Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has permanently suspended rooftop solar retailer Solar Power Nation from the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), saying the company no longer meets fit and proper person requirements.
The decision, announced on 11 November, applies to 1 Solar Australia Pty Ltd, which trades as Solar Power Nation. The Sydney-based business sells rooftop solar and home battery storage systems across several states.
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The company can no longer act as a registered agent under the SRES or create small-scale technology certificates (STCs). Electricity retailers must buy these certificates, which lets registered agents pass their value to customers as an upfront discount on the cost of a system.
The regulator said it was no longer satisfied that the company met the scheme’s ongoing fit and proper person requirements. These cover skills, competency, business practices, integrity and good character, as well as compliance with other laws and industry codes, including consumer matters and conduct that could bring the scheme into disrepute.
The regulator also cited a public warning notice issued by South Australia’s Commissioner for Consumer Affairs. That notice recorded 94 complaints about the company between July 2025 and April 2026.
The CER pointed to the company’s expulsion from the New Energy Tech Consumer Code after six breaches, ranging from contract concerns to safety and installation standards. The Clean Energy Council administers the code, and the regulator nominated the industry body in 2024 to remain the SRES listing body for solar modules and inverters.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach for any poor business practice that can create an adverse outcome for the customer,” said CER chair Tony Chappel.
The company has 60 days to ask the regulator to review the decision. Solar Power Nation had not published a response to the suspension at the time of writing, and the regulator has not disclosed how many installations or certificates the company registered under the scheme.
Compliance push as the scheme expands
The suspension follows the regulator’s decision to suspend 21 companies from the SRES during the April to June 2026 quarter, when it cited failures to meet the same fit and proper person test.
Then acting chair Carl Binning said at the time that “false statements and incomplete work will not be tolerated.”
Chappel said the CER shares intelligence with consumer protection agencies, industry bodies and other regulators to identify systemic risks in the solar and battery storage industry.
“If we see companies that are not operating professionally, we will not hesitate to take action to protect the integrity of the SRES,” he said.
The action comes as the scheme widens. In August, climate and energy minister Chris Bowen said the government would expand the SRES from 1 October to cover solar installations of up to 1MW, ten times the previous cap. The government said the change would cut the cost of commercial and industrial rooftop solar by around 20%.
Since July 2025, the SRES has also supported home battery storage systems through the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
