You Have Signed Up for Solar. Now What?
Most Perth homeowners sign a solar contract, then wait. No one explains what happens next. An installation date gets set. A few weeks pass. Then a crew turns up at the door.
In fact, a lot happens between signing and installation day. Knowing this process helps you prepare. It also means your installation day runs smoothly and you get the best result from your system.
This guide covers two things. First, what Positive Energy Solutions does behind the scenes after you sign. Second, your practical checklist for the week before your solar is installed.
How Your System Design Is Refined Before Installation Day
Your consultant’s system design is the starting point. It is not the final word. Before anything goes in, every Positive Energy Solutions system passes through a multi-stage engineering review. Most solar retailers do not offer this step.
Stage 1, consultant design: your consultant builds an initial system design. It is based on your roof layout, energy use, goals, and budget. This sets the proposed panel count, inverter size, battery (if included), and expected generation.
Stage 2, in-house engineering review: our in-house engineering team checks every design before it moves forward. This review covers generation performance modelling, roof clearance, structural factors, and compliance with Western Power and Australian Standards. It also checks best-practice installation methods. If the team finds a way to improve panel placement, string layout, cable routing, or system size, the design gets revised.
Stage 3, further review: the design may go through more review passes. This depends on system complexity, roof type, or site details found during enquiry. This is a quality check, not red tape. The goal is simple: make sure the design can be installed correctly and will perform well for the life of the system.
Stage 4, installer site assessment: the installer has the final say on the day. Before work begins, they carry out a detailed site check. They look at the roof structure, confirm cable paths, check the switchboard, and confirm the layout will work. If they need to make a site-specific change, they will explain it before anything goes on the roof.
This process exists for a reason. What looks right on a satellite image or floor plan does not always match a real roof on a real property. A design reviewed by engineers, then confirmed on-site by an experienced installer, is a design that has been properly thought through, not just drawn up and left unchecked.
Western Power, Synergy, and the Applications We Manage for You
Before your system can be installed and connected, we must lodge a grid connection application with Western Power. Positive Energy Solutions uses your property’s RRN to complete this application. It covers your system’s technical specification and confirms it meets the rules for connecting to the distribution network.
There is also a range of applications, notifications, and incentive enrolments to handle. Getting these right keeps your installation on track and helps you capture every available rebate. Positive Energy Solutions manages all of it:
- Western Power grid connection application: we use your property’s RRN to complete the pre-approval application and the post-installation paperwork. Every installer we work with handles this as part of the installation. You do not deal with Western Power directly.
- Synergy account and system notification: we notify Synergy of your system details and manage the bi-directional meter upgrade. This sets up your account correctly for DEBS export payments to begin, where applicable.
- WA Residential Battery Scheme ($1,300 rebate): if you qualify for the WA state battery rebate, we handle the application and enrol your system in the Synergy Sustainable Living (SSL) program as required.
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program: we manage the application for this federal incentive where applicable, so you capture every available subsidy without navigating the paperwork yourself.
- Plenti finance: if you use Plenti to finance your system, we handle the first step of the application to get things moving. We then guide you through what you need to do to complete it.
If anything needs your input or signature, your Positive Energy Solutions contact will tell you exactly what is needed and why. You do not need to know which form goes to which authority.
From May 2026, all new residential solar systems in the SWIS must meet CSIP-AUS smart inverter communication rules. Every Positive Energy Solutions design meets these rules as standard.
What to Prepare Before Installation Day
A little preparation in the days before your installation makes a big difference. Here is the checklist:
Spare roof tiles
If your home has a tiled roof, have spare tiles on site before installation day. Allow 3 tiles per kW of solar as a guide. So a 6.6kW system needs around 20 spare tiles. An 8kW system needs around 24. Installers take great care, but some tile breakage is a normal part of working on a tiled roof. Matching spares mean any breakage gets fixed on the day, with no delays and no follow-up visit.
- Matching profile and colour: spare tiles should match your existing roof as closely as possible. Your tile manufacturer or a local tile supplier can often match existing tiles. Some councils and demolition yards also stock common profiles.
- Order in advance if needed: decorative or less common tile profiles can be harder to source. If your roof uses an unusual tile, tell your Positive Energy Solutions contact once your installation is confirmed. This gives time to find matching tiles.
Wi-fi is a must on installation day
Having wi-fi available on installation day is not optional. It is essential. Commissioning the system on the day needs a live wi-fi connection, and this step is needed to complete your rebate claims. If wi-fi is not available and commissioning cannot happen, a return visit is required and a fee applies.
Have your wi-fi network name and password ready before the crew arrives. If your router is in an unusual spot, or you have changed your password recently, confirm the details the day before.
Roof and access clearance
The installation crew needs clear access to your roof, switchboard, and any battery installation area.
- Keep the driveway clear for the installation vehicle and equipment
- Trim any tree branches over the work area if you can. Overhanging growth can slow down safe roof access.
- Keep the path to your switchboard clear and unobstructed
- If there is a side gate for roof or switchboard access, make sure it is unlocked and the crew knows where it is
Someone needs to be home
You or another responsible adult needs to be at the property for the whole installation. The crew will confirm the system layout with you before work starts. You will need to sign the Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) assignment form during the day. Someone also needs to be present for the monitoring app handover at the end of the day.
If you need to leave at any point, tell the installer in advance. They can then plan the paperwork and walkthrough around your schedule.
Pets and children
Keep children and pets away from all work areas during installation. This includes the roof, the switchboard area, and anywhere cables are being run. Tell the crew at the start of the day if you have animals on the property.
Your Power Will Go Off Briefly
During the switchboard connection stage, your power will be switched off. Workplace safety rules require this while electricians work on the switchboard.
