The Central West is a big place to choose a solar installer. Orange has cold, frosty winters at altitude, Bathurst sits between the Blue Mountains and the tablelands, and Dubbo has long, hot summers and a huge rural hinterland where off-grid systems are common. This guide is for households, farms and small businesses in and around the three cities. We reviewed seven companies with a local base: Partners in Energy and Tilstons Electrical in Orange, Solahart Central Tablelands (Orange Electrical Works), Panorama Solar Co. and Press Power Group in Bathurst, and Macquarie Energy and JME Electrical & Solar in Dubbo.
This is independent desk research based on company websites, public records, accreditation information, Google and SolarQuotes review patterns and published pricing. We did not visit, phone or request quotes from any company, and no company paid to be included. You will learn which installer suits which job, each one’s real weaknesses, the NSW incentives that apply now, and what to check in a Central West quote.
Quick winners
- Best Overall: Partners in Energy (Orange) for an owner-led in-house team, Level 2 accreditation and a clean review record on two platforms.
- Best Established Electrical Contractor: Tilstons Electrical (Orange) for more than 50 years in business and the largest review base in the region.
- Best for Solar Plus Hot Water: Solahart Central Tablelands (Orange) for panels, batteries and hot water from one licensed electrical and plumbing contractor.
- Best Brand Choice in Bathurst: Panorama Solar Co. for the widest published equipment list and rural and agricultural work.
- Best for Battery Choice and Home Electrification: Press Power Group (Bathurst) for six battery and inverter brands plus air conditioning and EV charging.
- Best for Farms and Commercial in Dubbo: Macquarie Energy for ground-mount, solar pumping and commercial work since 2009.
- Best for Off-Grid: JME Electrical & Solar (Dubbo) for off-grid specialists using Selectronic and Victron since 2009.
Comparison at a glance
| Company | Town | Experience | Panel or inverter brands (published) | Battery options | Workmanship warranty | Google rating (Oct 2026) | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partners in Energy | Orange | Not published | JA, Jinko, Trina; Fronius, GoodWe | Tesla, GoodWe, Sungrow, Sigenergy, BYD, SolarEdge | Not published | 5.0 (about 40) | Most homes |
| Tilstons Electrical | Orange | 50+ years | Not published | Yes, brands not listed | Not published | 4.9 (about 400, whole business) | Established contractor |
| Solahart Central Tablelands | Orange | Brand since 1953 | Silhouette, SunCell | Powerwall 3, Enphase, GoodWe, SolarEdge | Not stated in years | 4.9 (about 280, whole business) | Hot water plus solar |
| Panorama Solar Co. | Bathurst (Kelso) | Not published | Aiko, Canadian Solar, Risen; Sungrow, GoodWe, Solis, Enphase | Tesla, Sigenergy, Alpha ESS, Neovolt | Not published | 4.7 (about 30) | Brand choice, rural |
| Press Power Group | Bathurst (Kelso) | 10+ years | Fronius, Enphase, Sungrow | Tesla, Sigenergy, FranklinWH, Sungrow | Not published | 5.0 (about 30) | Battery buyers |
| Macquarie Energy | Dubbo | Since 2009 | Not published | Yes, brands not listed | Not published | 5.0 (about 37) | Farms, commercial |
| JME Electrical & Solar | Dubbo | Since 2007 | REC, Jinko, Trina; Selectronic, Victron, Fronius | PowerPlus, BAE, Fullriver | Not published | 5.0 (3 reviews) | Off-grid |
Ratings are rounded from Google Maps as of October 2026. “Not published” means we could not find it on the company’s own website.
Best Overall: Partners in Energy (Orange)
Partners in Energy is an Orange solar, battery and electrical business that installs with its own team of SAA-accredited electricians across Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo and the wider Central West. Reviewers repeatedly note that the person quoting was also the installer, and it holds NSW Level 2 accreditation for network connection and metering work.
Pros
- 5.0 stars from roughly 40 Google reviews and 4.9 from 19 SolarQuotes reviews as of October 2026, with no reviews below 4 stars
- SolarQuotes reviewers score installation and customer service 5.0 out of 5
- Level 2 accredited service provider (classes 2A to 2D), useful when solar needs a service or metering upgrade
- Wide battery range: Tesla, GoodWe, Sungrow, Sigenergy, BYD and SolarEdge
Cons
- No founding year or workmanship warranty period published, so its long-term service record is harder to judge than older rivals
- An owner-led team covering three cities can mean longer waits in busy periods
Get a quote via Partners in Energy, or browse all Central West installers in our directory.
Key facts. Unit 3/10 Scott Place, Orange. Says it is a New Energy Tech Approved Seller. Services Orange, Millthorpe, Bathurst, Kelso, Dubbo and surrounds.
