Solar can cut your power bill, but it is not right for every home. The value depends on your roof, your shade, and how much power you use while the sun is up. We start by looking at those three things, then design, install and connect a system sized for your household, not the biggest one that fits on the roof.
Solar also pairs naturally with an electric car charging during the day. If an EV is on your list, see our EV charger installation page, as the two are often planned together.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
Is solar right for your home?
EECA's guidance says north-facing roofs work best. East and west-facing roofs produce less and give lower returns, but can still be suitable. Shade from trees, chimneys, neighbouring buildings or hills reduces output, so we check it at different times of day. In the right circumstances, EECA says a system can pay for itself in as little as seven years.
The biggest factor is when you use power. Solar produces nothing at night and the most around midday. Standards New Zealand's homeowner guidance notes that using solar power on site is usually worth more than exporting it, because retailers pay less for exported power than they charge you to buy it. Households that run the dishwasher, hot water, pool pump or EV charging during the day get the most value.
- Roof orientation: north is best, east and west can work
- Shading through the day and across the seasons
- How much power you use during daylight hours
- Your switchboard and whether the home is single or three-phase
Building consent: the 2025 exemption
Since 23 October 2025, Schedule 1 of the Building Act has included exemptions for roof-mounted solar arrays. Building Performance explains that arrays up to 40 square metres in total, in a wind zone no greater than High, do not need a building consent. Larger arrays, or arrays in higher wind zones, can also be exempt when the design is carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Exempt does not mean anything goes. The work must still comply with the Building Code, your district plan and the exemption conditions. We check roof structure, fixings and wind zone as part of the design, and tell you if a heritage or special character overlay needs a closer look.
How It Works
Getting approval to connect to the grid
You cannot simply wire solar into your switchboard and start exporting. Under Part 6 of the Electricity Industry Participation Code, distributed generation needs an application to your local lines company, and approval, before it is connected. Systems of 10 kW or less can use a simpler process. Across most of Auckland the lines company is Vector, which also publishes rules for managing export on congested parts of its network.
We prepare and lodge the application with the system details, and do not connect until approval comes back. Once connected, the electrical work is certified with a Certificate of Compliance and an Electrical Safety Certificate. You then talk to your power retailer about an export (buy-back) rate.
Inverters, batteries and the switchboard
The inverter turns the panels' direct current into the alternating current your home uses. It needs to suit your supply: Standards New Zealand's guidance highlights matching the inverter to a single-phase or multi-phase home. Older switchboards may need space or an upgrade to take the solar supply safely.
A battery stores daytime surplus for the evening and, with the right setup, can keep some circuits running during an outage. Batteries add significant cost, so we model whether one makes sense for your usage, or whether it is better added later. We also look at simpler ways to soak up surplus, such as timing the hot water cylinder or EV charging to the middle of the day.
- Inverter matched to single or three-phase supply
- Switchboard checked for space and capacity
- Battery storage where the numbers support it
- Monitoring app so you can see production and use
Avoid DIY and plug-in panels
Standards New Zealand published SNZ PAS 6014:2025, a guide to residential solar PV and battery storage, free to download with EECA's sponsorship. It warns about the risks of DIY installations and illegal plug-in panels. Solar arrays produce direct current at voltages that do not switch off when the main switch does, so faults can stay live and dangerous.
Ask any installer, including us, how the system is protected, where the isolators are, and what happens in a fire or a network outage. You should get clear answers in writing.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Solar Installation
Sized to your usage, not your roof
We look at when you use power and recommend the system that pays back for your household.
Grid application handled
We lodge the distributed generation application with your lines company and connect only once it is approved.
Electricians first
Switchboard, inverter connection and certification are done by our own licensed electricians.
One fixed, itemised quote
Panels, inverter, any battery, mounting and switchboard work priced line by line before you commit.
Solar Installation FAQs
Do I need a building consent for solar panels?
Usually not. Since 23 October 2025, roof-mounted arrays up to 40 square metres in a wind zone no greater than High are exempt. Larger arrays, or arrays in a Very High or Extra High wind zone, can also be exempt when a Chartered Professional Engineer designs or reviews the fixings. The work must still meet the Building Code and district plan, so check with your council if you are unsure.
How long does solar take to pay back?
EECA says a system can pay for itself in as little as seven years in the right circumstances. Roof direction, shade, daytime use and your export rate all change that figure.
Do I need a battery?
Not always. A battery helps if you use a lot of power in the evening or want backup during outages, but it adds cost. We model both options.
Can my roof face east or west?
Yes. EECA says east and west-facing roofs produce less than north-facing ones but can still be suitable.
Who approves the grid connection?
Your local lines company, which is Vector across most of Auckland. Approval is required before a system is connected.
Can I install plug-in solar panels myself?
Standards New Zealand's solar guidance warns against DIY setups and illegal plug-in panels. Solar should be installed and connected by licensed professionals.
Solar Installation Near You
Find your region or suburb for local solar installation information:
Related Electrical Services
See the electrician prices guide or every service we offer.
Sources and further reading
- EECA: Is solar right for your home?
- Building Performance: Solar panel and boundary setback building consent exemption changes
- Building (Exempt Roof-mounted Solar Panel Arrays and Building Work) Order 2025
- Standards New Zealand: Free residential solar guidelines (SNZ PAS 6014:2025)
- Electricity Authority: Part 6, Connection of distributed generation
- Vector: Congestion Management Policy