Solar for a new home build in Sale
Planning solar and battery readiness while your new house in Sale, Wurruk or Maffra is being built: timing with the builder, wiring and approvals.
The best time to plan solar for a new home in Sale is before the frame goes up, while the roof layout, switchboard position and cable routes can still change on paper. Bring a solar provider in at the planning stage, agree with your builder when the panels go on, and wire the house so a battery can be added later without opening walls. Leaving it until handover usually means a smaller array, longer cable runs and a switchboard with no spare room.
Sale Solar passes new-build enquiries to independent local solar providers, and each one quotes and installs under its own business. Your builder stays responsible for the house itself.
Why plan solar during the build rather than after?
From 1 January 2027, every new home built in Victoria must be all-electric, under the Victorian Government’s new building electrification standards. With no gas connection, the house will draw more electricity for hot water, heating and cooking than an older dual-fuel home, so the roof and switchboard need to be ready for that load from day one.
Planning early lets you:
- face the main roof plane north or close to it, with no vents or skylights in the way
- keep flues, aerials and air-conditioning units off the best section of roof
- choose a switchboard with space for solar, a battery and an electric car charger
- run conduit from the roof space to the inverter and battery location while the walls are open
- pick an inverter and battery position that is shaded, ventilated and away from bedrooms
When should the solar provider talk to your builder?
Solar Victoria advises owners of homes under construction to talk to their builder early, preferably during planning. That conversation should cover three things: the builder’s consent for another trade on site, access to the roof and switchboard at the right time, and the stage of construction at which you apply for any rebate.
Most builders want solar fitted after the roof is finished and the electrical rough-in is done, but before final handover. Some prefer the solar provider to come back after handover. Either can work, provided the provider knows where the conduit runs and the builder knows not to close up the cavity where the cables go.
| Build stage | What to settle with the builder and provider |
|---|---|
| Design and contract | Roof orientation, roof material, switchboard size, inverter and battery location, conduit |
| Slab and frame | Conduit from roof space to the inverter wall and switchboard |
| Roofing | Whether mounting brackets go in now or later, and who signs off the roof warranty |
| Electrical rough-in | Spare circuits and space for a battery and car charger |
| Lock-up to handover | Panel and inverter installation, testing, inspection, Certificate of Electrical Safety |
Can I get a rebate on a home that is still being built?
Yes, the Solar Homes panel rebate is open to owners of a home under construction, as well as owner-occupiers of existing homes. For a home being built, the system must be installed within 270 days of Solar Victoria issuing the QR code, compared with 120 days for an existing house. The hot water rebate is not available while the house is under construction, although you may qualify once it is finished. Eligibility, income and property caps and the loan are all explained on the Sale solar rebates guide, and solar support moves into a different state program from July 2027.
Do I need network approval for a new house?
Yes. AusNet Services must pre-approve the solar and battery connection before installation starts, and your provider or retailer normally applies. The steps after that, from export limits to meter changes, are set out in the AusNet approval guide for Sale.
What size system suits a new all-electric home?
An all-electric home usually needs a bigger system than an older house of the same size, because the heat pump hot water service, reverse cycle heating and induction cooktop all run on electricity. A careful provider will ask for the appliance list from your builder’s specification and size the array from that, not from a rule of thumb.
Indicative installed prices for Melbourne in October 2026:
| System size | Average fully installed range |
|---|---|
| 6 kW | $5,810 to $6,730 per system |
| 10 kW | $8,920 to $10,410 per system |
Those ranges are after the federal small-scale technology certificate discount and before any state rebate. A new-build install can come in under the retrofit price if conduit and switchboard space are already in place, or above it if the builder’s timing forces a second visit. Sizing for a first system on an existing roof is covered on the solar panel installation page.
How do I make a new home battery ready?
You do not have to buy a battery at handover to make adding one easy later. Ask for:
- A hybrid inverter, or a standard inverter with a clear plan for an AC coupled battery.
- A wall space for the battery that the provider has checked against the location rules in AS/NZS 5139.
- Conduit and a cable pull string from the switchboard to that wall.
- Spare switchboard space for battery protection and, if you want it, an essential-loads circuit.
Getting these in during the build costs little compared with opening plaster later. Battery sizing itself is covered on the home battery installation page.
What happens on installation day in a new build?
Once the builder gives access, the provider fixes the mounting rails to the roof, lays the panels and pulls the DC cables down through the conduit left at frame stage. The inverter goes on its planned wall, then the system is connected at the switchboard and tested. Because Victorian rules treat solar as prescribed work, an inspector who is independent of the installer has to sign it off, and only then does the Certificate of Electrical Safety come through. Keep that certificate with your handover documents, as you will need it for warranty claims and any later battery job.
What will a careful provider ask for?
Expect a good provider to want the site plan, roof plan and elevations, the electrical plan, the roof material and colour, and the builder’s expected roofing and handover dates. They should also ask who your energy retailer will be and whether you plan to charge an electric car at home.
A careful provider will refuse to install before the builder has given written consent and access, and will not ask you to sign or pay a deposit for a rebated system before your rebate eligibility is confirmed. Compare quotes against the Sale solar quote checklist before you sign.
New builds in Wurruk and around Sale
Wurruk, across the Thomson River from Sale, has grown quickly: its population went from 727 in 2006 to 1,112 in 2016, according to its Wikipedia entry. The Wurruk area page has more on the suburb. If your block has trees on the north side or a two-storey house going up next door, tell the provider so they can check shading at the design stage.
Mid-way through planning, it is worth getting a provider to look over the drawings: you can request a new build solar design check and bring the result to your next builder meeting.
Next step: send your build details
To get a new home solar quote, give your suburb, your builder’s expected roofing and handover months, and whether the roof is metal or tile. Attach or describe the roof plan showing which way each roof plane faces, plus the electrical plan if you have it. Say whether you want a battery now or later, and list the main electric appliances in the specification, such as the hot water unit, heating and any car charger.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I buy solar through my builder or separately?
Either is possible. A builder package is simpler to arrange, while a separate provider gives you more say over panel, inverter and battery choice. Ask the builder for the brand and model in their package and compare it with an independent quote.
- Will solar affect my roof warranty on a new home?
It can if brackets are fixed in a way the roofing manufacturer or builder does not accept. Ask the builder in writing what fixing method they approve and make sure the solar provider follows it.
- Can solar go on before the electricity meter is connected?
The panels can be mounted, but the system cannot be switched on and exporting until the home has a supply connection, a suitable meter and network approval. Plan the final connection around handover.
- Do I need a hybrid inverter if I am not buying a battery yet?
Not always. A hybrid inverter makes a later DC battery simpler, while an AC coupled battery can be added to most standard inverters. Ask the provider to explain both paths for your plan.
- Who pays if the builder damages the solar wiring during construction?
That should be set out in your building contract and the solar provider's terms. Agree before work starts who is responsible for protecting conduit and cables, and photograph them before the walls are closed.