Best Solar Installers in New Zealand
We assessed 105 solar installers in New Zealand and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume, and how recent the reviews are. How we rank →
Last updated: 7 Aug 2026
Before you hire
Solar panel quality and installer experience vary significantly. Ask for the payback period calculation based on your actual power bills, check whether they use tier-1 panels, and confirm what happens to your warranty if the installer goes out of business.
Top 5 Solar Installers in New Zealand
The top 5 solar installers in New Zealand are Future Energy, Hiko Electrical, Harrisons Solar, Planet Electrical, and Suntrenz, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
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1
Future Energy
★ 4.8 312 reviews Top5 Score 1785★ 290 4★ 7 3★ 3 1★ 12Future Energy installs solar panels, battery storage, and hot water heat pump packages for New Zealand homes, with quotes available via video call and systems set up for grid export monitoring from day one. Reviewers single out salespeople like George for sizing systems to actual usage rather than upselling capacity, which has translated to reported payback periods of around six years for some households.
Reviews most often describe: Full solar and battery system installs, low users
- ✓ Video call quoting available before any site visit is needed
- ✓ Reviewers report power bills dropping noticeably within first months
- ✓ Full solar, battery and hot water heat pump bundles installed together
location_on 29 Olive Road, Penrose, Auckland
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2
Hiko Electrical
★ 5.0 269 reviews Top5 Score 1735★ 264 4★ 5Hiko Electrical covers solar panel installs, battery system additions, and relocating existing solar setups to new structures, with competitive pricing and no hidden costs reported across jobs. Chris and the team are noted for quoting the day after contact, staying available for follow-up support after installation, and completing work on time.
Reviews most often describe: Solar and battery installs with attentive follow-up support
- ✓ Quotes sent same day as the initial site assessment visit
- ✓ Post-installation follow-up support provided without being prompted
- ✓ Solar and battery jobs completed on time with no surprise costs
location_on 6/5 Reynolds Place, Papamoa, Tauranga
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3
Harrisons Solar - Waikato
↑ 4★ 4.9 150 reviews Top5 Score 172 +45★ 146 4★ 2 1★ 2Harrisons Solar walks clients through panel array and battery sizing, including Tesla Powerwall systems, with in-person visits to assess specific building needs before any commitment is made. Andre, Tineka, Ray, and Melissa are each named for keeping clients informed at every stage, and post-install follow-up extends to firmware updates, app walkthroughs, and answering questions well after commissioning.
Reviews most often describe: Buyers wanting guided, no-pressure solar and battery decisions
- ✓ In-person consultations to discuss options before signing anything
- ✓ Post-install support includes firmware help and ongoing questions answered
- ✓ Compliance paperwork including COC and ROC handled and followed up promptly
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4
Planet Electrical
↓ 1★ 4.9 182 reviews Top5 Score 1715★ 174 4★ 7 1★ 1Planet Electrical coordinates full home electrification projects, combining solar panel systems, Tesla Powerwall battery storage, and EV charger installs in a single scope of work. Andrew handles detailed pre-install site visits and quote adjustments, while on-site crews like Garry and JR leave sites clean, walk clients through system operation, and send texts when they are on their way.
Reviews most often describe: Homeowners wanting solar, battery, and EV integration
- ✓ Pre-install site visit with thorough walkthrough of system options
- ✓ Installers explain app setup and system operation on the day
- ✓ Quoted competitively against multiple other solar companies by clients
location_on 4/4 Clemow Drive, Mount Wellington, Auckland
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5
Suntrenz Skylights
↓ 1★ 5.0 109 reviews Top5 Score 1705★ 107 4★ 2Suntrenz brings natural light into dark kitchens, hallways, and living rooms by installing solar tubes and skylights, including on complicated roof structures where options are limited. Installers like Jordan and Kyle conduct on-site visits before quoting, complete work in a single visit, leave no mess behind, and have turned jobs around in under ten days from first contact.