The outage usually lasts around 60 minutes, though it can vary with switchboard complexity. Plan for it:
- Do not schedule anything that needs continuous power for the middle of the day
- If you work from home, a charged laptop and a mobile hotspot cover most needs during the outage
- If you use medical equipment that needs continuous power, talk to your Positive Energy Solutions contact well before installation day so we can make the right arrangements
What to Check When the Crew Arrives
Before work starts, take a few minutes to check the system matches what you agreed to:
- Panels: confirm the brand, model, and wattage match your quote
- Inverter: confirm the brand, model, and size match your quote
- Battery (if included): confirm the model and capacity
- Extras: confirm any agreed extras are included, such as tilt frames, extra isolators, or switchboard upgrades
If the installer suggests a design change after their site check, ask them to explain why. Site-specific changes from experienced installers are a normal part of the process. They usually lead to a better result. The key is understanding what is changing, and why, before work begins.
The STC Assignment Form
Australia delivers its solar rebate through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Positive Energy Solutions applies this rebate as a point-of-sale discount on your quote, then claims the STCs on your behalf. To do this, we need your authorisation.
The STC assignment form is a standard document. It authorises Positive Energy Solutions to create and trade the STCs your system generates. You will sign this on installation day. It is a routine part of every residential solar installation in Australia, and it has no ongoing effect on you.
If you need to leave before the form is signed, tell the installer at the start of the day. They can then arrange for it to be signed before you go.
What Installation Day Looks Like
Every installation differs by system size, roof type, and switchboard complexity. Here is a typical timeline for a standard residential solar installation in Perth:
Battery installations add time. A hybrid inverter with battery usually takes a full day. More complex setups can run into a second day.
Before the Crew Leaves: Your Handover Checklist
Before you sign off on the installation, check that you have:
- Monitoring app access: your app is installed, connected, and showing live data
- System generating: the inverter display shows generation with no error codes
- Omnidian contact details: you know how to reach your after-sales support
- A clean site: the work area is tidy, any broken tiles are fixed, and no tools or materials are left behind
- Answers to your questions: if anything on installation day differed from the plan, get a clear explanation before the crew leaves
Ready to Get Started With Positive Energy Solutions?
Still researching your options? Visit our showroom in Osborne Park, or request a fully itemised quote online. Our consultants will walk you through system options, expected generation, and the incentives available in Perth in 2026. You will see exactly what our design and review process looks like, right from the start.
Related guides
- What Happens After Your Solar Is Installed in Perth? From Installation Day to Full Operation
- How Much Solar Battery Storage Do I Need? Perth 2026 Guide
- How to Choose a Solar Installer in Perth: What to Look For (and What to Watch Out For)
- How to Read a Solar Quote in Perth: What Should Be There, What to Question, and Why Two Quotes Are Never the Same
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take from signing a contract to installation day in Perth?
The typical lead time from signing to installation is two to six weeks. The main factors are Western Power pre-approval processing time, scheduling availability, and whether your system needs extra engineering review. Positive Energy Solutions confirms your installation date once the design and paperwork stages are complete.
Can the installer change the design on the day?
Yes, and this is by design. Every installer we work with carries out a detailed site check before work starts. If a site-specific change is needed, the installer has the authority to make that call. This on-site check is the final stage in a multi-step design review. We will explain any change to you before work begins.
Do I need to be home for the entire installation?
Yes. You need to be present for the initial walk-through when the crew arrives, for the STC form, and for the monitoring app handover at the end of the day. You can generally step out during the middle of the day. Just tell the installer your schedule so they can plan around it.
What if it rains on installation day?
Light rain may cause a brief delay while the crew waits for conditions to improve. Heavy rain or storms usually mean a rescheduled date, since a wet roof is a safety hazard. Positive Energy Solutions will contact you as early as possible if weather is likely to affect your installation.
How many spare tiles do I need?
Allow 3 spare tiles per kW of solar as a guide. A 6.6kW system needs around 20 spare tiles. An 8kW system needs around 24. Tiles should match your existing roof profile and colour as closely as possible. If your roof uses a less common tile, tell your Positive Energy Solutions contact ahead of time so we can source matching tiles.
Why is wi-fi essential on installation day?
Commissioning your system needs a live wi-fi connection, and this must happen on installation day to process your rebate claims. If wi-fi is not available, commissioning cannot be completed. A return visit is then required, and a fee applies. Have your network name and password ready before the crew arrives.
About the Author
Jason Wiktorowicz
Sales Manager, Positive Energy Solutions | Perth, WA
Jason has been at the centre of Western Australia’s energy transition for over a decade. As Orchestration Lead on Project Symphony — WA’s largest virtual power plant pilot — and Stream Lead on Project Encore, he worked directly with AEMO, Western Power and Energy Policy WA to shape how distributed energy resources connect and operate on the SWIS. That work included developing and rolling out CSIP-AUS, now mandatory for all new WA grid connections. He also led Emergency Solar Management (ESM), the first program of its kind in WA, VPP for Schools (VPP4S), which provided direct market benefits through Supplementary Reserve Capacity, and REBAR, the WA Residential Battery Rebate scheme.
His earlier career spanned Synergy, Infinite Energy and Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute, where he co-authored peer-reviewed research on net-zero urban precincts, solar integration and peer-to-peer energy trading, published in the journal Urban Planning in 2018.
At Positive Energy Solutions, Jason leads sales with a focus on system design accuracy and long-term performance. Positive Energy Solutions installs solar and battery systems, EV chargers and heat pumps, and holds partner accreditations with Fronius, SigEnergy, iStore and SunPower. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
