HALF of all solar panels installed on Canberra rooftops are failing ACT Government safety inspections, according to the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate.
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It is leaving frustrated Canberra residents, who have paid thousands of dollars on solar panels, to wait more than six months to see any return on their investment.
Arthur Skimin, of Cook, said he paid $8000 to have panels installed on his son's unit.
Householders such as this, who signed up when the scheme was available, are paid a premium for any extra solar power their panels generate that gets fed back into the energy grid.
They hope to pay off their panels as soon as possible, while they offset their energy costs.
However, the Government and ActewAGL must inspect the solar systems before they are connected.
''We had the panels installed five weeks ago and now we have to wait until February for the directorate to inspect,'' Mr Skimin said.
Solar panel installer Justin Ryan said there was an argument in favour of having only one organisation checking the solar systems.
ACT Liberal MLA Alistair Coe said it was a broken commitment under the ''failed scheme''.
''It's another reason why the ACT's solar feed-in tariff has proved to be one of the most inefficient and inequitable programs in the country,'' Mr Coe said.
An Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate spokesman said his department blamed the delay on a much-publicised tenfold increase in the number of installations.
The spokesman also revealed a large number of installations had been done incorrectly.
''Approximately 50 per cent of all PV inspections fail the first inspection,'' the spokesman said.
''These failed inspections then require a second inspection, following rectification.
''In some instances, a third inspection is required.
''The building industry also experiences a seasonal surge in the fourth quarter of each year, with the demand for new home occupancy before Christmas.
''This impacts upon the volume of electrical inspections required and new homes occupancy takes priority.
''While the current delay in inspections may be inconvenient, the safety of PV installations is the Government's first priority.''
