Amid all the excitement of going solar, some paperwork matters more than the rest. Here’s what your system should come with, and why you should never let it slide.
The Certificate of Compliance
A Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is the document your electrician issues to certify that the electrical work — including your solar installation — has been done safely and to the required standards, chiefly AS/NZS 3000 (wiring) and AS/NZS 5033 (PV arrays). Connecting a grid-tied solar system is prescribed electrical work that, by law, must be carried out by a registered electrician and certified with a CoC, issued within 20 working days of the work.
Grid-tied solar also needs an independent inspection
Grid-connected PV is classified as high-risk prescribed electrical work, so the paperwork goes further than a CoC alone. The work must be independently checked by a licensed electrical inspector, who issues a Record of Inspection (RoI). After that inspection, an Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC) is issued — the final certificate, confirming the installation is safe to connect and use. So a properly done grid-tied job produces three documents in sequence: the CoC, then the RoI, then the ESC. A quality installer builds all three into their process as a matter of course.
The licence endorsement to ask about
There’s a newer requirement worth knowing: installing grid-connected solar and battery systems now requires the electrician to hold a specific ‘Mains Parallel Generation Systems’ endorsement on their licence. It’s being phased in — the deadline for electricians to hold it has been extended to 1 September 2026 — but it’s a fair question to ask of whoever’s doing your install.
Why it matters
The CoC and RoI are your proof the system was installed legally and safely. Without them, you have no evidence the work meets standard — which can cause problems with insurance, with warranty claims, and especially when you come to sell. They’re also your protection if anything ever goes wrong.
The bottom line
If an installer is vague about the Certificate of Compliance or the inspection, treat that as a serious red flag. A proper handover pack includes the CoC, the Record of Inspection and the Electrical Safety Certificate, plus the warranty documents and your monitoring details. Anything less isn’t a complete job. Not sure your system’s paperwork is in order? We can help you check.
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