Do I need government approval to install solar panels on my landed home?
Usually you personally need none — that is our job. Ordinary landed homes need no URA planning permission as long as panels sit within 1m of the roof (URA permission only applies in conservation or special urban-design areas, which we check for you). Landed homes of up to 3 storeys that don't share facilities are exempt from SCDF fire-plan submission. The grid-connection application to SP Group is made by our Licensed Electrical Worker. You sign one quotation; we run every approval.
Who applies to SP Group and EMA for my solar connection?
Wong Lye does, through our Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW). The LEW submits the grid-connection application to SP Group, coordinates the technical checks, and registers your system for export credit. Systems under 1 MW — every landed home — need no EMA generation licence at all. The only thing we need from you is your SP bill, because the SP account holder's name must match the application.
How do I get paid for excess solar power I export to the grid?
Under the Simplified Credit Treatment (SCT) scheme, the electricity you don't use flows into the grid through your AMI smart meter, and SP credits it against your bill at the prevailing rate. If your current meter is not an AMI meter, the swap is arranged as part of our installation — you can see which type you have from a photo of your meter, which is one of the five photos we ask for.
Will my roof need strengthening before solar panels?
Sometimes. A 20-panel system adds roughly 800–1,000 kg spread across the roof. Reinforced-concrete roofs from the 1990s onward are usually fine; older clay-tile or lightweight metal roofs may need structural review by a Professional Engineer — a BCA requirement that pure solar vendors often discover late. As a BCA-licensed General Builder we assess the structure before quoting, and if strengthening or waterproofing is needed, we do that work ourselves in the same mobilisation.
How long does the whole process take?
From signed quotation, the typical landed-home timeline is 4–8 weeks: paperwork and approvals run in parallel with equipment ordering (2–4 weeks), the physical installation takes 2–5 days, and SP's meter work and turn-on follow. Your part takes minutes — five phone photos at the start, and being home for the site visit and the installation days.
What do I need to prepare for a solar quotation?
Five phone photos: your DB box with the door open, your SP meter, your latest SP bill (the page with the 6-month usage chart), your roof from all sides including anything sitting on it, and how you access the roof. Plus three quick answers — roof age and material, any past leaks, and whether anyone is home using aircon in the daytime. WhatsApp them to us and the site visit becomes a confirmation, not an investigation.