Reviews most often describe: Dark rooms transformed with skylights and sun tubes
- ✓ On-site quote visit before any work is agreed or started
- ✓ Installation completed and cleaned up within a single visit
- ✓ Substantial light improvement reported in kitchens and hallways
location_on 11/4 Aerodrome Road, Mount Maunganui
Before you hire a solar installer in New Zealand
Common themes, pricing patterns, and watch-outs drawn from customer reviews and independent research.
What does a solar installation typically cost? expand_more
A standard 5kW to 6.6kW residential solar system costs between $10,000 and $14,000 installed, covering panels, inverter, and labour. Adding battery storage pushes that figure up significantly, with full solar-plus-battery packages commonly ranging from $16,000 to $25,000 or more. Roof type, shading, and inverter brand all affect the final price, and one reviewer noted a 15% cost jump when a larger inverter was required on site. Get at least three quotes and confirm the system design is based on your actual usage, not a generic household estimate.
How do I check if a solar installer is properly accredited? expand_more
Every installer connecting a solar system to the grid must hold a current Registered Electrician licence issued by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB), and you can verify any licence number through the public register at ewrb.govt.nz before signing a contract. Beyond the legal minimum, look for membership of the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ), which requires members to meet competency and conduct standards, and ask whether the installer also holds SolarCert certification, a specialist solar PV competency credential that goes beyond the basic electrician licence. These credentials matter because your local lines company will check that the installation meets grid connection requirements before approving export, and a poorly credentialled installer can delay or block that approval. Reviewers who had smooth grid connections and prompt Certificates of Compliance cited installers who employed qualified, experienced electrical staff throughout the process.
How accurate are the payback period and savings estimates I'm being given? expand_more
Payback estimates of six to eight years quoted by some installers are optimistic and only realistic for low users who consume most of their generation directly rather than exporting it, since buy-back rates of around 8 to 17 cents per kWh are far less valuable than the 28 to 35 cents per kWh you avoid paying by self-consuming. A more realistic payback for a typical household sits between 8 and 12 years, and adding battery storage can push that to 15 years or more given current battery costs. Ask the installer to show you the self-consumption ratio they have assumed and what export rate they have used, because one reviewer confirmed their actual savings matched predictions exactly 18 months after install, while another found output far lower than promised on overcast days.
What are the warning signs of a solar installer you shouldn't hire? expand_more
- –A salesperson who cannot explain site-specific constraints upfront, such as inverter sizing or Wi-Fi connectivity needs, leaving you to discover extra costs after paying a deposit.
- –No structured handover after installation, meaning no walkthrough of the app, monitoring system, or how to interpret your generation data.
- –After-sales contact drops away entirely once the job is done, with no follow-up to confirm the system is performing as quoted.
- –Timelines that blow out significantly after a deposit is paid, with little proactive communication about delays.
- –Installation quality that does not match the promises made during the sales process, including components not connected correctly or discovered only when a fault forces an inspection.
- –Refusal to return to site or respond to performance concerns, particularly when output is well below what was sold to you.
What should you ask before hiring a solar installer? expand_more
- –Ask whether the installer holds a current Registered Electrician licence with the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) and whether they are a member of the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) or hold SolarCert certification.
- –Ask what self-consumption ratio and export buy-back rate the savings estimate is based on, and whether the payback period changes if you export more than you consume.
- –Ask whether app setup, monitoring configuration, and a system walkthrough are included in the price or treated as extras.
- –Ask who handles warranty claims after installation, whether that is the installer directly or a third-party service agent, and what the response time commitment is.
- –Ask for the workmanship warranty period separately from the panel and inverter manufacturer warranties, since these are different obligations.
- –Ask whether the installer will conduct a physical site visit before quoting, including a roof inspection, rather than pricing off photos or a video call alone.
More top solar installers in New Zealand
The next five highest-scoring solar installers in New Zealand. Worth considering if your first choices aren't available.
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6
LightenUp - Skylight installation and repairs Wellington and Kapiti Coast
↓ 1★ 5.0 127 reviews Top5 Score 1705★ 126 1★ 1LightenUp fits natural light into Wellington and Kapiti Coast homes through new skylight installations, leaking skylight replacements, and same-day resets. Bob has phoned clients mid-storm to confirm worksites are watertight, and the crew consistently restores rooms to their pre-work state, including putting furniture back and cleaning up around active kitchen renovations.
