Looking for solar options? Hello, sunshine.

Most Australian solar installations cover their install costs in the first 4-8 years. If you use a lot of your own power during daylight hours, you’ll recoup costs at the speed of light, well, almost.

According to the Victorian State Government, installing rooftop solar panels saves Victorian households an average of $1073 per year on annual electricity bills.

Here are the steps it takes to get your solar installed, your meter updated and shiny solar credits flowing your way.

• Step 1. You sign on with your solar installer of choice.
• Step 2. Installers get permission from the distributor to do your install.
• Step 3. Once approved, solar panels get installed on your house.
• Step 4. Your installer submits their paperwork, indicating work is complete.
• Step 5. We send you a Solar Authorisation Form (SAF) to sign which gives us permission to make your solar meter bi-directional and complete a tariff change if required.
• Step 6. We’ll work with the network (VIC) or a metering company to get the right meter installed. You might need an upgrade or reconfiguration.
• Step 7. We confirm the work is done and notify our billing team.
• Step 8. Solar credits start coming your way for any excess solar power you send to the grid.

We can’t give you a precise time estimate because there’s a lot of steps in the process that rely on your solar installer (they put the panels on your roof) and your energy network (power lines and metering) – not to be confused with your energy retailer (that’s us).

However, we’ve helped enough clients troubleshoot the process to know where things are most likely to get stuck.

So, you’ve got your panels – where are the credits? If you aren’t seeing solar credits on your bill yet, you might be stuck at one of these two steps:

Step 4 – Look out, it’s a doozy. We can’t get moving until your solar installer submits their paperwork. They might need a little nudge to remind them to send their paperwork to us at newconnections@momentum.com.au or to the distributor if you’re supported by Citipower, Powercor, United Energy, Ergon or Energex.

Pro tip: ask them for a copy or to loop you in on their contact with us.

Step 5 – Just give us a sign. Double check you’ve signed and returned your Solar Authorisation Form (SAF) to us. You’re so close to the finish line, but we do need a signature to have your distributor check (and potentially switch out) your meter so we can see what you’re producing and accurately credit your bill.

Pro tip: To avoid delays and multiple visits from your network make sure there’s clear (and safe) access to your meter. Unlock the gate, restrain the dog, trim that prickly pear.

If you’ve tried everything without luck (or just need some moral support) our customer support team will do their best to help you get to the bottom of things.