Let’s start with a viewpoint that might surprise you.
- The price you pay for your solar panel installation is one of the least important things to consider.
- The specific product you choose comes next in importance, but it’s still not the top priority.
- What matters most, by far, is the company you choose and whether they’ll still be there when you need support.
At PSC Energy, we’ve spent the last decade installing solar systems and batteries. We’ve built a dedicated service department, kept strong relationships with our manufacturers, and seen many competitors come and go.
In this article, we’ll cover the following topics:
- Why Company Longevity Matters More Than Most People Think
- What Happens if Your Solar Company Shuts Down
- FAQ: Solar Installer Longevity
By the end, you’ll understand why a company’s longevity is the most overlooked factor when buying solar.
Why Company Longevity Matters More Than Most People Think
A solar and battery system is a big investment that should last twenty-five years. The installer is mainly responsible for making sure it keeps working that whole time. Here are some things that can go wrong over those years:
- Panels degrade or develop faults that fall under the performance warranty.
- An inverter fails and needs replacing under the product warranty.
- A battery develops a fault, and the manufacturer disputes the claim.
- A manufacturer exits the Australian market and leaves you without direct support.
In all these situations, your installer is your first point of support. If they’re no longer in business, you lose that help. You’ll have to handle warranty claims, find replacement parts, and pay for repairs on your own.
What to Look for: Years in Operation
A good rule of thumb is to choose a solar installer that’s been in business for at least ten years. Ideally, they should have been around longer than the warranties on the products they install. Most solar battery warranties last ten years, and most panel warranties last twenty-five years.
Here is why this benchmark matters:
- A company with ten or more years of operation has survived multiple market cycles, including the competitive pressure that has pushed many solar companies out of business.
- A long operating history suggests the business is financially stable, well-managed, and genuinely committed to the Australian market.
- It gives you a track record to evaluate through reviews, references, and how the company has handled warranty claims over time.
It significantly reduces the risk that the company will shut down before your warranty period expires.
To be upfront, PSC Energy has been operating for just under ten years as of now, and most of the batteries we install come with at least a ten-year warranty.
While we don’t yet fully meet our own benchmark, we’ve built our business to last for the next twenty years and beyond. Our structure, team, and values show that commitment.
What to Look for: A Full-Time Service Department
One of the clearest signs a solar company is built to last is if they have a full-time, dedicated service department. Most homeowners don’t think to ask about this, but it’s one of the most important questions to ask before you sign a contract.
Here is what a genuine service department looks like:
- Dedicated service technicians who focus on maintenance and repairs, not new installations.
- A service coordinator who manages scheduling, customer communication, and warranty administration.
- A service manager who owns the relationship with manufacturers and takes personal responsibility for warranty outcomes.
- Documented response time frames so you know exactly how quickly the team will get to the site when something goes wrong.
If a company doesn’t have a service department, they see installation as the end of their job. In truth, installation should be just the start of their responsibility to you.
What to Look for: Manufacturer Relationships
The relationship your installer has with manufacturers is often overlooked, but it becomes crucial if you ever need to make a warranty claim.
Here is why it matters:
- Installers who switch brands frequently have shallow relationships with all of them. When a warranty dispute arises, they have limited leverage and limited goodwill to draw on.
- Installers loyal to a small number of carefully chosen brands build deep relationships that make warranty claims easier to resolve.
- A manufacturer is far more likely to honour a disputed claim quickly when the installer calling them is a trusted, long-term partner rather than an occasional customer.
- Strong manufacturer relationships mean your installer hears about product issues, firmware updates, and potential faults before they become problems for you.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the importance of a good installer for your solar (the most important component of any system, seriously), you might want to check out the following article titled, In-house Installers vs. Subcontractors: Which is Better?
What Happens if Your Solar Company Shuts Down
More Australian homeowners have faced this situation than you might think. A solar company closes, changes owners, or stops answering calls, leaving homeowners with no one to turn to when problems arise.
Here is what your options look like if that happens:
- Contact the manufacturer directly to lodge a warranty claim. This is harder without an installer to advocate for you, but it is possible. Document everything and be persistent.
- Australian Consumer Law provides protections that exist independently of any manufacturer’s warranty. If the product fails to do what it was sold to do, you may have legal recourse against the entity that sold it to you, even if that business has changed hands. Seek independent legal advice for your specific situation.
- Engage a new installer to assess the system and assist with the warranty claim. A reputable installer with strong manufacturer relationships may be able to advocate on your behalf even if they did not complete the original installation.
If the company has been placed into administration or liquidation, you may be able to lodge a claim through the relevant insolvency process. Seek independent legal advice.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about our aftercare, you might want to check out the following article titled, Penrith Solar Centre’s Service Department Safeguards the Future of Your System.
Wrapping Up: The Fine Print of Peace of Mind
Many companies joined Australia’s solar and battery industry during the boom but disappeared before their warranties ended. Price alone doesn’t show if a company will last, and a cheap quote can end up costing you more if the company isn’t reliable.
Before you sign, ask about how long they’ve been in business, their service department, and their manufacturer relationships. These three questions reveal more about your investment than any product spec.
If you’d like honest advice on choosing a reliable solar installer, fill out our online form and the PSC Energy team will get in touch. It’s what we do.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about working with a solar installer, you might want to check out the following article titled, Top Questions to Ask Your Solar Installer Before Hiring Them.
FAQ: Solar Installer Longevity
Why does it matter how long a solar company has been operating?
A solar and battery system comes with warranties that last 10 to 25 years. The company that installs your system is your primary protection for that entire period. A solar company with at least ten years of operation has survived market downturns, competitive pressure, and the kind of industry shake-ups that have closed many businesses. That track record is one of the strongest indicators that they will still be around when you need them.
What should I look for when choosing a solar installer in Australia?
Look for a company with a long operating history, a full-time service department, and strong manufacturer relationships. Ask how many years they have been operating, whether they have dedicated service technicians, and how they handle disputed warranty claims. These three questions will tell you more about the quality of your investment than any product specification.
What is a solar service department, and why does it matter?
A genuine service department includes dedicated technicians focused on repairs and maintenance, a service coordinator managing scheduling and warranty administration, and a service manager who maintains direct relationships with manufacturers. A company without this structure treats installation as the end of its responsibility. For a twenty-five-year investment, that is not good enough.
How do manufacturer relationships affect my solar warranty?
An installer with deep, long-term manufacturer relationships has far more leverage when a warranty claim is disputed. Manufacturers are more likely to honour claims quickly and without friction when the installer is a trusted, high-volume partner. An installer who switches brands frequently or buys in low volumes has little goodwill to draw on when things go wrong.
What happens if my solar company goes out of business before my warranty expires?
You still have options. You can contact the manufacturer directly to lodge a warranty claim, though this is more difficult without an installer advocating for you. You can also engage a new installer to assess your system and assist with the claim. Australian Consumer Law may provide additional protections depending on your circumstances, so seek independent legal advice if you are unsure of your rights.
Is a cheaper solar quote always a worse choice?
Not always, but price is not a reliable indicator of quality or longevity. A low quote can reflect genuine efficiency, but it can also reflect corners being cut on installation quality, service infrastructure, or manufacturer relationships. The real cost of a cheap solar installation often shows up years later when something goes wrong, and no one is around to fix it.
How do I know if a solar company will still be around in ten years?
No one can guarantee the future, but there are strong indicators to look for. Check how long the company has been operating, whether they have a physical local presence, whether they have a dedicated service team, and what their reviews say about after-sales support. A company that has been around for a decade, has an in-house service department, and has maintained consistent manufacturer relationships is a far safer long-term bet than one without those foundations.
