-up. Edge protection or scaffolding, harness points and a safe work method statement.
- Racking. Roof hooks or brackets are fixed to the rafters and aluminium rails are attached.
- Panels. Panels are clamped to the rails and wired into strings (or connected to microinverters).
- Cabling and isolators. DC or AC cabling runs to the inverter, with isolation switches where required.
- Inverter and switchboard. The inverter is mounted, a dedicated solar circuit breaker is installed and labelling is fitted.
- Testing and commissioning. The electrician tests the system, sets the inverter to the AS/NZS 4777.2 grid settings and export limit, and connects monitoring.
You don’t usually need to be home all day, but someone should be available for access to the switchboard and a brief power shutdown. Your installer should be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). You can check their status on the SAA website.
Step 7: compliance certificates and inspections
Solar is electrical work, so it must be certified by the licensed electrician who did it. The rules differ between the two states.
| South Australia | Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Electronic Certificate of Compliance (eCoC), lodged with the Office of the Technical Regulator | Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES), lodged with Energy Safe Victoria |
| Inspection | No mandatory independent inspection for every system | Solar is “prescribed work”: a licensed electrical inspector must inspect it, which should happen within 8 business days of completion |
| Switch-on | Certificate must be completed before the installation is energised | Cannot be turned on, or left on, until inspected |
| Your copy | Within 30 days | Within 4 days of the certificate being completed after inspection |
Keep these certificates. Your retailer, insurer and any future buyer of your home may ask for them.
Step 8: meter reconfiguration and switch-on
Your meter must be able to record exports before you start sending power to the grid.
- South Australia: the installer sends the SAPN approval number and details to your energy retailer, who arranges a meter change or remote reconfiguration. Older analog and digital meters must be replaced. If no date is agreed, retailers must complete a simple meter exchange within 15 business days.
- Victoria: almost every home already has a smart meter. After the CES is issued, the installer lodges the paperwork, either an electrical work request or the distributor’s online solar alteration form. Your retailer then arranges remote reconfiguration and a new network tariff. Allow a few weeks; some retailers quote up to about 20 business days.
Follow your installer’s advice on whether to run the system before the meter is ready. If you plan to switch retailers or plans after solar goes in, compare offers including the new midday free-power plans; our guide to Victoria’s feed-in tariff in 2026 explains the options.
Step 9: handover and STC paperwork
At handover, check you receive:
- Your electrical certificate (eCoC in SA, CES in Victoria)
- Network connection approval and your export limit
- Panel, inverter and workmanship warranty documents
- A system manual, single-line diagram and shutdown procedure
- Monitoring app login
- A copy of your STC assignment form
Your installer’s agent creates the STCs in the Clean Energy Regulator’s registry. Certificates must be created within 12 months of installation, but with a point-of-sale discount that is the agent’s job, not yours.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install solar panels?
The physical installation usually takes one day for a 6.6–10 kW home system, and up to two days with a battery, a double-storey roof or three-phase work. The whole process, from signing the contract to switching on, typically takes about two to six weeks, depending on approvals, inspections and meter work.
Do I need approval before installing solar?
Yes. Your electricity distributor must approve the connection. In SA, SA Power Networks can automatically approve standard systems through its portal. In Victoria, all distributors require pre-approval before installation. Your installer normally applies for you, and under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code they should not install before approval is granted.
Can I use my solar straight after installation?
In Victoria, no. The system cannot be turned on until a licensed electrical inspector has inspected it, which should happen within 8 business days. In SA the electrician certifies the work before energising it. In both states your meter may also need changing or reconfiguring, so follow your installer’s advice on when to switch on.
What paperwork should I get after a solar installation?
You should receive your electrical safety certificate (a Certificate of Compliance in SA or a Certificate of Electrical Safety in Victoria), network approval details, warranty documents for the panels, inverter and workmanship, a system manual and a copy of your STC assignment form. Keep them with your home records.
Our SAA-accredited team handles every step, from network approval to meter paperwork, for homes across Adelaide and Melbourne. See what’s included in our 6.6kW solar system package, or get a free quote and we’ll map out the timeline for your home.
Sources: Energy Safe Victoria – Certificates of Electrical Safety for consumers; SA Department for Energy and Mining – Electronic certificates of compliance; SolarQuotes – South Australia grid connection rules and process (Sep 2026); Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria – Solar FAQs (13 Sep 2024); Solar Victoria – What to look for in a solar quote (6 Mar 2026); New Energy Tech Consumer Code. Processes and timeframes can change; check with your installer, distributor and retailer. Featured image: Smtzzz / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
