Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts today advised 122 formal rectification notices had been issued to those responsible for the defective installations identified in the recent Fair Trading audit of solar panel installations in north-west Sydney.

“The majority of those rectification orders had a completion deadline of 5pm on 8 July 2011. Once the deadline for rectification orders pass anyone who has failed to address the rectification order is referred for commencement of investigation and possible Notice to Show Cause action,” the Minister said.

“I’m pleased that 92 per cent of the rectification orders have been complied with.”

Mr Roberts said so far 13 companies or individual installers were thought to be responsible for installations in homes that were found to have two or more major defects and another 48 companies or individuals are responsible for one major defect.

“Four Sydney electricians have been served with orders to immediately suspend their licences for 60 days due to major defects on multiple solar panel installations. They were also served with notices requiring them to show cause as to why they should not be subject to further disciplinary action,” he said.

Two of those electricians have now been served disciplinary notices following the review of their submissions. Those notices will suspend their licences for a further 60 days and impose on them a requirement to undertake training in solar panel installations.

“More suspensions are expected if installers are found to be responsible for repeated and major defective solar installation work.

“It is important that consumers do not use electricians who have had their licenses suspended. Licences can be checked on the Fair Trading website which is updated whenever a suspension is made or at www.licence.nsw.gov.au/LicenceCheck/.”

The Minister warned electricians who may have incorrectly installed solar panels that Fair Trading continues to investigate defective work identified by the audit. All enforcement action is expected to be completed by the end of September, including any briefs for prosecution.

“Fair Trading continues to identify installers and companies responsible for minor defects and is advising consumers and installers accordingly. Installers must rectify their defective work and I encourage them to be proactive in doing so.

The Minister said Fair Trading would continue to do targeted audits of solar panel installations in NSW.

“I urge the federal government to immediately release the data it has collected from its own solar panel installation audits. Access to this information is important for consumer safety as it will help identify sub-standard installers and get defective work fixed.

“It is time for the federal government to be transparent and to put the interests of consumers first. The Gillard Government’s delays, cover-ups and obfuscation must cease,” the Minister said.

Repeated defective work or work without appropriate contracts can result in prosecution. 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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