Complaints against solar panel installers in New Zealand have jumped more than 170% in four years, prompting calls for stronger consumer protection as providers collapse. Complaints about solar panel installers in New Zealand have surged more than 170% over the past four years, according to figures from the country's Utilities Disputes scheme, as consumer advocates push for tighter industry oversight.

The rise comes amid a wave of high-profile collapses among solar providers, leaving some households with unfinished installations, unpaid warranty claims or no clear path to compensation. Industry watchers say the sector has expanded quickly on the back of rising household energy costs, but regulation has not kept pace with the number of new entrants competing for customers.

Consumer groups argue that without licensing requirements or mandatory guarantees similar to those covering electricians, buyers have little recourse when installers go out of business mid-project. Government officials have not yet committed to new rules, but the scale of the complaint increase is likely to add pressure for a formal review of standards across the fast-growing renewable energy retail sector.