Why we selected them. The cleanest review record among dedicated solar installers in the region, plus in-house electricians and Level 2 capability.
Products and brands. JA Solar, Jinko and Trina panels; Fronius, GoodWe and SolarEdge inverters; six battery brands including the GoodWe Lynx Home. Also EV chargers and heat pumps.
Installation quality and reputation. Reviewers describe punctual, tidy, professional installs and a consultative approach without sales pressure.
Pricing and value. Not published. SolarQuotes reviews describe systems from about $4,000 to over $12,500, most between $6,000 and $10,000.
Warranty and after-sales. Not published. Ask for the workmanship period in writing.
What customers say. Praise for honest advice and quality work. No complaint pattern found.
Best for / look elsewhere. Most Central West homes, especially if a switchboard or service upgrade is likely. Look elsewhere if you want a company with decades of trading history.
Best Established Electrical Contractor: Tilstons Electrical (Orange)
Tilstons Electrical is an Orange electrical, air conditioning and solar contractor that says it has operated for more than 50 years. It runs four in-house teams, including a dedicated solar team led by a solar manager, and installs grid-connected and off-grid systems with batteries across Orange, Bathurst and the Central West.
Pros
- 4.9 stars from roughly 400 Google reviews as of October 2026, the largest review base in this guide
- More than 50 years in business, which gives a workmanship warranty real staying power
- In-house solar team, with grid-connect, off-grid and battery capability
- Full electrical and air conditioning trade base for whole-home upgrades
Cons
- Its review count covers the whole business (electrical and air conditioning too), so it overstates the solar-specific evidence
- It does not publish solar panel, inverter or battery brands, a workmanship warranty or solar accreditation details
Get a quote via Tilstons Electrical, or browse all Central West installers in our directory.
Key facts. 1 Gateway Crescent, Orange. 50+ years. Mitsubishi Electric Diamond dealer for air conditioning, per the company.
Why we selected them. Longevity and scale matter in regional areas where small installers come and go.
Products and brands. Not published. Ask for full datasheets.
Installation quality and reputation. Strong overall Google record across trades. Solar-specific feedback is not separated.
Pricing and value. Not published.
Warranty and after-sales. Not published. Its age and size are a reasonable comfort.
What customers say. Consistently high ratings across services. We could not isolate solar complaint themes.
Best for / look elsewhere. Households wanting an established contractor for solar plus other electrical work. Look elsewhere if you want a solar specialist’s published brand list.
Best for Solar Plus Hot Water: Solahart Central Tablelands (Orange)
Orange Electrical Works trades as Solahart Central Tablelands, the local dealer for the Solahart brand that has made solar hot water since 1953. It covers a broad area from Forbes to the Upper Hunter and east to the Blue Mountains, including Orange, Bathurst, Molong, Parkes and Cowra. The same company also operates Solahart Wagga Wagga.
Pros
- 4.9 stars from roughly 280 Google reviews for Orange Electrical Works as of October 2026
- Holds electrical and plumbing licences, needed for hot water and heat pump work
- Battery range includes Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ, GoodWe and SolarEdge
- Silhouette panels carry up to 30 years of cover, per the dealer
Cons
- Panels are largely Solahart’s own Silhouette and SunCell ranges, so open-market price comparison is harder
- The Google rating covers the whole electrical business, and the workmanship period for solar is not stated in years
Get a quote via Orange Electrical Works, or browse all Central West installers in our directory.
Key facts. 4 Barrett Court, Orange. NSW electrical licence 320760C plus plumbing licences.
Why we selected them. Cold Orange winters make hot water a big share of bills, and Solahart combines hot water with solar under one brand.
Products and brands. Silhouette and SunCell panels, GoodWe inverters, four battery brands, Solahart hot water and heat pumps, GoodWe EV chargers.
Installation quality and reputation. A strong overall Google record; solar-specific feedback is not separated.
Pricing and value. Not published. Dealer pricing on straight solar is rarely the lowest.
Warranty and after-sales. Solahart product warranties apply. Get the workmanship period in writing.
What customers say. Positive overall. The structural limitation is hardware choice.
Best for / look elsewhere. Households replacing hot water and adding solar together. Look elsewhere for open-market hardware.
Best Brand Choice in Bathurst: Panorama Solar Co.
Panorama Solar Co. is a locally owned Bathurst business on Sydney Road, Kelso, that installs residential, commercial and agricultural solar, batteries, hybrid and off-grid systems. Its own accredited electricians do the work, and it publishes one of the widest brand lists in the Central West.
