Four smaller jurisdictions, one common pattern. The names change, but what makes you eligible does not.
The common rules
- Electrical licence for the person. Installing a solar system involves electrical work, which needs a licensed electrician in each jurisdiction.
- Contractor licence or registration for the business. The business that takes the work needs the relevant contractor licence, under whatever name the local regulator uses.
- SAA accreditation to create STCs. See SAA accreditation.
- Local certification after the job. Each jurisdiction expects an electrical safety or compliance certificate. Confirm what applies.
South Australia
Licensing runs through Consumer and Business Services, with technical rules from the Office of the Technical Regulator. South Australia has its own battery and VPP incentives; see the SA home battery scheme. Adelaide is zone 3 on the STC calculator.
Tasmania
The state’s building and occupational licensing area handles electrical licences. Several Tasmanian support programs have closed, including the Energy Saver Loan, so check what is open before you promise anything to customers. Hobart and Launceston are zone 4.
ACT
Access Canberra licenses electricians in the territory, and Canberra is zone 3. The ACT’s Sustainable Household Scheme has supported batteries; see the ACT battery scheme.
Northern Territory
The NT has its own electrical licensing authority. Darwin is zone 2 and Alice Springs zone 1, and the NT battery scheme has closed.
Moving between jurisdictions
Automatic mutual recognition lets many licensed electricians work in a second jurisdiction without a new application, subject to notification and local rules. See interstate recognition.
From the desk: the zone rating and the state program change by location, so a quote for a job in Darwin and one in Hobart should never use the same STC figure. Run each one through the STC calculator.
What this means for installers
Confirm your licence in the state where the job is, then accreditation, insurance and contracts. For a state-specific comparison, see NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA. When you are ready to turn certificates into cash, start trading, and see the installers hub.