Why did Andrew go solar in Mittagong?
Two things pushed him. Rising bills, and a nudge from home.
Power prices had been climbing, and Andrew wanted to take some of the sting out. Cutting his emissions mattered too. “Helping the environment a bit,” as he put it, with his daughter “in my ear about that.” Both reasons landed him on solar as the sensible next step.
If you’re weighing the same call, it helps to work out what size solar system you actually need before you ask for quotes.
What was the quoting process like?
Short, because Andrew had already made up his mind.
“I didn’t receive any quotes from anyone else, because I kind of knew how good Lenergy were,” he said. Word of mouth did the work. People he knew had used Lenergy and rated the job. “I just wanted to get Lenergy to do it.”
How was the site visit?
Winston came out and walked Andrew through the whole thing, start to finish.
They talked through how the system works and the app Andrew would use to keep an eye on it. Winston also flagged a couple of tree branches near the roof. Clearing them would lift the system’s output, so it was worth doing. If you’re not sure how much difference nearby trees make, our guide on how much shade affects solar panels breaks it down.
Then there was the design. Winston placed the panels for the best result on Andrew’s roof. “He put them in the best spot he could to get the optimum capacity out of it,” Andrew said.
What was the install team like?
Easy to deal with from the first phone call, and tidy on the day.
Andrew found the office team simple to talk to, and the on-site crew just as good. The job came back “neat and tidy.” The part that stuck with him was reliability. “They were there when they said they’d be there, which is awesome. You don’t always get that.”
What happened to Andrew’s power bill?
It came down, and that matters more with prices still rising.
Andrew’s bills had jumped just before he went solar, in line with the wider increases across NSW. Since the system went in, the bills have dropped noticeably. That saving now goes towards paying off the system itself. “That will help to pay for the system moving forward,” he said. For a sense of the numbers in general terms, see our guide on how much you can save with solar panels.
Would Andrew recommend Lenergy?
Without hesitation.
“I don’t hesitate to throw Lenergy’s name up, because I know they’ll do a good job,” he said. He points people to Lenergy whenever solar or batteries come up. For him, the best part was simple. “Just a really nice bunch of people, from front office to the people that do the work.” If a home battery is on your radar too, it’s worth understanding how storage fits alongside your panels.
Thinking about solar for your own place? Read next: is your home ready for solar panels?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solar worth it in the Southern Highlands?
For most homes, yes. Electricity prices in NSW have been rising, and a rooftop system offsets a good share of your daytime use. Andrew’s experience in Mittagong is a fair example: bills that had climbed came down after his system went in, and the saving now helps pay off the system. Your result depends on your roof, your usage and any shading, which is why a proper site visit matters.
How do I choose a solar installer?
Look for an installer accredited with Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), then check their track record locally. Andrew skipped other quotes because people he knew had used Lenergy and rated the work. Word of mouth, a clear site visit, and a crew that turns up when they say they will are all good signs. Ask how they position the panels and how they handle anything, like nearby trees, that could affect output.
How much can solar cut my power bill?
That varies by system size, household usage and how much power you use during the day. Andrew’s bills dropped noticeably after his install, though he didn’t quote a figure, and he treats the saving as money going back into paying off the system. For a general sense of the range, see our guide on how much you can save with solar panels.
