1.1 These Terms and Conditions and all associated documents including but not limited to our Quote, Warranty Policy, Complaints Handling Procedure and Site-specific Performance Estimate are compliant with the Clean Energy Council (CEC) Solar Retailer Code of Conduct.
2.1 Clause 27 of this Contract contains definitions for all words which begin with a capital letter (otherwise than where the capital letter appears for reasons of punctuation).
3.1 You agree to purchase the System from us for the Contract Price on and subject to the terms of the Contract
3.2 Once you have agreed to purchase the system, you must sign where indicated. We will accept a written or electronic signature as well as verbal acceptance via telephone.
3.3 We agree to supply and make available the System. We will enter into a contract with an Installation Subcontractor to install the System at your Installation Address.
3.4 We will only sell any System to you immediately before Installation by the Installation Subcontractor at your Installation Address. Prior to that time, we will have no obligation under the Contract to sell any System to you.
3.5 Where your System has the technical capability for us to access it remotely, you authorize us to remotely access your System in order to collect data in connection with your use of the System and use it for our business purposes, monitor performance of the System, provide remote diagnostic support, provide alerts to you, upgrade software in the System and provide other services from time to time.
3.6 In accordance with section 2.1.10 of the CEC Code of Conduct general information documents can be sent in electronic or verbal form.
4.1 The Installation Subcontractor will begin to carry out the Installation on the Starting Date. The Starting Date is to be decided by agreement between the Customer and us (or our Installation Subcontractor). The Installation Subcontractor will ensure that the Installation starts as soon as it is reasonably possible for it to be started.
4.2 The following allowances for delays will apply: 1 day’s allowance for weather and 2 days for non-working days
4.3 Subject to clause 4.4, the Installation Subcontractor will complete the Installation by the Finishing Date.
4.4 To the extent permitted by law, the Installation Subcontractor is entitled to a reasonable extension of time where or the Installation Subcontractor is or will be delayed in completing the Installation by any cause beyond the reasonable control of the Installation Subcontractor.
5.1 You must pay the Contract Price in accordance with this Contract, and such other amount as becomes payable in accordance with this Contract.
5.2 The Amount Payable is the amount which might be payable by you, in substitution for the Contract Price, in the event that we receive the financial incentive referred to in clause 11 and we are entitled to keep the incentive. In the event that the circumstances referred to in this clause 4.2 are satisfied, we will accept payment of the Amount Payable in full and final satisfaction of your obligation to pay the Contract Price. References to the Amount Payable elsewhere in this Contract shall be read as a reference to the Contract Price or the Amount Payable (as is applicable having regard to this clause 5.2).
5.3 In addition to the Amount Payable, you will have to pay
6.1 In addition to our Payment Plan, you may pay for the System in one of two ways:
7.1 You may apply to pay the Amount Payable under a Payment Plan. We may refuse your application at our absolute discretion, including if you do not meet our credit requirements. If we refuse your application, we will notify you of this as soon as practicable, refund any amount paid by you towards the Amount Payable and this Contract will be cancelled immediately.
7.2 If we accept your application to pay under a Payment Plan, you must:
8.1 If you have paid us money under this Contract,
but the Contract ends for any of the following reasons before we install the System at your Premises, then when the Contract ends, we will promptly refund all of the money you have paid:
(a) if we have not delivered and installed the
System at the Premises within 90 days after the original Starting Date, and you choose to end the Contract under clause 12.2;
(b) if we give you notice of a price increase,
and you choose to end the Contract rather than accept the price increase; or
(c) Grid connection approval is refused.
(d) If any of the equipment quoted is
unattainable and you do not agree to equipment of a similar quality to be substituted.
(e) If the final system design is significantly
different to that quoted in the Contract, and you have not agreed to the changes in writing or in any other way subject to our discretion.
9.1 You authorise the Installation Subcontractor to install the System which you have selected, at the Installation Address.
9.2 If you have selected a solar electricity system,
then you also authorise the Installation Subcontractor to connect that system to the electricity grid (or to arrange for the connection of that system to the grid).
9.3 You warrant and represent that:
(a) you are the owner of the Installation Address or
have procured the owner’s express consent to these terms;
(b) you have obtained all consents and approvals
required for the Installation Subcontractor to install the System at the Installation Address, including from the owner; and
(c) the roof of the property at the Supply Address is
structurally sound to accommodate the load of the System, including the base and frame (you may need to obtain a structural engineering report to make this warranty and representation).
