The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has used its powers to suspend 21 companies from the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) for failing to meet fit and proper person requirements.
“Rooftop solar and battery retailers and installers must comply with the laws we administer,” the CER said in a statement.
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“Fit and proper person requirements are an ongoing obligation. Participants must demonstrate compliance with the law and that they have the integrity, capability and competence to effectively fulfil their role as a provider of our schemes.”
Asun Solar Pty Ltd was suspended after failing to meet these obligations. Another company was suspended for providing false or misleading statements about solar systems they declared complete and capable of generating electricity when they in fact weren’t.
CER Acting Chair Carl Binning said, “We’re sending a clear message to solar retailers and installers. False statements and incomplete work will not be tolerated.”
To help strengthen compliance, the CER has introduced an AI tool to assist with critical solar battery labelling checks.
The tool will support CER officers by helping them to identify issues with required labels and assess the accuracy of metadata which must be included with each image.
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“We’re warning installers that we will fail their applications and send them back to site if things aren’t done properly the first time,” Binning said.
