Most salespeople will tell you installation takes "just one day." That's true for the physical work on your roof — but the full process from deciding to buy to actually switching on your system is longer. Here's the honest timeline.
Phase 1: Research and Quoting (1–4 Weeks)
This is on you. Getting at least three quotes, checking CEC accreditation, reviewing equipment specs, comparing warranties and installers — doing this properly takes time. Don't rush it. The research phase is where you protect yourself from a bad install or an oversized / undersized system.
During spring and summer (September–February), installers are busy. Expect longer waits for quote appointments and follow-up responses. Winter is quicker — typically a week or two.
Phase 2: Design and Network Application (1–4 Weeks)
Once you sign a contract, your installer designs the final system and lodges a connection application with your electricity distributor. This is required before any work can start.
Network approval timelines vary significantly by distributor and state. In most metro areas: 1–2 weeks. In some regional areas or during busy periods, it can take 3–4 weeks. Your installer should handle this and keep you updated — if they're not communicating, ask.
For systems over 10kW, additional engineering approvals may be required, which extends this phase.
Phase 3: Physical Installation (1–2 Days)
The part everyone pictures. A typical 6.6kW residential system takes a team of two to three people one full day to install — panels, mounting, inverter, wiring, and safety switches. Complex roofs, larger systems, or battery additions may take two days.
What happens on install day: the crew arrives early, does a final roof inspection, installs the racking system, mounts the panels, runs DC cabling to the inverter, installs the inverter and metering, and commissions the system. You'll need to be home (or have someone there) to allow switchboard access.
Phase 4: Metering and Final Approvals (1–3 Weeks)
After installation, your retailer needs to update your electricity meter to a bidirectional (smart) meter that can measure solar export. This is often the slowest step — it involves your retailer and network operator coordinating, and in some areas the wait can be 2–3 weeks.
Until the new meter is installed, your system is usually generating and feeding in — but you may not be credited for exports yet. Your installer should be on top of this and follow up if the meter upgrade drags.
You'll also receive a Certificate of Electrical Compliance from the installer — keep this document. It's required for insurance purposes and future property sales.
Total Realistic Timeline
From signing a contract to a fully operational system with correct metering: 3–8 weeks is typical for a metro install in 2026. Regional installs or complex systems can take longer. If someone promises you it'll be done in a week, ask specifically about the metering and approval timeline — that's usually the variable nobody warns you about.
The good news: the physical installation day is genuinely quick and painless for the homeowner. Most people report it as surprisingly undisruptive — the crew handles everything and you go about your day.
Want to know what a system would look like for your home before you start the process? Upload your bill to GridBeater for a free estimate.