Pros
- Broad range: Aiko, Canadian Solar and Risen panels; Sungrow, GoodWe, Solis and Enphase inverters; Tesla Powerwall, Sigenergy, Alpha ESS and Neovolt batteries
- Agricultural and off-grid systems as well as homes and businesses
- Offers solar health checks and maintenance
- 4.7 stars from roughly 30 Google reviews as of October 2026
Cons
- The lowest Google score among the companies here, from a modest number of reviews
- No founding year, owner details or workmanship warranty period published
Get a quote via Panorama Solar Co., or browse all Central West installers in our directory.
Key facts. 129 Sydney Road, Kelso. Locally owned. Says its electricians are Solar Accreditation Australia accredited.
Why we selected them. A wide brand menu lets you compare budget and premium hardware in one quote.
Products and brands. As above, including the Sigenergy SigenStor.
Installation quality and reputation. In-house qualified electricians, according to the company.
Pricing and value. Not published. Its range includes budget brands, so ask for good, better and best options.
Warranty and after-sales. Not published.
What customers say. Mostly positive. We could not identify a specific recurring complaint, but its average is lower than peers.
Best for / look elsewhere. Bathurst buyers who want choice and rural capability. Look elsewhere if you want a long published track record.
Best for Battery Choice and Home Electrification: Press Power Group (Bathurst)
Press Power Group, formerly Platinum Electricians Bathurst, is a Kelso electrical and energy business that says it has served Bathurst, Orange, Lithgow and Oberon for more than 10 years. It installs solar, off-grid systems, home and commercial batteries, air conditioning, switchboard upgrades and EV chargers.
Pros
- 5.0 stars from roughly 30 Google reviews as of October 2026
- Battery and inverter range includes Tesla, Sungrow, Sigenergy, FranklinWH, Enphase and Fronius
- One business for solar, batteries, air conditioning and EV charging
- Covers Lithgow and Oberon as well as Bathurst and Orange
Cons
- Its website does not state accreditation details, a workmanship warranty or whether all installers are employees
- The rename from Platinum Electricians means part of its review history sits under the old name, so check both
Get a quote via Press Power Group, or browse all Central West installers in our directory.
Key facts. 14 Hampden Park Road, Kelso. 10+ years, per the company.
Why we selected them. A perfect Google score and the broadest premium battery menu in Bathurst.
Products and brands. As above. FranklinWH and Tesla suit whole-home backup designs.
Installation quality and reputation. Older SolarQuotes reviews under the Platinum Electricians name are positive. Ask who installs.
Pricing and value. Not published.
Warranty and after-sales. Not published.
What customers say. Consistently 5-star. No complaint pattern found.
Best for / look elsewhere. Homes electrifying heating, cooling and transport alongside solar. Look elsewhere if you need published warranty terms.
Best for Farms and Commercial in Dubbo: Macquarie Energy
Macquarie Energy is a Dubbo business founded in 2009 and run by owner Angus Quirk. It installs residential and commercial solar, ground-mount and off-grid systems, energy storage, solar pumping and underground power, plus electrical and air conditioning work.
Pros
- 5.0 stars from roughly 37 Google reviews as of October 2026
- Ground-mount, solar pumping and commercial experience suited to Orana farms
- Off-grid and energy storage capability
- Electrical, underground power and new-build work under one licence (320894C)
Cons
- No panel, inverter or battery brands published, and no workmanship warranty period
- Its site does not say whether installation is done by employees or subcontractors
Get a quote via Macquarie Energy, or browse all Central West installers in our directory.
Key facts. 120 Fitzroy Street, Dubbo. Founded 2009.
Why we selected them. Solar pumping and ground-mount systems are core needs on Dubbo-region properties, and Macquarie Energy lists both as services.
Products and brands. Not published. Ask for datasheets.
Installation quality and reputation. A perfect Google average from a moderate sample.
Pricing and value. Not published.
Warranty and after-sales. Not published.
What customers say. Uniformly positive Google ratings. We found no recurring complaint theme in detailed reviews.
Best for / look elsewhere. Farms, rural blocks and businesses. Homeowners wanting published brand lists may prefer Partners in Energy, which also serves Dubbo.
Best for Off-Grid: JME Electrical & Solar (Dubbo)
JME Electrical & Solar is a family-owned Dubbo company established in 2007, with an off-grid team operating since 2009. It says it has installed more than 100,000 panels across the Central West and uses its own electricians, so clients deal with one local company for everything.
Pros
- Off-grid specialisation using Australian-made Selectronic and Victron inverters
- Off-grid battery brands including PowerPlus, BAE and Fullriver
- Family business since 2007 with its own electricians
- Also repairs generators and welders, useful for remote properties
Cons
- Only 3 Google reviews as of October 2026, so there is little public feedback to judge it on
- Its brand list still includes LG panels, which LG stopped making in 2022, so the website may be out of date; confirm current products
Get a quote via JME Electrical & Solar, or browse all Central West installers in our directory.
