Guidance, not advice. General information on how the NETCC and the Australian Consumer Law work together for typical solar and battery sales — not legal advice. Last updated May 2026; check the official NETCC / Clean Energy Council site for a retailer's current status, which can change.
If you sell solar, batteries or EV chargers, the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) is the trust mark — and in some rebate schemes, the price of entry. Here is what it is and what it asks of an Approved Seller.
What the NETCC is
The NETCC is a voluntary, ACCC-authorised industry code, administered by the Clean Energy Council, that sets consumer-protection standards above the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) baseline for sellers of "new energy tech" — solar PV, batteries, EV chargers, Virtual Power Plants and power-purchase agreements. It launched on 1 February 2023, replacing the old Approved Solar Retailer program (existing retailers transitioned across), and is now the benchmark accreditation for reputable energy-tech retailers. Contract with a New Energy Tech Approved Seller and they must meet standards that go beyond the ACL.
Voluntary — but effectively mandatory in places
At law the code is voluntary: a retailer applies and, if approved, is bound by the code for its new-energy-tech sales. But some programs make it a condition of participation — Solar Victoria requires NET Approved Seller status for retailers under its Solar Homes and Solar for Business programs (see Working in Victoria and Solar Rebates: STCs & State Schemes). So the honest framing is: voluntary at law, but effectively mandatory in some government schemes and widely used as the industry trust mark. Approved Sellers are independently verified, must renew, and only compliant businesses can display the mark.
What an Approved Seller must do (the whole journey)
- Marketing and lead-gen — honest, accurate advertising that doesn't overstate savings or performance; no high-pressure or exploitative selling (no sign-on-the-spot pressure, no exploiting vulnerability, no misleading "limited time"); respect for privacy law.
- Pre-sales and design — fit-for-purpose systems that perform broadly as represented for the site and usage, with clear disclosure of limitations (shading, export limits, network constraints, battery charge/discharge), and transparent finance (upfront cost, ongoing fees, finance/BNPL/PPA total cost over time).
- Quotes and contracts — comprehensive, itemised quotes with no costs (equipment models, total price, any rebate/STC assumptions, what's in and out); plain-language contracts consistent with the quote, no unfair terms, key terms flagged (price, variations, timeframes, warranties, cooling-off); no bait-and-switch — the final system must match what was sold.
- Installation and after-sales — safe, timely, standards- and network-compliant installation; a proper handover with operation and maintenance instructions; and prompt complaints handling with honoured warranties (see Handling Complaints & Reviews).
Cooling-off, and NETCC vs the ACL
The NETCC does not replace the ACL — it layers on top. The ACL still gives the baseline: a ban on misleading, deceptive and unconscionable conduct, and the consumer guarantees (acceptable quality, fit for purpose). It also gives a statutory 10-business-day cooling-off period for unsolicited consumer agreements (such as door-to-door or certain telemarketing sales), during which the customer can cancel for any reason. NETCC documentation emphasises those rights, and many sellers offer a cooling-off window even on solicited sales as good practice (that extra is contractual, not statutory). The simplest line for a customer: your ACL rights — including any cooling-off period for unsolicited sales — apply on top of whatever the NETCC and your contract say (see Residential Contracts & the ACL).
Two enforcement layers: breach the code and you can face NETCC action (compliance investigation, loss of Approved Seller status); breach the ACL and the ACCC or a state regulator can act — regardless of whether you're a signatory.
Common mistakes
- Treating NETCC sign-up as optional when your target rebate scheme (e.g. Solar Victoria) requires it.
- Overstating savings or system performance in marketing — a core code (and ACL) breach.
- A quote that doesn't match the final system or contract (bait-and-switch).
- Forgetting the ACL cooling-off rights still apply on unsolicited sales, on top of the code.
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