Plico Energy reviews are mixed as at November 2026: 4.1 stars from roughly 370 Google reviews, 4.5 from 64 on SolarQuotes, 3.2 from 73 on ProductReview.com.au and 2.3 from 8 on Trustpilot. Plico Energy is the trading name of Starling Energy Group Pty Ltd, a solar and battery retailer based in Osborne Park, Perth, selling in Western Australia and New South Wales, upfront or on a 10-year weekly plan tied to its virtual power plant (VPP). Our verdict: upfront prices are competitive, but the weekly plan adds roughly 50% to the cost. This is independent desk research. We did not contact Plico Energy and were not paid. Plico Energy is listed in our directory.
Key facts
- Plico Energy holds 4.1 stars from 368 Google reviews, 4.5 stars from 64 SolarQuotes reviews, 3.2 stars from 73 ProductReview.com.au reviews and 2.3 stars from 8 Trustpilot reviews, all checked in November 2026.
- Plico Energy is a business name of Starling Energy Group Pty Ltd (ABN 47 617 042 592), which ABN Lookup shows as active since 18 April 2017 and located in postcode 6017 (Osborne Park, WA).
- Plico Energy’s WA website in November 2026 lists a 6.6 kW solar system with a 9.3 kWh AlphaESS battery from A$35 a week over 10 years or from A$11,920 upfront, after rebates.
- Plico Energy’s published Rates and Charges page describes 521 weekly instalments, adjusted each 1 July by the Perth Consumer Price Index, plus a A$250 mobilisation and membership fee.
- The Clean Energy Finance Corporation announced on 1 December 2025 that it would invest up to A$35 million in Starling Energy Group, which trades as Plico.
- Plico Energy says its virtual power plant pays members three times their electricity tariff, a minimum of 97 c/kWh, for battery energy exported during a grid event.
Plico Energy at a glance
This table summarises public information about Plico Energy, checked in November 2026. See also the Plico Energy directory page.
| Item | Detail (November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Legal entity | Starling Energy Group Pty Ltd, ABN 47 617 042 592 (ABN Lookup) |
| Founded | Registered 2017. Plico says its first installations were in Dunsborough, WA, in 2019 |
| Head office | 46 Edward Street, Osborne Park WA 6017 |
| Areas served | WA main grid (Perth, South West, Albany) and NSW (Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle) plus Canberra, per its website |
| Backer | Gresham House, formerly SUSI Partners (company statement) |
| Brands | AlphaESS, FoxESS and Sigenergy batteries. Jinko and Astronergy panels |
| Warranty | 10 years on battery and inverter (company statement). Workmanship warranty length not separately published |
| 4.1 stars, 368 reviews | |
| SolarQuotes | 4.5 stars, 64 reviews |
| ProductReview.com.au | 3.2 stars, 73 reviews |
| Trustpilot | 2.3 stars, 8 reviews |
| Accreditation as stated by Plico | New Energy Tech Approved Seller, Smart Energy Council member |
Solar Cobber does not verify accreditation. Check the Clean Energy Council approved retailer list (New Energy Tech Consumer Code) and look up your installer on the Solar Accreditation Australia register yourself.
Is Plico Energy any good?
Plico Energy is a legitimate, well-funded WA battery specialist with a working VPP, but its service record in 2026 is uneven and its weekly plan is an expensive way to buy. Plico Energy uses mainstream battery brands, publishes indicative prices, and its upfront prices sit close to the Solar Choice average for Perth.
The gap between review platforms is wide. Customers invited by Plico through Reviews.io rate it 4.9 from 69 reviews, while open platforms sit at 3.2 (ProductReview.com.au) and 2.3 (Trustpilot, a very small sample). Low-star reviews cluster around installation delays and unreturned calls in the first half of 2026, when rebate demand was high. Our explainer on why a star rating alone tells you little covers how to read these gaps.
What customers praise
Positive Plico Energy reviews most often mention a low-pressure sales process, tidy installation and a useful monitoring app. On SolarQuotes, where 56 of 64 reviews are four or five stars, the sub-ratings in November 2026 were 4.6 for value, 4.6 for installation, 4.5 for system quality and 4.3 for customer service. Reviewers also credit staff for handling rebate and loan paperwork, and say weekly payments made a battery affordable.
Common Plico Energy complaints
The most common Plico Energy complaints in public reviews are long installation waits and poor communication after signing. These are patterns in customer reviews, not regulator findings.
- Installation delays. Reviews on ProductReview.com.au, Trustpilot and SolarQuotes from roughly February to June 2026 describe installs pushed back or cancelled, with rebate demand given as the reason.
- Unreturned calls and emails. The same platforms carry complaints about slow replies after signing, including on battery faults.
- Scope changes after the sale. Some reviewers say sales staff confirmed compatibility with an existing solar system, EV charger or tile roof, and the install team later declined or changed the job.