Key facts. Dubbo. Established 2007. Services Central and Western NSW.
Why we selected them. Off-grid design is a specialist skill, and few Central West companies advertise it as a core service with the right hardware.
Products and brands. Selectronic, Victron and Fronius inverters; REC, Jinko and Trina panels; PowerPlus, BAE and Fullriver batteries; Solar Analytics monitoring.
Installation quality and reputation. In-house electricians. Public reviews are too few to judge.
Pricing and value. Not published. Off-grid systems are priced per design.
Warranty and after-sales. Not published. It promises to arrive on time or reschedule in advance.
What customers say. The few reviews are positive.
Best for / look elsewhere. Remote and off-grid properties. Grid-connected homes have better-reviewed options.
How we reviewed
We ran Google Maps searches around Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo, reviewed Google results, SolarQuotes and our installer directory, and kept companies with a local base and a meaningful review record. We checked each website to confirm local installation. Companies serving the region from Young, Wellington or Sydney were excluded because we could not confirm a local office or crew.
We compared reputation and experience, equipment, installation model, pricing transparency, warranty terms, customer service and after-sales patterns. Ratings come from Google Maps and SolarQuotes as of October 2026, rounded. We did not request quotes, contact companies or accept payment for placement, and there is no hidden scoring system.
Choosing a solar company in the Central West
Check accreditation yourself. Installer accreditation moved from the Clean Energy Council to Solar Accreditation Australia in 2024. Retailers should be New Energy Tech Approved Sellers. Several sites in this review still show old Clean Energy Council badges, so check the current registers.
Match the installer to your property. Town homes need a good grid-connect installer. Farms need ground-mount and pumping experience. Off-grid blocks need a specialist who sizes for a cloudy winter week.
Know your network. Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo are on the Essential Energy network. Ask what export limit your design assumes, and on long rural lines whether a battery with backup makes more sense than extra panels.
Use the NSW zero-interest loan. NSW has no panel rebate, but the Home Energy Saver program offers owners with household income up to $210,000 a zero-interest loan of up to $15,000, repayable over up to 10 years, for upgrades including solar and batteries. Discounts of up to $4,000 for lower-income households are due to open.
Batteries. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program discounts eligible batteries by around 30 per cent. The NSW upfront battery discount was suspended from 1 July 2025, but NSW still pays an incentive for connecting a 2 to 50 kWh battery to a virtual power plant. See our battery rebate guide.
STCs. The federal STC discount applies to every quote and declines each year until 2030 (see our STC guide).
Compare properly. Get three quotes and use our quote comparison guide, installer checklist, NSW top 10 and NSW directory listings.
FAQ
How much does solar cost in Orange, Bathurst or Dubbo in 2026? SolarQuotes reviews of Partners in Energy describe most systems at $6,000 to $10,000, and SolarQuotes lists 6.6kW price ranges from installers serving Bathurst of roughly $5,000 to $13,000. Off-grid systems cost considerably more.
How many quotes should I get? Three, compared on brands, warranty and export limit.
Which warranties matter most? Workmanship, because it covers the installation. None of the seven companies publishes a period, so get it in writing.
Are cheap installers safe? Not always. Very cheap quotes often come from metro companies that subcontract regional jobs. Ask who installs and who handles warranty calls.
What happens if my installer goes out of business? Product warranties stay with the manufacturer; workmanship cover usually ends with the company. A long track record, like Tilstons’ 50-plus years, has value.
Should I add a battery now or later? The federal discount and NSW VPP incentive make 2026 a strong time, especially on rural lines prone to outages. If you wait, choose a battery-ready inverter.
How much deposit is normal? Ten per cent or less is common.
What are red flags in a quote? No brand or model numbers, no workmanship period, no export limit, outdated accreditation claims, or pressure to sign today.
Related guides
- We Reviewed the Best Solar Companies in Wagga Wagga (2026)
- The 8 Best Off-Grid Solar Installers in Australia for 2026
About this review
Written by the Solar Cobber editorial team. Last updated October 2026. Solar Cobber is a free, independent Australian solar directory. We may earn referral or advertising fees from installers listed on this site, but commercial relationships never affect rankings or awards, and no company in this review was contacted, paid for placement or given notice. Sources: the seven companies’ websites, Google Maps ratings, SolarQuotes installer profiles, NSW Climate and Energy Action and federal energy department pages, all accessed October 2026. Solar Cobber does not verify or track any company’s accreditation; check the Clean Energy Council approved retailer list and the Solar Accreditation Australia installer register yourself.