The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted reauthorisation to the Clean Energy Council (the Council) for its revised Solar Retailer Code of Conduct for five years.
The Council represents Australia’s renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. The Code is a voluntary system that solar retailers can sign up to and meet best practice standards that will benefit consumers and the industry.
‘Ensuring that solar retailers, as well as other industry participants, strive to improve standards of practice is important for consumers as household solar panels are a significant purchase,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
“Achieving higher standards in the industry will increase consumer confidence, enable consumers to make better decisions and enhance compliance as the industry grows.”
The Code enhances consumer protection by requiring ethical sales practices, increases disclosure to consumers about the costs of entering into agreements and reduces safety risk by requiring Code signatories to use accredited installers.
“The solar panel market is evolving, which has led to different business models emerging. While this could lead to greater confusion for customers, signatories to the Code will be required to provide important information to consumers about the nature of the agreement they are entering into,” Ms Rickard said.
Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
Further information is available at Clean Energy Council Limited – Revocation and Substitution –