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Going Solar in Auckland: The Electrical Work Behind It, and the Questions to Ask a Solar Supplier

Sep 18
3 min read

We don't sell solar systems — we do the electrical work around them, and we get called in often enough after the fact to know where solar projects go sideways. It's almost never the panels. It's a switchboard with no room for the new circuits, an export application that nobody lodged, or an older home where the existing installation wasn't in a fit state to connect a generation system to in the first place. Here's what sits outside a typical solar quote, and what to ask before you sign one.

Got a solar quote and want the electrical side checked independently? Call 021 889 770 — we'll tell you what's missing from it. We're not selling you a system.

Is your switchboard ready for solar or a battery?

A solar or battery installation adds circuits, protection and isolation to your switchboard. An older Auckland board — particularly a ceramic fuse board or one already full — often can't take them without an upgrade first, and that upgrade is rarely inside the solar company's quote. If your board has no RCD protection or no spare ways, budget for it separately: typically $1,725–$4,600 including GST ($1,500–$4,000 + GST). It's better to find that out before you commit to a system than as a variation halfway through. See our solar and battery ready guide for the detail.

The export side: what has to be approved

Feeding power back into the network isn't automatic — a distributed generation application has to be made to Vector before the system is connected, and there are limits and inverter requirements attached to that approval. A competent solar installer handles this as a matter of course. Ask the question anyway, because it's the step most likely to delay a switch-on, and separately arrange the buy-back rate with your power retailer, which is a different conversation from the network approval and is easy to assume someone else has done.

Questions worth asking any solar supplier

  • Does this quote include any switchboard work, and what happens if my board turns out to need upgrading — is that a variation, and roughly what would it cost?

  • Who lodges the distributed generation application with Vector, and is it included in the price?

  • Who physically does the electrical work, and are they on a current EWRB practising licence? You can check anyone on the public register

  • What documentation do I receive — Certificate of Compliance, Electrical Safety Certificate, and the system documentation?

  • What are the export limits on my connection, and how does that affect the system size you're proposing?

  • What happens in a power cut — does the system keep running, and does that require additional equipment? Many grid-tied systems without a battery shut down during an outage, which surprises people.

Frequently asked questions

Do you install solar systems?

No — we do the electrical work solar projects depend on: switchboard upgrades, supply capacity, circuits, isolation and the general condition of the installation. We'll happily work alongside whichever solar company you choose.

Can you check a solar quote for me before I sign it?

Yes, and it's worth doing. We'll look at your board and tell you what electrical work the system will actually require and whether the quote covers it — without any interest in which system you choose.

What about solar hot water?

Solar hot water is largely a plumbing and solar-thermal installation rather than an electrical one. Our involvement is usually the electrical backup element, thermostat and controls — and if the existing cylinder has issues, see our guide on hot water cylinder overflow.

Get the electrical side checked

Registered electricians on current EWRB practising licences · Certificate of Compliance and Electrical Safety Certificate issued within the statutory 20 days · Based in Remuera, working Auckland-wide

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