9.4 You must ensure that the Installation
Subcontractor has enough access to the Installation Address, at whatever times they may reasonably require, in order to install the System.
9.5 You agree to execute whatever documents the
Installation Subcontractor may reasonably require, and to take whatever other action we
may reasonably require, in order to permit the Installation of the System you have selected, and in the case of a solar electricity system, the connection of that system to the electricity grid.
10.1 You must provide the Installation Subcontractor with enough access to the Supply Address for the purposes of performing the Installation.
10.2 During the Installation, the Installation Subcontractor will permit you to:
(a) have reasonable access to the Supply Address
under the supervision of the Installation Subcontractor; and
(b) view any part of the Installation upon your
reasonable request to do so.
11.1 Post-installation of the System, we will demonstrate how you can measure energy output
11.2 We will also demonstrate how you can appropriately maintain your system on a regular basis. If required, we may provide you with maintenance documentation.
11.3 We will also provide you with a list of equipment, warranty information, equipment manual, equipment handbook and array frame engineering certificate.
11.4 If accordance with rule 2.2.5 of the code of conduct The consumers will be provided with the maintenance documents; and
(a) It is the consumers responsibility to maintain the System in accordance with these documents.
(b) The maintenance documents will include
(i) List of equipment making up the System
(ii) Warranty information
(iii) Equipment manual
(iv) Equipment handbook
(v) Array frame engineering certificate
12.1 Ownership of a System will pass to you upon
the earlier of:
(a) the point in time immediately before the
System is installed at the Installation Address; and
(b) payment in full of the Amount Payable for
that System.
(c)Risk in the System will pass to you when that System is installed at the Installation Address.
13.1 Site-Specific Performance Estimate:
(a) We have calculated the Site-Specific Performance Estimate for the System and your Premises in accordance with the CEC System Design Guidelines.
13.2 An STC Incentive is a financial incentive which we will deduct from the Contract Price.
13.3 You will not qualify for any government-based financial recompense of the STC creation process. You may be entitled to receive an STC Incentive as a result of the purchase or installation of the System purchased. We do not warrant that you will necessarily receive the incentive because of, but not limited to the following reasons:
(a) If we elect to sell the STCs through the STC Clearing House. STCs sold through the clearing house only sell when there is a buyer, therefore we cannot guarantee how long they will take to sell; and
(b) If you have previously created or assigned the right to sell STCs.
13.4 We have calculated the STC Incentive based on:
(a) The maximum quantity of STCs that can be created in respect of the System under law, taking into account the Site-Specific Performance Estimate; and
(b) The monetary value of that quantity of STCs, and deducted the STC Incentive from the System Price.
(c) We do not warrant that you will receive the STC Incentive.
13.5 If the Amount Payable incorporates a cash reduction off the Contract Price on the basis that we will receive the incentive, you authorise us to apply for that incentive in your name and to receive payment on your behalf. You agree to sign whatever documents we may reasonably require, and to take whatever other action we may reasonably require, in order to obtain payment of that incentive.
13.6 The Amount Payable is conditional on you assigning your rights to create environmental rights as we direct, by completing the ‘Assignment Form’ provided by us.
13.7 Assignment of STCs to us:
(a) You hereby assign to us all of your existing and future rights, title and interest in and to all STCs created or able to be created in respect of the System.
(b) You must do anything we reasonably request of you for the purpose of perfecting, confirming or evidencing this assignment, including providing information and executing documents.
(c) You warrant to us, when you accept the offer set out in the Quote and again on installation of the System, that you have not previously created, or assigned the right to create, any STCs in respect of the System or any other solar photovoltaic generating unit at the Premises.
13.8 If we do not receive the payment of the STC Incentive in the Amount Payable, for any reason whatsoever, you must pay the difference between the Amount Payable and Contract Price within 21 days of us notifying you of the additional amount being payable.
13.9 If you do anything that:
(a) Obstructs or avoids the assignment under clause 9.3(a)
(b) Reduces the maximum quantity of STCs that can be created in respect of the System; or
(c) Renders the System ineligible for the creation of STCs, Then we can increase the Total Price by the amount of the STC Incentive, and you must pay us the STC Incentive within 10 business days of us invoicing you for it
13.10 You cannot end the agreement as a result of a price increase in accordance with clause 5.9(a) or refuse to accept the price increase.
14.1 Either party may terminate the Contract if the
other party breaches the terms of the Contract.
