How to choose a solar installer you can trust
Tony Lopes
Short answer: Only a registered electrical contractor may legally do the electrical work on a solar installation, and only a registered person working for one may issue the Certificate of Compliance. Ask to see the contractor's registration with the Department of Employment and Labour before anything else. Then check their solar track record, their quote, who stands behind the warranties, and what happens when something goes wrong after they've been paid.
Rules checked October 2026.
Many of the problems we see on South African solar systems trace back to one decision: who installed it. During the load-shedding rush, demand outran the number of properly qualified installers, and plenty of systems went in fast and cheap. Owners are still paying for that in failed batteries, missing paperwork and lost savings. This guide gives you the checks to make before you sign, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
What does the law require of a solar installer?
Under the Electrical Installation Regulations, nobody may do electrical installation work as an electrical contractor unless they are registered as one with the Department of Employment and Labour. The solar system's connection to your home or building is electrical installation work.
The Certificate of Compliance (CoC) has to be issued by a registered person, such as an installation electrician, working for or on behalf of a registered electrical contractor, after they have inspected and tested the work. A registered contractor may not issue a CoC for work done by someone unregistered. Our guide to what a CoC does and doesn't mean explains why this certificate matters for insurance, selling and registration.
What should I check before signing?
| Check | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor registration | The company's registration certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour. | It's a legal requirement. If in doubt, note the number and verify it with the Department. |
| Who signs the CoC | The name and registration of the person who will issue it, and confirmation it will cover the solar work. | An installer who "gets someone else" to sign is a warning sign. |
| Industry memberships | ECA(SA) membership, and PV GreenCard status with SAPVIA. | ECA(SA) members must be registered contractors. The PV GreenCard is voluntary, but shows solar-specific assessment. |
| Track record | Photos of recent jobs, and two or three clients you can call. | Neat cable runs, labelled boards and proper mounting tell you a lot. |
| An itemised quote | Brands and model numbers, quantities, labour, protection devices and paperwork, line by line. | You can't compare quotes, or check component prices, without it. |
| Warranty backing | Which local distributor supports the inverter and battery warranties. | If the installer closes, you need a South African distributor to honour the warranty. |
| Workmanship guarantee | How long the installer guarantees their own work, in writing. | Equipment warranties don't cover a badly made connection. |
| After-sales | Who you call when something fails, expected response times, and whether they monitor the system. | The relationship should last as long as the system, not end at payment. |
| Registration with the grid | Whether they will handle the municipal or Eskom application. | An unregistered system can lead to penalties and complications when you sell. |
Our guide to what a solar quote should contain goes through the quote in detail.
What is the PV GreenCard?
The PV GreenCard is a voluntary quality programme run by SAPVIA, the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association. Individual installers can be assessed on their ability to install grid-tied rooftop systems properly, and companies registered on the programme give clients an as-built report and checklist for each project. Only registered electrical contractors can register a company on the PV GreenCard platform.
It's a useful extra layer of assurance, but it doesn't replace contractor registration. Check both.
What are the red flags?
- No registration certificate, or excuses about why they can't show it
- A quote with no brands or model numbers, just "5kW system"
- Pressure to sign today, or a large cash deposit before anything is ordered
- A price far below every other quote for the same equipment
- Vague answers about who will sign the CoC
- "You don't need to register it with the municipality"
- No physical address, or no references they're willing to share
- Equipment from brands with no South African distributor
What should happen after installation?
- A handover: how to read the app, what the switches and isolators do, and what to do in an emergency.
- Paperwork: the CoC, warranty documents, equipment serial numbers and a simple diagram of the system.
- Monitoring set up in your name, with your own login.
- Labelled boards, including warnings that DC circuits stay live in daylight.
- Grid registration submitted or confirmed.
If any of these are missing from a system you already have, our guide was your solar installed properly? will help you check it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many quotes should I get?
Three is a good number. Give every installer the same information about your home or business, so the quotes can be compared line by line.
Is the cheapest quote a bad sign?
Not always, but find out why it's cheaper. Common reasons are lower-tier equipment, missing surge protection, no CoC, or labour that isn't properly qualified. Those savings often cost more later.
Should I pay a deposit?
A deposit to order equipment is normal. Agree the amount, what it covers and the payment stages in writing, and avoid paying the full price before the work is complete and the CoC is issued.
Where We Fit In
We built CleanVolts Approved so you don't have to do all of this alone. Every CleanVolts Approved installer is a registered electrical contractor that you contract with directly, and that issues the CoC in its own name. We only list installers we would trust with our own homes, and we stay your point of contact from first enquiry to sign-off. Approved partners cover every province, and it costs you nothing to use us.
Sources: Department of Employment and Labour on electrical contractor registration; DEL notice on CoCs; ECA(SA) on installer verification; GREEN Solar Academy on the PV GreenCard.
