Best Solar Installers in Christchurch
We assessed 34 solar installers in Christchurch and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 1,107 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 30 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Whether you use a dedicated solar power company or an electrician who installs solar panels, 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 Christchurch
The top 5 solar installers in Christchurch are #1 Skilled Electrical, #2 Think Solar Christchurch, #3 ATL Electrical, #4 Zero Electrical & Renewables, and #5 Garden City Solar, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
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1
Skilled Electrical Christchurch
★ 4.9 272 reviews Top5 Score 1715★ 254 4★ 14 1★ 4Skilled Electrical installs solar on residential roofs, with Liam and his crew arriving early, communicating progress at every stage, and working through on-site challenges without delaying the job. Their site tidiness stands out, with crew cleaning up at the end of each day and laying protective covers throughout the work area.
location_on 8 Moncur Place, Addington, Christchurch
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2
Think Solar Christchurch (formerly Christchurch Solar)
↓ 1★ 5.0 110 reviews +8 Top5 Score 169 +15★ 108 4★ 2Think Solar Christchurch covers solar panel installs, battery systems, and system upgrades, with consultants like Jake visiting the site in person to assess the roof and design a system around actual household needs. Post-install, the team responds to technical issues fast, with multiple reviewers noting same-day or next-morning on-site support after faults.
location_on 65c Brisbane Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
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3
ATL Electrical
★ 4.9 195 reviews Top5 Score 1665★ 183 4★ 6 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 3ATL Electrical gets solar panels, battery storage, and inverter systems installed with a quoted turnaround that came in significantly shorter than competing companies. Dave leads the consultation in detail, walks customers through monitoring and performance expectations upfront, and keeps them informed of progress including weather delays and rescheduling.
location_on 351 Blenheim Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
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4
Zero Electrical & Renewables Limited
verifiedVerified ↓ 2★ 5.0 82 reviews +6 Top5 Score 166 +35★ 82Zero Electrical & Renewables suits households treating solar as a multi-decade investment: Adam walks through design, practicalities, and process in enough detail that customers feel equipped to make decisions before committing. Because they run both renewables and electrical services under one roof, they have ongoing incentive to keep the relationship going well after the panels are up.
Reviews most often describe: Buyers wanting a long-term relationship beyond the install
- ✓ Keeps customers informed throughout complex multi-stage installs
- ✓ Competitive pricing confirmed after comparing at least three formal quotes
- ✓ Adam personally on-site from design consultation through to installation
location_on 1/97 Rutherford Street, Woolston, Christchurch schedule Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm · Sat–Sun Closed
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5
Garden City Solar
↓ 2★ 5.0 69 reviews +2 Top5 Score 1615★ 68 2★ 1Garden City Solar installs solar panels, battery systems, and inverters with Zac personally on-site from consultation through to roof installation, with no work contracted out. They follow up after handover with settings updates, system advice, and responses to questions as customers get familiar with how things work.
location_on 6/41 Sandyford Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
Before you hire a solar installer in Christchurch
Drawn from 230 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does a solar installation typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more
A standard 5kW to 6.6kW residential system in New Zealand costs between $10,000 and $14,000 installed, covering panels, inverter, and labour. Larger systems up to 10kW can push toward $20,000, with roof complexity, shading, and inverter brand all affecting the final price.
Adding battery storage such as a Tesla Powerwall typically adds $10,000 to $15,000 on top of the panel system cost, pushing payback periods well beyond a decade. There is no government subsidy for residential solar in New Zealand as of 2025, so the full cost comes out of your pocket or through a financing arrangement.
How do I check if a solar installer is properly accredited? expand_more
Every installer who connects 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 installer's registration number directly through the public search tool at ewrb.govt.nz before signing anything. Beyond the legal minimum, look for membership of SEANZ (Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand), the main industry body, whose members are expected to meet competency and conduct standards, though membership is voluntary rather than a legal requirement.
Asking whether an installer holds SolarCert certification is also worth doing, as this is a specialist programme that assesses solar PV knowledge beyond the general electrician licence. One installer in the reviews stood out for having a consultant who was also a qualified electrical inspector, which gave customers added confidence in both the design and the compliance process.
How accurate are the payback period and savings estimates I'm being given? expand_more
Payback estimates in New Zealand tend to fall between 8 and 12 years for a standard 5kW to 10kW system, but that range assumes a reasonably high share of self-consumption, and the number will stretch significantly if you export a large portion of your generation. Export buy-back rates from retailers currently sit around 8 to 17 cents per kWh, while you pay 28 to 35 cents to import power, so the financial case for solar rests heavily on using what you generate rather than selling it back.
Households at home during the day and those who shift appliance loads like dishwashers and washing machines into generation hours will get closer to the shorter end of the range. Several reviewers reported their systems performing at or above the estimates given, which suggests that installers who take the time to understand actual household usage patterns tend to produce more reliable projections.
