Fair Trading Deputy Commissioner Steve Griffin today said NSW Fair Trading inspectors would be visiting homes in Port Macquarie from 14 to 25 February to check solar installations.

Mr Griffin said checks of grid connected, photovoltaic (PV) array installations were being done to ensure builders and electricians were properly licensed and had followed the appropriate requirements for safety, contracts and home warranty insurance.

“Home building inspectors will be visiting around 60 residences in the Port Macquarie area,” he said.

“In the past year, 756 grid connected, solar generating systems have been connected by 57 different installers in Port Macquarie.

“Port Macquarie is therefore an ideal location in which to do compliance checks because it provides us with a good snap-shot of the industry.”

Under the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004, Fair Trading administers the safety of PV array installations as they relate to the requirements for electrical installations and wiring work.

The Home Building Act 1989 requires builders and electricians installing grid connected PV arrays to be appropriately licensed.

Mr Griffin said Fair Trading had written to Port Macquarie homeowners with solar installations to advise them of the checks.

“Fair Trading will enforce rectification of any unsafe work and will deal with any breaches of the legislation with appropriate disciplinary action,” he said.

Any person who carries out residential building work in NSW worth more than $1,000 in labour and materials must have a licence.

For specialist work, such as plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and refrigeration, a licence is mandatory and there is no threshold for labour and materials.

Consumers can check if a trader is licensed online or by calling Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

Individuals caught working without a licence face fines of up to $22,000 and up to $110,000 for corporations.

Breaches of the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 can result in penalties as high as $82,500 and/or two years imprisonment for an individual and $825,000 for a corporation.

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