Should I Get Solar Panels?

Written by Jacob, Last reviewed 2026. This guide is for informational purposes only — see methodology.

Not every home suits solar, and that's fine. The decision comes down to a few practical questions about your property, your energy use, and your situation. This guide runs through them.

Score Yourself: The 5-Question Solar Check

Go through these quickly. More yeses mean solar is worth a proper look. Nos are reasons to be cautious or hold off.

• 1. Are your quarterly electricity bills $400 or more? Solar saves on usage charges. Below that, the potential savings shrink and the payback stretches out.
• 2. Is someone home during the day on weekdays? Retirees, remote workers, stay-at-home parents — they tend to get more from solar because they're using the power as it's being generated.
• 3. Does your roof get good sun for most of the day? North-facing is best, but east and west work too. The main thing is avoiding heavy shade from trees or buildings.
• 4. Do you plan to stay in your home for at least 5 years? Typical payback is 3–7 years. If you move sooner, recouping the full cost through savings alone gets harder.
• 5. Do you own your home (or have approval to install)? Renters and strata residents face extra hurdles. Not impossible, but good to know upfront.

4–5 yeses: Worth investigating properly.
2–3 yeses: Could go either way.
0–1 yes: Probably not the right move right now. Revisit later if things change.

Two Households, Two Different Answers

Household A — Newcastle. Family of four, both parents work from home part of the week. Quarterly bills around $650. North-facing roof, no shade. They're in it for the long haul — 10 years plus. That's five yeses. A 6.6kW system could save them roughly $1,200–$1,500 a year, payback around 5 years. Solar makes clear sense here.

Household B — Inner Sydney apartment. Couple renting, small balcony. Bills about $280 a quarter. Likely moving in 2–3 years. Shared roof, shaded. Zero yeses. Solar doesn't work for them right now — not because it's a bad technology, but because their specific situation doesn't support it.

Most people sit somewhere in the middle. The point isn't that one household is right and the other wrong. It's that the answer depends on circumstances, not on solar itself.

What If You Are in the Middle?

If you scored 2 or 3, it comes down to trade-offs. Moderate bills but a good roof? High usage but moving in 4 years? In these cases, a payback estimate based on your usage is the most useful next step.

Some factors can be worked around. Shading can be mitigated with microinverters, though it costs extra. Renting doesn't rule solar out entirely if the landlord is open to a shared-benefit arrangement. The checklist is a starting point, not the final word.

What about batteries?

Installing a battery alongside your first solar setup can save on combined labour. But upfront cost jumps — often $10,000 or more — and the payback stretches. A common approach is to go solar first and consider a battery a few years later, when prices may have dropped and usage patterns are clearer. Our battery guide goes deeper.

Before You Make a Decision

Talk to a few licensed installers. Get multiple quotes. Check your typical usage — not just the dollar amount on your bill, but how much you use and when. The more you understand your own patterns, the clearer things get.

This guide is for informational purposes only. Solar decisions depend on your individual circumstances. Consider consulting a qualified professional for personalised advice.