Here's the deal in plain English: tell us a few quick things about your home (suburb, roof, recent power bill, whether you've got an EV or are planning one), and we'll match you with up to three vetted solar installers in your region who'll each give you a free, no-obligation quote. You compare them side by side, choose the one you like (or none of them, that's fine too), and we get a small referral fee from the installer if you go ahead. We never sell your details. You won't get spammed. No high-pressure sales calls. That's the whole arrangement, no fine print, no funny business.

What This Page Does For You

Solar shopping in Aotearoa is genuinely confusing. Quotes vary by thousands of dollars for the same size system, sales reps talk in jargon, and the "free assessment" often turns into a two-hour kitchen-table pitch. We built this page to short-circuit that.

You fill in one form. We do the matching. Three vetted installers compete for your business, knowing you're seeing two others alongside them. That competitive tension is the single best protection a Kiwi homeowner has against being overcharged or oversold.

If you've already used our Solar System Cost & ROI Calculator and have a rough sense of system size and payback, even better. You'll walk into those installer conversations knowing roughly what good looks like.

What You'll Need to Get the Most Out of It

The form takes about three minutes. To get the most accurate quotes back, have these handy:

  • A recent power bill (the last month or two) so we can gauge your annual usage in kWh
  • Your address or suburb, so we can match you to installers servicing your lines area (Vector, Orion, Powerco, Wellington Electricity, Aurora, etc.)
  • Rough roof orientation if you know it (north-facing is the gold standard in NZ, but east/west works too)
  • Whether you've got an EV, hot water cylinder, or heat pump, and any plans to add them
  • Whether you want a battery now, later, or never

Don't stress if you don't have all of this. Installers do a proper site assessment anyway. The form just helps us route you to the right people the first time.

How the Matched-Quote Handoff Works (Step by Step)

No magic, no algorithms with secret agendas. Here's exactly what happens after you hit submit:

  1. You complete the form. Three minutes, basic details only. No credit checks, no ID required.
  2. We review your submission within one business day and match you to up to three installers who service your region, fit your system needs, and meet our vetting standard.
  3. The installers contact you directly (usually within 2-3 business days) to arrange a site assessment or remote quote. You'll know they're coming because we tell you their names upfront.
  4. You receive itemised quotes from each, ideally within a fortnight. Compare panel brand, inverter, battery (if included), warranty, and total install cost.
  5. You decide. Pick one, pick none, take six months to think about it. No one chases you. No one keeps your details on a hot-leads list.

If you want to brush up on the terminology before quotes land, the NZ Solar Jargon Buster is a handy reference. Knowing the difference between a string inverter and a hybrid inverter, or PERC vs TOPCon panels, changes how you read a quote.

What We Do With Your Information

This is the bit that matters most, so we'll spell it out:

  • We share your details only with the up to three installers we match you to. Not a fourth, not a fifth, not a "preferred partner network".
  • We do not sell your data. Not to lead-aggregators, not to finance brokers, not to anyone. Full stop.
  • We don't add you to a marketing list unless you tick a box asking us to. The default is no marketing.
  • The installers agree to our code of conduct, which includes no door-knocking, no repeat cold calls, and honouring your "no thanks" the first time you say it.
  • We earn a referral fee from the installer only if you sign a contract with them. That fee comes out of their margin, not added to your quote. We've audited this; quotes through us are not inflated.

That's our entire commercial model. It works because we'd rather be useful to 100,000 Kiwis a year for a decade than burn the trust of 1,000 once.

Why You Can Trust This Tool (And Our Vetting Standard)

Plenty of "free quote" sites in New Zealand are lead-resale operations. You fill in a form, your details get sold to five installers, and your phone rings for a month. We hate that model.

Our vetting is genuine. To make our installer panel, a company must:

  • Hold current EWRB registration for electrical work and have certified solar PV installers on staff
  • Provide a minimum 5-year workmanship warranty, in addition to manufacturer warranties on panels, inverter, and battery
  • Use panels and inverters from Clean Energy Council-listed or equivalent reputable brands (we don't allow no-name imports)
  • Carry public liability insurance and provide a written safety method statement
  • Provide references from at least 20 recent NZ residential installs
  • Agree to our no-pressure sales code: no same-day discounts, no "today only" pricing, no aggressive follow-up

We also drop installers off the panel if we get repeated complaints. The trust proxy promise only works if we're willing to break up with poor performers, and we are.

If you want to understand the underlying numbers driving your quotes (system cost per kW, payback windows, finance options), our main hub walks through the full picture. And if you're thinking about a green loan to fund the install, the Green Finance Qualifier can tell you which 0-1% offers from the main banks you'd likely be eligible for before you talk to installers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really free? What's the catch?

Genuinely free for you. We get paid a referral fee by the installer only if you sign a contract. There's no catch and no fee added to your quote. Compare prices yourself: quotes through NZ Solar Centre are not marked up.

How long until installers contact me?

Usually within 2-3 business days. You'll get an email from us first confirming who we've matched you with, so you know exactly who to expect.

What if I don't like any of the three quotes?

That's fine. You're under no obligation. Tell each installer "no thanks" and they'll close the file. If you want a different set of installers to try, get in touch and we'll see what we can do.

Will I get spam calls or junk mail?

No. We share your details only with the matched installers, and our code of conduct prohibits repeat cold-calling. If any installer harasses you, tell us, and we'll remove them from the panel.

What regions do you cover?

Most of New Zealand, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin, Northland, the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Canterbury, Otago, and many smaller centres. If we don't have three vetted installers in your specific area yet, we'll tell you upfront and offer the best options available.

Do I need to have decided on system size or battery already?

Nope. The installers will assess your roof and usage and recommend a sizing. It's helpful if you've played with our ROI calculator first, but not required.

Can I bring my own quote for comparison?

Absolutely, and we encourage it. If a mate, neighbour, or another installer has already quoted you, line it up against the three you receive through us. The whole point is informed comparison.

What if I'm renting or in an apartment?

Solar on a rental requires landlord agreement, and apartments are usually a body-corporate decision. We can still match you, but flag your situation in the form so installers can advise on what's realistic.

Do quotes include the buy-back rate from my electricity retailer?

Good installers will model the payback using current buy-back rates from your retailer. To check what your retailer pays, see our Dynamic Tariff & Buy-Back Engine.

How long are quotes valid for?

Typically 30-60 days, depending on the installer and component pricing. If you need longer to decide, just ask; reputable installers will usually extend or re-quote without fuss.

What to Do Next

If you're ready, fill in the form below. Three minutes of your time, three competing quotes, zero obligation.

If you'd like to do a bit more homework first, that's a smart move. Run the numbers on our Solar ROI Calculator, check your retailer's buy-back rate on the Tariff Engine, see if you qualify for a green loan via the Finance Qualifier, and brush up on the lingo in the Jargon Buster. Then come back and request quotes when you're ready.

Either path is fine. We're here whenever you're ready to take the next step.