Like any tradesperson doing work on your property, there is an element of trust involved and a risk that an install won't be done well. But satisfaction rates among solar customers are around 90% overseas and we have heard a huge number of positive solar stories from New Zealanders who have invested and significantly reduced their bills. Reputation is everything in the trades, so the best advice is to talk to someone who already has solar and had a good experience.

Some installers may charge more but might offer ongoing assistance to help with any issues. The lowest price may not always be the best option.

This stuff can be complex and there's a lot of learning to be done. It's often a big step on the way to becoming more energy literate, but if something doesn't feel right - and having to import electricity from the grid in the middle of a sunny day is definitely not right - then make sure it's remedied.

Judging from these stories, the issues are all fairly easy to remedy, so it's not a problem with the tech, as over four million Aussies can attest. In New Zealand, installs are growing at record levels, so it's not surprising to see a few more complaints being lodged with Utilities Disputes.

The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator has created a solar quote comparison tool, which you can check out here.

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