If you live in a strata property, or your home is part of an embedded electricity network, some products may need approval from a third party before they can go ahead. Sorting out that approval early is the best way to keep your installation on track.
A strata property is managed by a strata scheme or owners corporation, usually an apartment, unit or townhouse with shared walls, a shared roof or common areas. Some products affect those shared parts of the building, so the owners corporation may need to approve the work first. We recommend approaching your strata body as soon as possible, as approval can take a while.
An embedded network is a private electricity network that supplies a group of homes, rather than each home connecting directly to the main grid. It is common in apartment blocks and some estates. If your home is on an embedded network, the network operator may need to approve some products.
Getting approval is up to you
Arranging this approval is your responsibility. That is the same whether you rent, own the home you live in, or own the property and rent it out. Home Energy Saver does not obtain strata or embedded network approval for you.
When you sign your Customer Installation Agreement, you confirm that you have the approvals your property needs. If an approval turns out not to be in place, the installation cannot go ahead, and Forge Solutions may end the agreement. A cancellation fee covering their reasonable costs may then apply.
Which products need approval
Whether a product needs approval depends on the product and on your building or network. The table below is a general guide, and your strata manager or network operator has the final say.
| Product | Strata approval | Embedded network approval |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop solar | Required | Required |
| Residential battery | May be required | Required |
| Home electric vehicle charger | Required | Required |
| Switchboard upgrade | May be required | Required |
| Reverse cycle air conditioning | Required | Usually not required |
| Heat pump water heater | Required | Usually not required |
| Solar water heater | Required | May be required |
| Induction cooktop replacing gas | Not required | Usually not required |
| Ceiling insulation | May be required | Usually not required |
| Double glazed windows or doors | May be required | Usually not required |
| Ceiling fans | Not required | Usually not required |
| Draught proofing for windows and doors | May be required | Usually not required |
"May be required" means it depends on your specific building or network, so check before you choose that product.
The check before installation
Forge Solutions, who manage your installation, also check that the approvals your property needs are in place as your installation is arranged. That check does not replace your own approval. If an embedded network requirement only comes to light later, it may change the timing or cost of your job, and any change is agreed with you first.