What are the warning signs of a solar installer you shouldn't hire? expand_more
- –Missing scheduled appointments without proactive contact, then becoming apologetic rather than accountable when caught, is a pattern seen in reviews and signals poor operational reliability.
- –Promised quotes that never arrive after an initial consultation suggest the company has capacity or organisation problems that will follow you into the installation phase.
- –Slow or absent communication once a problem surfaces after installation is a serious red flag, as reviews show some installers become difficult to engage the moment the job hits a snag.
- –Installation quality that does not match the standard promised by the salesperson, such as unsecured equipment or persistent vibration or noise issues, points to a disconnect between the sales team and the crew doing the work.
- –Failure to disclose site constraints like roof access complications or consent requirements upfront leaves you exposed to cost blowouts or delays mid-project.
- –An installer who does not walk you through the monitoring app or system controls at handover is leaving you unable to verify whether your system is performing as sold.
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 SEANZ member or hold SolarCert certification.
- –Ask what assumptions underpin the savings estimate, specifically what self-consumption rate and export buy-back rate they have used, and request a scenario based on your actual household usage profile.
- –Ask whether app setup, monitoring configuration, and a system walkthrough are included in the installation, as several reviewers specifically praised installers who completed this step thoroughly.
- –Ask who handles post-installation warranty issues and whether the company employs its own staff or subcontracts, since reviewers noted greater satisfaction from installers with their own dedicated teams.
- –Ask for the workmanship warranty period separately from the panel and inverter manufacturer warranties, as these are different obligations and the workmanship cover is the installer's direct responsibility.
- –Ask whether the installer will physically inspect your roof space and not just the exterior, as at least one reviewer noted this step distinguished a thorough consultant from those who gave only a surface-level assessment.
Also recommended solar installers in Christchurch
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Grenz Electrical
↓ 2★ 5.0 66 reviews Top5 Score 1585★ 65 4★ 1Grenz Electrical came in as the most competitive quote by a clear margin across multiple comparisons, and still turned up to complete a 20-panel solar and battery install in pouring rain without delaying the job. Will briefs customers before and after the work, and the crew takes time to walk through the app so owners understand how to use their new system.
location_on 3/286 Jones Road, Templeton, Christchurch
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7
Christchurch Electrical
★ 4.7 157 reviews Top5 Score 1585★ 138 4★ 9 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 8Christchurch Electrical covers solar panel installs alongside general electrical and renovation work, making them a practical choice when a solar job sits alongside other electrical needs on the same property. A crew of four completed an 18-panel residential install in a single day, and William handles the quoting side with reviewers specifically flagging him as the person to ask for.
location_on 53A Montreal Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
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8
Aotea Electric Canterbury
★ 4.8 77 reviews Top5 Score 1535★ 70 4★ 4 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 1Aotea Electric Canterbury covers general electrical work, test and tag, LED lighting upgrades, and new circuit installs, with a team that picks up emergency jobs other companies have turned away. Staff like Carl and Andrew are flagged by name for prompt arrivals, clear on-site communication, and completing work on time and within budget.
location_on 195 Lichfield Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
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9
RV Solutions
★ 4.9 49 reviews Top5 Score 1485★ 47 4★ 1 1★ 1RV Solutions focuses on mobile and off-grid solar work, fitting solar panels, lithium battery upgrades, and inverters on campervans, caravans, motorhomes, and bus conversions. Matt completes most jobs in a single day and follows up after handover, telling customers to come back with any questions, which several have taken him up on.
location_on 64 Sandyford Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
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10
CPS Solar
↓ 5★ 4.8 30 reviews +1 Top5 Score 144 -15★ 28 4★ 1 1★ 1CPS Solar designs systems tailored to individual household needs, covering hybrid setups, battery storage, and grid export, with multiple buyers noting the recommended configuration made more sense than what competitors proposed. When problems arise post-install, Murray has followed up daily to resolve faults even while overseas, which is the kind of after-sales accountability that separates a local team from a call-centre operation.
location_on 11 Four Elms Place, Parklands, Christchurch
About this ranking
What the 10 solar installers listed above hold, at the 30 September 2026 check.
We first assessed solar installers in Christchurch in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Three different businesses have held first place; Skilled Electrical has held it since September 2026. Think Solar Christchurch has been in the top 5 at every check. Across the 14 locations we assess solar installers in, the 126 businesses listed have a median rating of 5.0, and one-star reviews are 2.1% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
Scoring method updated. New first place: Skilled Electrical. Skilled Electrical entered the top 5 at #1. ATL Electrical entered the top 5 at #3. Grenz Electrical left the top 5, down to #6. CPS Solar left the top 5, down to #10. Christchurch Electrical, Aotea Electric Canterbury and RV Solutions entered the list.
- Jul 2026
Scoring method updated. CPS Solar entered the top 5, up from #6.
- May 2026
Zero Electrical & Renewables entered the top 5 at #2.
- Apr 2026
- Mar 2026
First check.
How are the top solar installers in Christchurch chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for solar installers in Christchurch. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for solar installers in Christchurch. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.