Picking the right solar company can be overwhelming, with thousands to choose from.
Many will do a solid job, so why not take a shortcut, go with the cheapest quote and hope for the best?
It could leave you out of pocket or with an unsafe, damaged or poorly installed system that underperforms.
There has been a surge in demand due to the Albanese government's multi-billion-dollar Cheaper Home Batteries Program, with more than 600,000 households installing solar batteries since July last year.
While that has led to a clean energy boom, the ABC has uncovered shocking stories, from customers begging companies to fix dodgy installations, to people who lost large deposits after a business went bust or waited a year for a system that didn't show up.
There has also been a spike in complaints to consumer protection agencies, with unresolved disputes clogging courts and tribunals.
Pressure on the government to reduce spending has also led to speculation the program could be cut back, which could spark another battery rush.
To help consumers make decisions, Solar Choice's Jeff Sykes and Finn Peacock from Solar Quotes — both leading comparison sites — gave us their best tips.
These are the steps they say will give consumers the best chances of avoiding nightmare solar installations.