- Backup expectations. One Reviews.io reviewer was surprised that only one circuit was backed up. Plico’s AlphaESS and FoxESS packages back up selected essential circuits, not the whole house.
Plico Energy replies to reviews on SolarQuotes and ProductReview.com.au.
Products and brands Plico Energy installs
Plico Energy sells three battery tiers in November 2026: Best Value (AlphaESS), Smart Choice (FoxESS) and Full Feature (Sigenergy), with Jinko or Astronergy panels.
- AlphaESS. Plico does not name the exact model. Our AlphaESS SMILE-G3 review covers one current unit.
- FoxESS. See our Fox ESS battery review.
- Sigenergy SigenStor. The premium option, with optional whole-home backup. See our Sigenergy SigenStor review.
- Jinko Tiger Neo panels. See our Jinko Tiger Neo review.
Plico Energy prices: what does Plico cost per week?
Plico Energy solar and battery packages in WA are advertised from A$35 to A$67 a week over 10 years, or from A$11,920 to A$22,890 upfront, as at November 2026. Battery-only systems start from A$26 a week or A$8,725 upfront. Plico states these prices are indicative, include rebates and its A$1,500 VPP discount, and assume a standard installation.
How the weekly plan works
Plico Finance is a 10-year secured personal loan, not a rental. These terms come from Plico’s Rates and Charges page, Target Market Determination and finance page, checked in November 2026. Confirm every figure in your own contract.
- Term. 521 weekly instalments over 10 years.
- Indexation. Instalments are adjusted each 1 July by the Perth Consumer Price Index, after the first 11 to 23 months.
- Rates. For WA products Plico publishes interest rates of 4.56% to 9.99% and comparison rates of 5.00% to 15.98%, excluding CPI.
- Fees. A A$250 mobilisation and membership fee, a A$10 late fee and 8.5% a year default interest.
- Security and ownership. Plico takes a deemed mortgage over the system. Plico says you own it outright after 10 years.
- Exit. You can buy the system out at any time with no fees or penalties, at a contract buyout amount that falls each year. Plico says the finance can transfer to the buyer if you sell the home.
- Cancelling before installation. A fee of A$390 to A$1,299 applies, rising as the install date nears.
- Conditions. An Experian credit score of at least 700 and a VPP service agreement.
Weekly plan vs paying upfront: total cost
This table multiplies Plico Energy’s advertised weekly price by 521 instalments and compares it with Plico’s upfront price for the same package (WA, checked November 2026). It ignores CPI increases.
| Plico package (WA) | From, per week | Total over 521 weeks | From, upfront | Extra cost of weekly plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 kW solar + 9.3 kWh AlphaESS | A$35 | A$18,235 | A$11,920 | A$6,315 (53%) |
| 8.08 kW solar + 18.6 kWh AlphaESS | A$39 | A$20,319 | A$13,310 | A$7,009 (53%) |
| 6.6 kW solar + 9 kWh Sigenergy | A$41 | A$21,361 | A$14,055 | A$7,306 (52%) |
| Battery only, 9.3 to 14 kWh AlphaESS | A$26 | A$13,546 | A$8,725 | A$4,821 (55%) |
On our calculation, A$35 a week against A$11,920 implies interest of about 9% a year. As an illustration only, if CPI ran at 3% a year from year two, the A$35 plan would total about A$20,900. Plico’s page does not say which finance mix each weekly price assumes, so ask.
How that compares with buying elsewhere
Plico Energy’s upfront price is close to the market average. The Solar Choice Price Index for November 2026 puts an average 6 kW system in Perth at A$5,230 after the federal solar discount, and an average 10 kWh battery at A$7,384 to A$7,984 installed after the federal battery discount. Together that is about A$12,600 to A$13,200, or roughly A$11,300 to A$11,900 after the A$1,300 WA battery rebate for Synergy customers.
A cheaper way to spread the cost is the WA no-interest loan of up to A$10,000, covered in our WA solar rebate guide. The federal battery discount steps down on 1 January 2027.
Plico VPP: how it works and what it pays
A virtual power plant (VPP) is a network of home batteries that an operator controls remotely to support the grid. Every Plico Energy finance customer signs a VPP service agreement, and joining an approved VPP is a condition of the WA battery rebate.
Plico says its VPP pays three times your electricity tariff, with a minimum of 97 c/kWh, for energy your battery exports during an event, credited to your Synergy bill. Events are rare: Plico reports two fleet-wide events in summer 2024-25. During an event the battery is discharged for up to four hours in the evening, so you may buy grid power overnight.
Plico says finance members can opt out only by paying off the system. Its VPP FAQ says the VPP operates only in WA, so NSW buyers should ask.
Warranty and after-sales support
Plico Energy states a 10-year warranty on batteries and inverters, a 15-year panel product warranty, and remote monitoring for the life of the agreement. Its support page lists exclusions: you must keep a stable internet connection, panel cleaning is not included, and a technician visits only when a fault cannot be fixed remotely. We could not find a stated workmanship warranty length, so get it in writing.