Reviews most often describe: Skylight installs and leak repairs, responsive turnaround
- ✓ Calls clients during heavy rain to check for water ingress
- ✓ Crew returns furniture and cleans up after each day on site
- ✓ Bob provides a thorough quote and responds quickly to follow-up questions
location_on 15/43/Unit 25 Bouverie Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
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7
AVID Solar
↓ 1★ 5.0 115 reviews Top5 Score 1705★ 114 1★ 1AVID Solar steers clients toward fit-for-purpose residential solar systems, including panel arrays paired with hybrid inverters and battery options, based on actual household usage rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Kenan, John, and Elizabeth are named repeatedly for fielding detailed questions at every stage, and post-install support extends to app configuration walkthroughs and follow-up check-ins after commissioning.
Reviews most often describe: Households wanting a right-sized system, not upsold
- ✓ Full installations completed in a single day across multiple jobs
- ✓ System sizing matched to household usage, not maximum upsell
- ✓ Named staff available for questions well after installation is complete
location_on 10/166 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, Auckland
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8
2E Electrical
★ 4.9 142 reviews Top5 Score 1665★ 129 4★ 9 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 12E Electrical gets electrical faults diagnosed and resolved quickly, with several clients reporting response times of 15 to 20 minutes for urgent call-outs. Rachael and the team are noted for coordinating access remotely, sending photos to keep clients informed, and handling bookings entirely by phone and email.
Reviews most often describe: Responsive general electrical work with clear communication
- ✓ Sends photos to keep remote clients informed between visits
- ✓ Arrives within stated timeframe across multiple client accounts
- ✓ Communication handled fully by phone and email, no site visit needed to book
location_on 18F Perclo Place, St Andrews, Hamilton
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9
Think Solar Christchurch (formerly Christchurch Solar)
↓ 1★ 5.0 93 reviews Top5 Score 1655★ 92 4★ 1Think Solar covers residential solar panel systems, battery storage including Tesla Powerwall, and system upgrades such as extension batteries, with Jake conducting in-person roof assessments and detailed design work tailored to each property. Named installers like Matt, Sam, and Armstrong are noted for thorough on-site work, and the office team follows up after commissioning to help clients through app setup and grid export changes.
Reviews most often describe: Solar and battery installs with hands-on site assessment
- ✓ Jake visits site in person to inspect roof before quoting
- ✓ Post-install support includes Tesla app setup and grid adjustments
- ✓ Install teams return promptly to resolve system faults after commissioning
location_on 65c Brisbane Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
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10
Greenco Solutions
↓ 1★ 4.9 113 reviews Top5 Score 1655★ 106 4★ 5 3★ 2Greenco Solutions delivers residential solar panel installations in Wellington, producing proposals detailed enough for homeowners to compare products, system specs, and pricing without needing to ask follow-up questions. Their installation crews coordinate directly with other trades on site, and the quoting process is structured around what the customer actually needs rather than urgency tactics or upselling.
Reviews most often describe: Wellington homeowners wanting no-pressure solar advice and installation
- ✓ Transparent written proposals covering products, process, and pricing upfront
- ✓ Installation crew keeps homeowners informed throughout the full install day
- ✓ Coordinates with on-site builders when installs overlap with other trades
location_on 2/12 Mohuia Crescent, Elsdon, Porirua
About this ranking
How are New Zealand's top Solar Installers chosen? expand_more
We assess every Solar Installers business in New Zealand against public ratings and review data using a consistent, published method. See how we rank for the full methodology. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-based and cannot be purchased. At the last update, scores in the top 5 ranged from 170 to 178 points.
How often are rankings updated? expand_more
Rankings are refreshed regularly. This list was last updated in 7 August 2026.
Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more
No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verified businesses may be able to update their listing details in future, but this will never affect ranking positions.
Why isn't my Solar Installers business listed? expand_more
We pull from local search results for each category and city. If you're missing, the most common reasons are an incorrect Google Business category or too few recent reviews. At the last update, the lowest-ranked business in the top 10 had 93 reviews. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.