Most homeowners researching solar spend their time comparing prices and panel brands, then get surprised by how much happens after they've said yes to a quote. Before a single panel goes on your roof, there's a design and approvals stage that a good installer handles for you — and knowing what's involved helps you tell a properly run job from a rushed one.
1. Site inspection and system design
A proper installer inspects your roof in person (or via detailed satellite/structural checks for straightforward jobs) before finalising a design — checking roof orientation, shading, structural condition, switchboard location and available space, and whether your supply is single or three phase. This determines your realistic system size; see our sizing guide for how property type and electrical supply cap what's achievable.
2. Grid connection (DNSP) approval
In NSW and the ACT, your installer submits a connection application to your local distribution network service provider (DNSP — Evoenergy in the ACT, or Essential Energy/Endeavour Energy/Ausgrid depending on where you sit in NSW) before installation can be switched on. The DNSP confirms your export limit and approves the connection. This step happens in parallel with scheduling, not on install day itself, so it shouldn't hold up your project if it's managed properly from the start.
3. Installation day
On the day, a CEC-accredited installer's crew mounts the racking, panels and inverter, runs the DC and AC cabling, and connects to your switchboard. Safety matters here as much as speed — proper isolation, correctly rated cabling and secure roof penetrations are what separate a compliant install from a callback six months later. Larger systems (acreage, commercial, or anything paired with a battery) understandably take more on-site time than a straightforward small-home rooftop system.
4. Compliance certificate and sign-off
Once installed, the system needs a Certificate of Compliance (or equivalent electrical safety certificate) confirming the work meets AS/NZS 5033 (solar) and relevant wiring rules, plus sign-off from your CEC-accredited installer confirming the system meets Clean Energy Council installation guidelines. This paperwork is what makes your system eligible for STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) — see our rebates & STC guide for how that discount is actually calculated and paid.
5. Meter and switch-on
Your retailer or DNSP arranges for your meter to be configured (or replaced) to correctly measure both what you draw from the grid and what you export back to it — this is what makes your feed-in tariff credits show up correctly on your bill. Once that's done and the DNSP has given final approval, your system is live.
Why the process matters more than the panels
Two installers can quote the same panel brand and inverter at similar prices, but the difference between a smooth install and a stressful one usually comes down to whether the DNSP application was lodged properly, whether the crew is genuinely CEC-accredited (not just using an accredited business's name), and whether compliance paperwork is handled correctly the first time. Our guide on choosing a CEC-accredited installer covers exactly what to check before you sign anything.
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