Energy rebate specialist forced to surrender $6.2 million of certificates because of fake photos

A solar company has been fined $100,000 for failing to have “fall protection” in place during a rooftop PV installation, while another company has had to forfeit a whopping $6.2 million of energy efficiency certificates over allegations of false claims and doctored photos.

In what has been a busy week for regulators, WorkSafe Victoria reports that local company, Aus Renewable Development Group, has been convicted and fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to installing panels on residential rooftops without fall protection at four homes in 2024.

WorkSafe notes that the company, which installs rooftop solar systems discounted through Victoria’s Solar Homes rebate, “has a prior criminal history” for the same offence – failing to have fall protection in place during installations – dating back to 2023.

According to the case report, the Court weighed up a number of factors in determining the severity of the sentence, including that the offender has since overhauled its OHS requirements, the offender pleaded guilty, but also that the Court had heard “little in respect of remorse,” and the company Director did not attend court for any mentions.

Also in Victoria, the Essential Services Commission (ESC) reports that it has refused registration and ordered the surrender of 75,253 energy efficiency certificates from an outfit called MYOM Australia, for allegedly providing false photo evidence for energy efficiency projects conducted through the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.

“The commission alleges MYOM Australia and contractors working on its behalf made false claims about lighting upgrades to claim more certificates,” the ESC says.

These included: submitting photos of the same decommissioned lighting as evidence for multiple upgrades, staging and fabricating evidence of upgrades and decommissioned equipment, digitally manipulating photos.

The ESC says it has refused registration of the company and ordered the surrender of 75,253 energy efficiency certificates, valued at $6.2 million. It is also “considering further action” against MYOM Australia.

Another company participating in the VEU scheme, Astra Green Solutions Pty Ltd, has had the application to renew its VEU accreditation refused by the ESC, due to “concerns about past conduct.”

“The commission gave significant weight to Astra Green Solutions’ compliance history when making its decision to reject the renewal,” the ESC said in an update on Thursday.

“Astra Green Solutions’ past action undermined consumer choice and trust in the VEU program, and these must come first.

“Businesses must remember that accreditation is not a one-off process – they must continue to meet the requirements each year to demonstrate they are suitable for the program.”

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