Rooftop solar is typically a 'set and forget' purchase, but it is essential to know what to look for when checking its performance.

If you have not had your rooftop solar checked in a few years, or if you have had recent electrical work at your home, follow these quick steps to check that your rooftop solar is working effectively.

How to check your solar is working

1. Check you solar monitoring. All modern solar installations come with a solar monitoring website or app. This is the best place to monitor your solar. If you can no longer log into your monitoring website or app, now is the time to chat with your solar installers to get your access back up and running! They should also be able to tell you if your solar is working from their own online platform.

2. Check your inverter. If you have a solar inverter mounted on an external wall or inside your garage, it may have a small screen or lights which will show its status and performance.

3. Look for solar export on your electricity bill. All rooftop solar systems will export some solar electricity to the grid within a billing cycle. Looking for a solar export on your energy bill won't give you a perfect indication of its performance, but it will at least tell you that it is still operating. It may look something like this.

4. Request a Solar Health Check. If you identify an issue with your solar, or if you are still unsure after completing the checks above, you can purchase a Solar Health Check from the Australian Energy Foundation. Council's Sustainability Rebates program also provides a $100 rebate off the cost of the Solar Health Check!

How to maximise electricity bill savings

There are two main ways to maximise your electricity bill savings once you have solar:

1. Align you energy use with your solar. When you use your solar electricity at the time it is produced (i.e., during the day), you reduce the need to purchase electricity from the grid. During the day, grid electricity can be anywhere between 25 cents - 55 cents per kWh (depending on your electricity rates). If you sell your excess solar electricity to the grid you will typically only receive around 10 cents per kWh. Time your dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances to run during the day to see the maximum savings on your energy bills!

2. Get the best energy deal for your home. Energy rates can vary significantly between energy retailers, however, be cautious of energy rates which have very high solar feed-in tariffs as these deals may also have increased grid power rates too. The cheapest energy deal for you really depends on when and how much electricity you use. Upload your electricity bill to the Energy Made Easy website for an independent comparison of who the best retailer is for you.

How to purchase more renewable electricity

The simplest way of purchasing renewable electricity for your home is through GreenPower - electricity which is 100% renewable and available for households and businesses through most energy retailers in Australia. To contribute to a cleaner, greener Australia by investing in accredited renewable energy, ask your energy retailer for GreenPower.