14.2 You may terminate the Contract if the System
is not installed at the Installation Address within 90 days from the expiration of the Estimated Timeframe for Installation or within such other period as you may agree with us.
Subject to the other provisions of this Contract, if you terminate the Contract in these circumstances, we will refund you the amount you have paid towards the Amount Payable as at
the date of termination.
14.3 If you terminate this Contract under clause
14.2, we are entitled to receive a reasonable amount for the contracted services provided up until the time this Contract was terminated. The amount will not exceed the amount we would have been entitled to receive under this Contract. Our rights under this clause are subject to any contrary provisions in the Applicable Domestic Building Legislation.
14.4 If you are advised either during the pre-
installation site inspection (if one is conducted) or on the day of Installation (if no pre- installation site inspection is conducted) that Additional Fees are payable in order to install your System you may terminate the Contract and we will refund you the amount you have paid towards the Amount Payable and you will not be charged a Cancellation Fee. You cannot terminate the Contract under this clause 11.4 on the day of Installation if you were advised during the pre-installation site inspection or prior to Installation that Additional Fees would be payable in order to install your System.
14.5 If you choose to terminate the Contract (in the
circumstances permitted by the preceding paragraphs), you must notify us and the Installation Subcontractor of your decision to terminate the Contract, by telephone, before that System has been installed in order for the cancellation to take effect.
14.6 If we or the Installation Subcontractor believes
the Installation of your System is unsafe or is unsuitable for your Installation Address, we may terminate the Contract and we will refund you the amount you have paid towards the Amount Payable as at the date of termination in order for the cancellation to take effect.
14.7 You can terminate this Contract under clause
4.8 if permitted to do so.
14.8 A right to terminate this Contract is additional to
any other right, power or remedy a party might have.
15.1 Except where you are paying under a Payment
Plan, if you fail to pay any amount that is due and payable under this Contract, we will be entitled to Interest on the unpaid amount from the due date until the date it is paid.
15.2 You will also have to pay us any reasonable costs associated with recovery of the unpaid amount (including, but without limitation, legal costs).
16.1 To the extent required by the Applicable
Domestic Building Legislation, we warrant that:
(a) the work under this Contract will be carried
out in an appropriate and skilful way, with reasonable care and skill and in a proper and workmanlike manner to accepted trade standards;
(b) all materials supplied will be of good quality
and suitable for the purpose for which they are used having regard to the Relevant Criteria, and that all materials used will be new unless this Contract expressly provides otherwise;
(c) the work under this Contract will be carried
out in accordance with all relevant laws and legal requirements;
(d) the work under this Contract will be carried out in accordance with any plans and specifications that form part of the Contract;
(e) any estimate of Prime Cost Items and
Provisional Sums Items (as defined in the Applicable Domestic Building Legislation) has been calculated with reasonable care and skill, having regard to all the information reasonably available when the Contract is entered into (including information about the nature and location of the building site), and represents the reasonable cost of supplying and delivering each such item, including our margin;
(f) the work will be done with due diligence and within the time stipulated in the Contract, or if no time is stipulated, within a reasonable time; and
(g) the work and any materials used in doing the work will be reasonably fit for the specified purpose or result, if you expressly make known to us or the Installation Subcontractor or another person with express or apparent authority to enter into or vary contractual arrangements on behalf of us or the Installation Subcontractor, the particular purpose for which the work is required or the result that you desire the work to achieve, so as to show that you rely on our or the Installation Subcontractor’s skill and judgment.
16.2 The warranties set out in clause 14.1 are
warranties that are implied into this Contract via operation of the Applicable Domestic Building Legislation. Your rights for breach of these warranties are the same as, and not in addition to, your rights for breach of implied warranties under the Applicable Domestic Building Legislation.
16.3 Nothing in this Contract restricts or takes away the rights of a person for breach of these implied warranties.
16.4 There is a standard minimum five-year warranty on the operation and performance of the whole PV system, including workmanship and products. This does not include damage that is caused directly by the consumer.
17.1 The Installation Subcontractor will be suitably
qualified and experienced, and will be duly licensed or registered.
17.2 If the Installation Contractor causes any
damage to your property during the installation of the System at your Installation Address, we will enter into a contract with an appropriately qualified third party to repair that damage, provided that you notify us of the damage within 3 months after installation of that System.
17.3 If and when any System is installed, the
Installation Subcontractor will use its best endeavours to install that System in a position that is likely to maximise the performance of that System.
