When Lolita Wheatley decided to buy solar panels for her home in Ballarat, Victoria, she knew the investment would be significant. But she wasn't prepared for the underhand tactics that have come to characterise certain players in the solar industry.
Like many people looking to take advantage of Victoria's solar rebate scheme and lower their energy bills, Lolita found an installer, Invincible Energy, through a Google search.
In late May this year, she claims the company assured her she would access the state government's rebate when she purchased the units. But after the purchase and installation was complete, she was shocked to discover that this wasn't true.
The company has offered to cancel the loan and provide a $5000 "final settlement" payment if she signs a non-disclosure agreement
"I called Solar Victoria and they told me that Invincible Energy has been formally disqualified [from the rebate scheme] on the 23rd of that month [May] for misconduct," she says.
Lolita is now embroiled in a battle to get the $12,800 loan she took out through Invincible Energy cancelled. The company has offered to cancel the loan and provide a $5000 "final settlement" payment if she signs a non-disclosure agreement.
But Lolita also wants to warn others about the company.
In addition to Lolita, CHOICE has spoken to two other customers of Invincible Energy who allege faulty workmanship, high-pressure sales and other sales misconduct. Lolita and one other customer also say their loan application forms included incorrect information, though it is unclear who completed or submitted the forms on their behalf.
Invincible Energy denies any wrongdoing and says these complaints are isolated cases. Most customers are satisfied with their installations, the company claims.
CHOICE has spoken to two other customers of Invincible Energy who allege faulty workmanship, high-pressure sales and other sales misconduct
"We remain committed to compliance, transparency, and customer care," the company says.
But with the federal government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program and other state rebate schemes currently on offer and the home solar industry booming, consumer advocates are questioning whether enough is being done to protect customers from unscrupulous operators.
Most solar businesses 'doing the right thing'
The Melbourne-based Invincible Energy started in 2020 and says it has installed over 40,000 solar panels for more than 2000 "happy clients".
But this year the business has had some setbacks.
Solar Victoria, which oversees the government's solar rebate programs, says it monitors more than 1200 solar retailers in the state. In general, retailers are "overwhelmingly doing the right thing", the agency says.
We moved quickly to cancel Invincible Energy from our list of authorised retailers on 23 May 2025, following an investigation into their conduct
Solar Victoria spokesperson
"Since July 2019, we have suspended or cancelled 96 retailers and 31 installers who did not meet our standards. In rare cases, we may also disqualify company directors or officers from any further participation in the program," a Solar Victoria spokesperson says.
"We do not disclose specific details of our investigations, but can confirm that we moved quickly to cancel Invincible Energy from our list of authorised retailers on 23 May 2025, following an investigation into their conduct. Our action included disqualifying the company directors from further participation in the program."
The spokesperson adds that after discovering that a company director of Invincible Energy was associated with another retailer accessing the rebate scheme, they promptly suspended that company as well.
Solar Victoria not only removed Invincible Energy from their list of authorised retailers, they also disqualified the company directors from further participation in the program.
Not eligible for rebates
Both Lolita and another customer, Debra Barton, say they were told by Invincible Energy that they could access the solar rebate scheme through the company when they were sold panels after the company was disqualified.
An Invincible Energy spokesperson denies this, and says they never represented themselves as authorised to access the rebate for customers after their removal date.
"Our removal was an administrative compliance matter, not due to unsafe or fraudulent conduct. The matter has since been addressed internally, with corrective actions including updated compliance procedures, additional staff training on scheme-specific rules, and implementation of a pre-installation compliance checklist," the company says.
At the time of publishing, Invincible Energy continues to appear on the list of solar and hot water retailers that are not eligible for rebates on the Solar Victoria website.
Who approved this loan?
Lolita and Debra's loans for their solar panels (Debra's was for $12,600), were processed through Invincible Energy's partnership with Plenti Finance, a 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) lender.
Lolita and Debra allege there were mistakes on the loan form regarding their income and both customers claim they never filled in the forms themselves.
"I'm on a disability support pension, but the loan form says I earn over $1000 weekly. I called Plenti and said 'who approved this loan?' I still can't get an answer from them," Lolita says.
Lolita's loan application shows her total living expenses as 'Not applicable'. The loan form was completed before recent legal changes that require BNPL providers to properly assess the affordability of loans.
Lolita's loan application shows her total living expenses as 'Not applicable'
She has since filed a police report alleging her loan application may have been submitted with incorrect information. She has also submitted complaints to Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) and Consumer Affairs Victoria about the loan approval process.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) told CHOICE they were aware of concerns relating to misconduct in the use of credit providers in the solar sector, but would not comment on specific companies or individuals.
Plenti was not aware that Invincible Energy had been removed from the Solar Victoria scheme.
Plenti Finance distances intself
Plenti Finance is a small company that was the subject of 134 AFCA complaints in the last financial year, the fourth-most complained about credit provider in its size category across Australia.
We sent Plenti Finance questions about its partnership with Invincible Energy and were told the company was "deeply concerned" about claims that loan applications were filled in without customer participation. Plenti described unauthorised form-filling as "serious misconduct" and said that, if confirmed, it could amount to fraud.
CHOICE does not suggest that Invincible Energy or Plenti Finance have engaged in serious misconduct or fraud, only that it has been mentioned by Plenti Finance in the context of the claims made.
Plenti CEO Adam Bennett tells CHOICE the company's proactive monitoring practices flagged Invincible Energy for review in March 2025. At this time, Plenti found that "after a period of rapid growth, Invincible Energy required uplifts to sales and dispute resolution processes".
"We suspended their accreditation with Plenti on 18 July 2025. Invincible Energy has been unable to refer consumers to us to submit any finance applications to Plenti since this date," Bennett says.
Plenti says that as Invincible Energy was unable to demonstrate the necessary improvements to its processes, the company had its accreditation with Plenti terminated on 8 August 2025.
Bennett also says Plenti was not aware that Invincible Energy had been removed from the Solar Victoria scheme and believed they had voluntarily withdrawn.
Regulator reform needed
Eirene Tsolidis Noyce, senior policy officer from the Consumer Action Law Centre, says misselling and high-pressure sales tactics are common in the solar sales industry.
"We have seen an uptick in this, particularly in the last two years. We're noticing that [trend] because of the opportunism by solar companies as part of the transition to renewables," she says.
"We think it would be incredibly helpful and incredibly appropriate for the Energy Water Ombudsman of Victoria and the Essential Services Commission to have their jurisdiction expanded and regulate new energy technology. We know the current dispute systems aren't working for way too many people," she adds.
We know the current dispute systems aren't working for way too many people
Eirene Tsolidis Noyce, Consumer Action Law Centre
Jordan Cornelius, senior campaigns and policy adviser at CHOICE, agrees.
"Currently a lot of solar-related issues, such as issues with the marketing and installation of solar panels, don't fall within the jurisdiction of existing energy ombuds schemes because their jurisdiction is limited to 'traditional' energy supply arrangements," she says.
"This means that consumers often have to go through alternative pathways to resolve disputes relating to solar panels, and these pathways are often more costly, complex and time-consuming."
A Victorian government spokesperson says proposals for how to expand consumer protections in the solar sector are being considered.
If you know more about Invincible Energy or have something to share about another solar provider, contact CHOICE investigative journalist Jarni Blakkarly at [email protected].
We're on your side
For more than 60 years, we've been making a difference for Australian consumers. In that time, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family. And our recent sunscreens test showed just how important it is to keep business claims in check.
So you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about CHOICE membership today
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
