Barry Southwell-Bree paid almost $10,000 to Solar Free last year, with a deposit in April and the balance in May. Installation was promised by June but did not occur until September.

By then, the backlog of systems waiting for inspection by ActewAGL and ACTPLA meant Mr Southwell-Bree's system was not inspected until January 25.

The system failed inspection. Work required before the system could be used included: an extra circuit breaker at the inverter; increase circuit switch from 550 volts to 800 volts; lift up wires off roof tiles between solar panels and roof tiles; a label in meter box to show voltage drop.

The electrician was given two weeks to correct the installation but no work has been done since.

Mr Southwell-Bree, who first wrote to Consumer Voice in August, said that despite his calling ACTPLA, the electrician and Solar Free, he remained frustrated at the lack of progress. Commitments by Solar Free to keep him informed of progress had come to nothing and even the ACTPLA inspector had been unable to coax the electrician to return.

Consumer Voice has published numerous reports about the failure of many companies to complete installations of photovoltaic systems in a reasonable time. Purchase of these systems was largely generated by the ACT government's now-cancelled small-scale feed-in tariff scheme and the federal government's subsidy of the equipment.

Aware of the need for strict safety compliance, ACTPLA has required all of these installations to be inspected before they can be operated. But ACTPLA did not have enough inspectors to keep up with demand, causing delays of up to five months before even initial inspections were made. About 80 per cent of installations failed their initial inspection and sometimes their second and even third. This was despite the requirement for installers to be accredited by the Clean Energy Council.

Construction Occupations Registrar with ACTPLA Craig Simmons said recently that despite the high number of complaints about Solar Free, it was one of the few companies which had not walked away. As cash allowed, it engaged Sydney electricians to complete connections which had failed inspections.

''It is hard going,'' Mr Simmons said. The great majority of the systems which had failed inspections involved Solar Free customers.

ACTPLA and the Office of Regulatory Services were working with Solar Free to have this work completed.

Mr Simmons said photovoltaic systems were complex pieces of equipment and were not maintenance free. Under service and installation rules, all systems were subject to testing every five years. This was the responsibility of the householder. ActewAGL would remind householders when inspections were due.

Mr Simmons said it was important to ensure PV systems stopped operating if the mains power was disconnected. Otherwise, people working on high-voltage lines could be electrocuted.

Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Southwell-Bree have no indication when their system will be connected. Solar Free, which no longer has a Canberra office, could not be contacted for comment.

Consumer Voice continues to seek comments from other PV suppliers whose installations have failed ACT inspections.

■ Consumer Voice investigates genuine matters of concern. Name and address are required.

Contact Graham Downie, telephone 6280 2206, email graham.downie@canberratimes.com.au, write PO Box 7155 CBC ACT 2610.