If any installer stops trading, manufacturer warranties usually continue but workmanship cover may not, and a loan would still be owed. Our solar company failures tracker explains what happens in practice.
Company background
Plico Energy began as the Dunsborough Community Energy Project, set up by Starling Energy Group with funding from SUSI Partners, according to its website. The company says it expanded to NSW in 2025 and has installed more than 6,000 batteries.
Plico Finance loans are issued by CEPCO 2022 Pty Ltd (ABN 73 664 797 102) under the Australian Credit Licence of Allied Financial Consulting Pty Ltd, per Plico’s Credit Guide.
We found no public enforcement action against Plico Energy as at November 2026.
Plico Energy vs alternatives
This table compares Plico Energy with two established Perth installers. Google ratings were checked in November 2026.
| Company | Google rating (reviews) | Workmanship warranty | Brands named on its site | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plico Energy | 4.1 (368) | Not separately published | AlphaESS, FoxESS, Sigenergy | Weekly payments with a built-in VPP |
| Regen Power | 4.9 (1,331) | Not stated on home page | Fronius, GoodWe, iStore, Sungrow | A long-running Perth installer (it says since 2003) |
| PSW Energy | 4.9 (938) | Not stated on home page | Tesla, Sigenergy, GoodWe, Jinko | Published package prices |
For a wider shortlist, see our guide to the top solar companies in Perth.
Who Plico Energy suits, and who should look elsewhere
Plico Energy suits WA homeowners who want one company for the battery, the finance and the VPP, and who qualify for the WA no-interest loan or value spreading the cost.
Look elsewhere, or pay Plico upfront, if you have savings or cheaper credit, since the weekly plan adds roughly A$4,800 to A$7,300 on the packages above. Households with unreliable internet, or who do not want remote control of their battery, should compare other options.
Questions to ask Plico Energy before you sign
Use these with our guides to comparing solar quotes and choosing a solar installer.
- What is the upfront price of this exact system, and the total of all weekly payments?
- Is my payment indexed to CPI, and what comparison rate applies?
- What is the buyout amount at the end of years 1, 3 and 5?
- Which circuits are backed up in a blackout?
- What is the workmanship warranty, in writing, and who installs?
- What is the confirmed installation date, and what happens if it moves?
FAQ
Is Plico Energy legit?
Yes, Plico Energy is a legitimate business. It is the trading name of Starling Energy Group Pty Ltd, ABN 47 617 042 592, active on ABN Lookup since 18 April 2017 and based in Osborne Park, WA.
How much does Plico cost per week?
Plico Energy advertises WA solar and battery packages from A$35 to A$67 a week over 10 years, and battery-only systems from A$26 a week, as at November 2026. These are indicative prices after rebates. Plico’s rate documents say instalments rise each July with the Perth Consumer Price Index.
Is Plico worth it?
Plico Energy is worth considering if you pay upfront or use the WA no-interest loan, because its upfront prices are close to the Perth average. The weekly Plico Finance plan costs about 50% more than the upfront price on Plico’s own figures. Compare both options against at least two other quotes.
Do you own the system at the end of a Plico plan?
Yes, Plico Energy says you own the solar and battery system outright once the 10-year finance term is paid. Its Target Market Determination says you can also buy the system out earlier with no fees or penalties, at a contract amount that falls each year.
What are the most common Plico complaints?
The most common Plico Energy complaints in public reviews are installation delays, unreturned calls and emails, and job scope changing after the sale. These appear mainly on ProductReview.com.au, Trustpilot and SolarQuotes in reviews from the first half of 2026.
How does the Plico VPP pay you?
Plico Energy says its VPP pays three times your electricity tariff, with a minimum of 97 c/kWh, for battery energy exported during a VPP event. In WA the payment is a credit on your Synergy bill. Plico reports two fleet-wide events in summer 2024-25, so treat the income as small and irregular.
Is Plico Energy CEC approved?
Plico Energy states on its website that it is a New Energy Tech Approved Seller. Solar Cobber does not verify accreditation, so check the approved seller list on the New Energy Tech Consumer Code website and the Solar Accreditation Australia installer register yourself.
Sources
- Plico Energy (checked November 2026): solar and battery prices, battery-only prices, Rates and Charges, Target Market Determination, Credit Guide, Plico Finance, warranty, VPP FAQ, VPP facts, Our Story
- ABN Lookup: Starling Energy Group Pty Ltd
- Clean Energy Finance Corporation media release, 1 December 2025
- Solar Choice, November 2026: solar price index and battery price index
- Review platforms: SolarQuotes, ProductReview.com.au, Trustpilot, Reviews.io
- New Energy Tech Consumer Code: find an approved seller
About this review
Written by the Solar Cobber editorial team from independent desk research, checked in November 2026. Solar Cobber is a free directory that may earn referral or advertising fees from installers. Commercial relationships never affect our content. This is not financial advice. For corrections, use our contact page.
Filed under Solar Installers
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