18.1 For solar electricity, the performance of a System is subject to a number of variable factors, including, but not limited to: the number of hours of sunlight, cloud cover and weather patterns; the location of the System; and the location of the surrounding structures and flora
19.1 We will provide a warranty on workmanship for
a period the greater of:
(a) 5 years from the date of completion of the Installation (unless the workmanship relates to the installation of a switchboard, in which case the period will be 1 year from the date of installation of the switchboard); and
(b) any specific warranty period set out in any law or regulatory requirement,
which exceed your statutory warranties under the Australian Consumer Law.
20.1 Your electricity contract or tariff may change following installation of the System.
20.2 Please contact your electricity retailer to discuss any changes to your electricity contract or tariff.
21.1 The Contract Price is stated inclusive of GST.
22.1 We collect, use, hold and disclose your personal, credit related and confidential information (including metering data) where it is required by law and in order to provide you with energy and related products and services. We may disclose this information to:
(a) our agents and contractors (such as
Installation Subcontractor, Approved Third Party Financier, mail houses, data processors and debt collectors);
(b) relevant Government authorities;
(c) your distributor; and
(d) other energy retailers,
for these purposes and more broadly in connection with this Contract.
22.2 We may disclose this information to our related
bodies corporate for any reason.
22.3 We may also disclose your information to, and collect your information from, information matching providers, for example to verify the information you’ve provided to us and confirm your identity.
22.4 If you don’t provide this information to us, we
may not be able to provide our products or services to you. Where possible, we’ll collect this information from you, but we may get it from third parties (including credit reporting bodies).
22.5 Our detailed privacy and credit reporting
statements are available on request. Our credit reporting statement explains how we disclose credit information, how our disclosure may affect your creditworthiness and how to access, correct or complain about our treatment of your credit information. Please contact us to request a paper copy.
22.6 From time to time we'll let you know about our
products and offers, even after this Contract ends. If at any time you decide you don’t want to receive these offers, let us know. You can do so by calling us on 1300 126 663 or write to National Solar Company Opt Out, Suite 1,46- 48 Howard Street,
North Melbourne, Vic 3051. We’ll keep providing you with these offers until you tell us otherwise.
23.1 You consent to us conducting a credit assessment of you as part of determining whether or not we will provide our products and services to you.
24.1 The Installation Subcontractor will not undertake any Variation to the Installation except where a Variation Document has been signed and agreed to by you and us (or the Installation Subcontractor) in accordance with the Applicable Domestic Building Legislation. References in this Contract to the Contract Price or to the Amount Payable are references to the Contract Price and the Amount Payable as varied in accordance with the Variation Document.
25.1 This Contract is a contract for sale of the
relevant System only just before it is installed by the Installation Subcontractor at the Installation Address. It is not a contract to install a System or connect a solar electricity system to the electricity grid.
25.2 Nothing in this Contract obliges or otherwise
requires us to carry out residential, domestic or specialist building work or similar under Applicable Domestic Building Legislation.
26.1 In accordance with section 2.4.5 (e) of the CEC Code of Conduct, we will provide feedback on
the outcome of your complaint within 21 days of the date that it was made. If for some reason we require more than 21
days to provide feedback on a complaint, we will inform you and must have the investigation completed within 45 days
.
27.1 This Contract sets out the entire agreement
between you and us. To the extent permitted by law, all implied terms are excluded.
27.2 In this Contract, a reference to any legislation
is a reference to that legislation, and any legislation that repeals or replaces it, as in force from time to time.
27 .3 This Contract is governed by the laws of the
State in which the Installation Address is located (as specified in the Details Section).
Additional Fees means the amounts described in clause 4.3.
Additional Equipment is defined in the Installation and System Ready Brochure.
Agreement Price for the purposes of clause 17 only, means the consideration to be provided under this Contract (other than under clause 17)
Amount Payable is the amount specified in the Details Section, subject to adjustment as described in clause 4.2 and clause 10 of these Contract Terms.
Applicable Domestic Building Legislation means the Building Act 2004 (ACT), Building Work Contracts Act 1995 (SA), Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic), Domestic
Building Contracts Act 2000 (Qld), the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) and the Housing Indemnity Act 1992 (Tas) and any regulations made under these acts.
Approved Third-Party Financier means a third-party credit provider to whom we may, with your consent, provide your contact details so that they may
contact you in order to arrange financing for the Installation of the System.
