There are fresh claims a multi-billion-dollar taxpayer-funded program to encourage households to install solar batteries is being rorted by unscrupulous operators.
They are accused of mocking up installs, forging signatures, using unlicensed tradies for cash jobs and leaving customers with unsafe or broken systems.
The allegations of fraud and misconduct were contained in tip-offs sent to the federal watchdog overseeing the Albanese government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
These untested claims were obtained by the ABC through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, which did not detail any regulatory action that may be underway.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program offers a generous subsidy for households — up to 30 per cent of the cost of solar battery systems.
Australians have rushed to sign up, with more than 530,000 batteries installed since July 2025.
The program is estimated to cost more than $7.2 billion over four years — about $5 billion more than originally announced.
Solar and consumer advocates have labelled the accusations "absolutely shocking".
The federal opposition will push for a Senate inquiry to probe the allegations while advocates want an urgent increase to safeguards, including more inspections and better consumer protections.
'Battery cowboys' targeted scheme
The FOI documents included 95 tip-offs detailed over hundreds of pages and sent between March and June to the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).
The tips were primarily about the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
The names of installers, retailers and individuals have been removed, and no responses from accused parties were included.
Finn Peacock, founder of the comparison website Solar Quotes, is a supporter of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
However, he said the original design of the program, which saw companies paid through tradeable certificates known as STCs, created strong incentives for larger battery installations and attracted what he dubbed "battery cowboys".
In a bid to clamp down on over-selling, changes to the scheme were announced in December last year to reduce the subsidies from May 1.
"There was a massive temptation to get as many of those jobs installed as possible before the deadline," he said.
'Staged' photos of installations, tips claimed
The CER has strict requirements for installers when putting in solar batteries.
However, whistleblowers alleged some operators manipulated the photo requirements, including pictures being time-stamped with the location, to claim rebates for incomplete jobs.
One tipster claimed a Queensland solar installer was fraudulently putting in claims for battery installations that were "staged" and the behaviour appeared to be "systematic".
Extra batteries were positioned temporarily, "then removed after [STC] claims have been submitted", with the customers unaware.
In one case, equipment was "staged in front of a roller door without visible cable connections", they wrote.
A similar tip came from another installer.
It was allegedly done by "unpacking the battery boxes … stacking the batteries and just taking enough photos to show on their STC Trading Application".
In one extreme case, a customer alleged an installer turned up at night to remove their fully paid-for batteries two months after the installation.
The man and his wife felt threatened and called the police.
Mr Peacock said he was shocked by the allegations of "outright theft" from staged jobs.
Stephanie Tonkin, the CEO of the Consumer Action Law Centre, said if the claims of rorting were proven it would undermine the "policy goals and the trust in that system".
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan said the federal opposition would seek support across the parliament for a Senate inquiry.
"Given the seriousness of the revelations as a result of the unearthing of these FOI documents, we need an independent inquiry," Mr Tehan said.
Cash jobs for unlicensed tradies, tips claim
Installers must be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia to install batteries under the federal scheme.
But industry tip-offs alleged some operators used unlicensed workers, falsified paperwork and claimed rebates before installations were complete.
One whistleblower said they were offered cash to sign off on jobs completed by unlicensed foreign workers and raised concerns about manipulated site photos, while another similar claim involved "systematic" non-compliance at a company.
Mr Peacock said unscrupulous operators could cut worker costs by using unlicensed crews instead of paying qualified solar electricians, but they risked getting caught.
It also came with serious risks including battery fires, injuries, or poor system performance.
The CER has inspected over 3,600 batteries out of the more than half a million already installed and shared results with state and territory regulators and Solar Accreditation Australia.
Financial losses caused by missed rebate deadline
Multiple consumers feared installers had claimed the government rebate even though their system was not working.
Others said they were thousands of dollars worse off after companies failed to put in the system before the rebate deadline.
The CER declined an interview.
In a statement, a spokesperson said it had "an active compliance program", and confirmed allegations were currently under investigation.
The regulator has the power to suspend companies from the scheme or take civil or criminal action.
"Where matters relate to sales practices, contracts, refunds or consumer guarantees, responsibility sits primarily with state and territory consumer protection agencies and the ACCC."
In 2025-6 it received 315 formal referrals about the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which included installer conduct under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program with 17 referred for formal investigation and 106 referred to external agencies.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen was unavailable for an interview.
In a statement, a spokesperson said, "the government has zero tolerance for poor behaviour from installers".
"The Cheaper Home Batteries program utilises the tried-and-tested Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) framework, which includes built-in product, installer and electrical safety requirements, including compliance with state and territory electrical safety and consumer regulation, which has operated since 2011, under consecutive governments."
Mr Bowen also said a new National Technical Regulator would soon be created to ensure household solar and batteries met requirements, including that they were properly installed and commissioned.
The peak renewables body, the Smart Energy Council, said anyone flouting electrical licensing and battery accreditation laws "should be named, shamed and punished".
However, it said the regulator's statistics showed few were doing so.
"Of the 530,000 batteries installed in Australia in just over a year — more than the entirety of the United States — just 17 are being formally investigated for legal compliance by the Clean Energy Regulator."
