What it takes to be a Beam Approved Solar Retailer

1. Credit Check
   We request all solar retailers provide a credit check from Equifax.
   
   • • We're customer aligned, and we provide guidance during the contracting stage.
     • We encourage our customers to negotiate payment milestones that are weighted towards completion of the project.
     • While doing this, we need to be confident that the solar retailer is in a position to handle these milestones, so a credit check adds confidence that the project won't stall, or even come to a complete halt halfway through.
       
       
2. Industry Experience
   Probably the most common question from our customers about solar retailers on our platform. We record the year of the solar retailer's first solar PV Installation.
   • • We typically don't consider anyone with less than 5 years experience, and the longer, the better.
     • Very often, when solar systems fail from being poorly designed or poorly installed, they fail early.
     • Manufacturer workmanship warranties of 5-10 years (or greater) have been industry standard for some time now, so poor practices and a lack of expertise can get discovered very quickly, and those responsible either improve fast, or don't last.
        
3. Project Size Capabilities
   We record the largest solar PV installation (DC) the solar retailer has completed.
   • • We typically won't accept any solar retailers who haven't completed MW scale projects.
     • Customers regularly come to us looking to undertake large, complex projects well over 1MW. They need to know that the solar retailers bidding for their project have experience with projects that size.
     • Additionally, a certain level of knowledge and expertise is required for projects at a large scale. There are system components, safety equipment, switchgear, and DNSP considerations that typically aren't applicable to smaller systems.
     • If they have the technical expertise to deliver a MW scale project well, we're much more confident that they have the technical expertise to deliver smaller projects very well too.
       
       
4. Solar PV installation (DC) Case Study
   We also ask for a case study for the largest solar PV installation above, to prove it!
   
   
5. Typical Annual Solar PV Installed Capacity
   Another extremely common question from our customers about solar retailers on our platform. We record the total MW capacity a solar retailer typically completes in a year.
   
   • • There are solar retailers who might only complete a handful of residential or small commercial projects a year, or perhaps solar PV installations aren't even their main business. If they won a single large project 10 years ago, and did a poor job, they may satisfy the two previous criteria, but still wouldn't be a goof fit for our platform!
     • Recording the annual installed capacity completes the picture of a solar retailer's capabilities. They won't install multiple MW of capacity annually if they aren't good operators. 
       
       
6. Insurances
   We don't allow solar retailers onto our platform if they don't have the required insurances already in place. The moment they're bidding for a project, they need to be 100% ready to contract and implement the project if required. We collect a copy of their:
   • • Public Liability Insurance Policy
     • Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy
     • Workers Compensation Insurance Policy

Maintaining Approved (Active) Status 

Once a solar retailer is active on our platform, they can view and participate in projects, where their offers are scored on a number of criteria. This doesn't guarantee that they'll stay as an active solar retailer indefinitely, they need to maintain their active status.

A solar retailer's status can be moved to inactive for the following reasons:

1. Inactivity
   
   • • Either through not updating insurances on our platform, or
     • General Inactivity, not submitting bids on projects for an extended period of time
       
2. Poor contracting experience, such as:
   • • Excessive contracting delays.
     • Not honouring a price offered to a customer on our platform.
     • Proposing unfavourable contract terms to the customer, or failing to meet our minimum conditions for offer.
       
       
3. Poor project management and implementation, including:
   • • Excessive project delays.
     • Unsafe practices on site, or not respecting the safety protocols / inductions etc required by the customer.
     • Poor communication or scheduling with the customer with delivery times, electrical shut-downs, or anything that can disrupt business on site. 
       
       
4. Unacceptable workmanship standards
   1. • Picked up when we audit a project after completion.

The importance  of Solar Retailer Selection

We will continue to rigorously screen applicants through our detailed questionnaire, and continuously update the scores of successful solar retailers. This incentivizes retailers to provide the highest quality service possible.