Consumer Law means the Australian Consumer Law as set out in Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
Balance means the amount specified as such in the Quote, subject to any adjustment.
Business Day means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the State or Territory in which the Premises are located.
Cancellation Fee means the cancellation fee specified in the Details Section (if any).
CEC-Accredited Installer means an installer of solar photovoltaic systems accredited in this capacity by the Clean Energy Council under the Clean Energy Council Code of Conduct and Accreditation Terms and Conditions.
Commencement Date has the meaning given in the introduction.
Contract means this contract, which comprises the Details Section, the Contract Terms, the Installation and System Ready Brochure (if applicable), the Installation Conditions (if applicable) and the Important Documents referred to in the Details Section and set out on our website.
Contract Price is the amount specified in the Details Section and is the price for the Installation of the System before any cash reduction we offer you based on any grant, rebate, environmental right or other benefit which may be applicable (as further described in clause 10).
Contract Terms means this document.
Cooling Off Right means your right to withdraw from this Contract:
(a) section 72 of the Domestic Building
Contracts Act 2000 (Qld);
(b) section 7BA of the Home Building Act 1989
(NSW); or
(c) section 36 of the Building Work Contractors
Act 1995 (SA); and
(d) with ten days’ notice if the agreed
Installation date is less than or equal to 10 days,
to the extent that any of these provisions applies to this Contract.
Deposit means the amount specified as the deposit in the Details Section (if any).
Details Section means the document entitled Details Section and should be read as the first page of this Contract.
Estimated Timeframe for Installation means the estimated timeframe for installation of the System as shown on your Details Section.
Finishing Date means the date, if any, stated in the Details Section as the date the Installation is to finish.
Grid Connection Approval means approval from your electricity distributor for the connection of the System to the electricity grid at the Premises.
Guarantee Period is the period of guarantee.
Home Product means any System which is not a solar photovoltaic system.
Installation means the installation of the System at the Installation Address.
Installation Address means the property specified as the Installation Address in your Details Section where the System will be installed.
Installation and System Ready Brochure is the brochure forming part of this Contract if this Contract is for the purchase of a solar PV system and available on our website
Installation Conditions means the document titled ‘Installations Conditions’ forming part of this Contract (if applicable).
Installation Subcontractor means an appropriately licensed and suitably qualified and experienced third party who will undertake the Installation pursuant to a subcontract with us.
Interest means the rate of interest on any day which is the average bid rate for bills having a tenor of 1 month published by the Australian Stock Exchange as a benchmark rate, plus 2%, calculated daily, and at our discretion, compounded monthly.
Payment Plan means the payment of the Amount Payable in accordance with clause 6.2 of these Contract Terms.
Personal Information has the meaning in the
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Practical Completion means the stage where the Installation has been completed in accordance with this contract and all relevant statutory requirements, either without any omissions or defects or apart from minor omissions or defects.
Premises means the premises at the address specified in the Quote.
Quote means the document titled as such which forms part of this agreement and is attached to the Terms and Conditions.
Relevant Criteria for materials means:
generally accepted practices or standards applied in the building industry for the materials; or
specifications, instructions or recommendations of the manufacturers or suppliers of the materials.
Site-Specific Performance Estimate means our site-specific estimate of the average daily energy yield of the System for each month, in kWh, as set out in the full system design which is included in the Site-Specific Performance Estimate
Starting Date means the date to be decided by agreement between the Customer and us (or our subcontracted installer) unless otherwise stated in the Details Section as the date the Installation is to start.
Stated Completion Period is 5 days from the Starting Date unless otherwise stated in the Details Section as the number of days that will be required to finish the Installation once it has started.
STC means a small-scale technology certificate created under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (Cth).
STC Incentive means the amount specified as such in the Quote.
System means the unit or system specified in the Details Section which is to be, or has been installed, at the Installation Address pursuant to this Contract.
System Price means the Contract Price plus the STC financial incentive discount.
System Ready is defined in the Installation and System Ready Brochure.
Target Date means the date specified as such in the Quote, subject to any variation of that date.
Variation means either an addition of work to the Installation, or an omission from the Installation.
Variation Document, if the Installation Address is in Queensland, has the meaning prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 2000 (Qld) containing the formal requirements required pursuant to section 80 of that Act. If the Installation Address is not in Queensland the variation document is a document setting out the details of the Variation.
We, our or us means the National Solar Company entity stated in the Contract Details.
You or your means the person named as the Customer in the Details Section and includes a person authorised by you.
