We have some news we’re very proud of. Winki Energy has earned the SolarQuotes Gold Rated Installer badge and if you’re choosing a solar installer in Victoria, here’s exactly what that means for you.
We’re not the type of company to make a big song and dance over every milestone. But this one we are thrilled to share, because it’s not handed out to installers simply paying for the status or having the biggest marketing budget! It’s earned through hard work and from the honest feedback of real customers who took the time to share how the job went.
With 81 verified reviews and a perfect 5.0 star rating on SolarQuotes, the badge reflects something our team has worked hard to build since day one: a business where the quality of the install and the experience of the customer actually matter.
What Is the SolarQuotes Gold Rated Installer Badge?
SolarQuotes.com.au has been Australia’s most trusted solar comparison platform since 2009. They operate independently, which means they have no financial incentive to favour any particular installer. Their job is to connect homeowners with quality trades companies, and their ratings are driven entirely by real post-installation customer reviews.
To hold the prestigious Gold Rated Installer badge, an installer must consistently receive strong reviews across four categories: value for money, quality of system, installation workmanship, and customer service. There’s no shortcut. An installer either earns the rating through genuine performance, or they don’t hold it.
SolarQuotes has been operating long enough to know the difference between a company that performs well once and a company that performs consistently. The Gold badge reflects the latter.
What Our Numbers Look Like on SolarQuotes?
A perfect five star average rating. 89% of our 81 reviewers awarded us five stars. Not a single review has come in below four stars. That’s the result of a team that treats every job like the customer can see everything they’re doing, because they often can.
What This Actually Means for Homeowners in Victoria
Most people getting solar ‘don’t know what they don’t know’. They’re comparing quotes from multiple companies, trying to work out who to trust, and worrying about whether the panel brand matters more than the installer behind the job.
The SolarQuotes Gold badge cuts through some of that uncertainty. When you see it on our listing, it means many other homeowners in Victoria have already been through the process with us. They’ve had the quote, the install, the inspection, and the months of actual usage, and they’ve come back to say it went well.
For us, the badge matters most for what it represents in practice:
In-house workforce
We proudly have one of Victoria’s largest in-house installation workforces with 13 SAA-accredited electricians and 10 apprentices, across our full-time crews based in Torquay, Geelong, and Melbourne. This gives Winki full control over work quality and direct accountability to our customers.
We’re career electricians, not a sales company
Steve Cox started Winki as a licensed electrician in Torquay. That trade background shapes how we operate. We give honest advice on system sizing. We don’t push upgrades you don’t need. If the install throws up a complication, we sort it rather than walk away from it.
We’re here after the job is done
A few of our SolarQuotes reviews came in months or even a year after the original install. Customers came back to update their review because we’d continued to be available. That’s the part of this industry that matters most in the long run, and it’s what separates a genuinely good installer from one that fades away after a system is delivered.
What Our Customers Said
Tim, VIC 3216 (13kW Trina + Sigenergy system)
“Winki provided the full home backup solution I was after with quality products. The sales team and install team worked seamlessly and the system is working as expected”
★★★★★
Margarita, Geelong Region
“The quoting process was excellent. Dexter Magpantay from Winki Energy, came to visit before sending the quote giving advice as to what he thought was best for us. The installation was tidy, punctual, polite and done in a day. Customer service was excellent. And the grid connection was organised by them, happened about a week later. Dexter has been extremely helpful at all times with any questions I had about the system. He responded quickly to all my text and emails. My battery was audited randomly last week and I rang Dexter for advice and information about my battery and panels and he assisted on the spot via a phone call and spoke with the inspector.
I highly recommend Winki Energy to anyone, it has been a seamless and efficient install, with great support afterwards. My solar system has been in place since March 2026 and on the second day of June is the first day we are importing energy from the grid as the weather has been extremely cloudy.”
★★★★★
Wendy, VIC 3217
“From the beginning with David coming to our home sitting down with us and listening to our questions, analysing our current power bill and then sending through quotes, we knew we were in good hands. There was never any upselling. Just honest recommendations. Whole process was quick and easy which surprised us the most. Should have done it sooner is our only regret. Great job Winki!”
★★★★★
Luke, VIC 3025
“I had a Sigenergy battery and gateway installed by Winki Energy. Starting off the quoting process with Jack was easy and straight forward. I changed my mind multiple times and frequently asked for more information or details. Jack was always friendly and helpful. The system and costing was very clear and detailed.
Install team were professional and knowledgeable. Tom explained everything throughout the process. They had to deal with some issues from my original solar install which made the job a bit more of a pain. This was handled without complaint and they put in extra effort to deliver a better install when all finished. I highly recommend Winki Energy and they will be my first call if I ever need solar or batteries again in the future.”
See more reviews here.
A Note on How We Got Here
Winki started small. Steve Cox was doing residential solar in Torquay, and the company has grown from there to a team of 32 spread across three full-time bases. That growth hasn’t happened through flashy marketing. It’s happened because homeowners refer us to their friends and family, and because the work we do holds up over time.
Getting the Gold badge from SolarQuotes is a reflection of that. We applied to be part of their network, we’ve had to meet their standards, and our customers have reviewed us honestly. The rating that comes out of that process is one we’re proud of.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT SOLARQUOTES AND THE GOLD BADGE
Answers To The Most Common Commercial Solar Questions
Are SolarQuotes reviews verified?
Yes. SolarQuotes cross-checks review submissions against actual installation records and their quote platform to confirm the reviewer was a genuine customer. They don’t publish unverified reviews.
Does the Gold badge mean Winki Energy is the most expensive installer?
No. Our average score for value for money across 81 reviews sits at 4.9 out of 5. Customers have paid anywhere from under $4,000 for a small 6kW system through to over $20,000 for large battery-backed setups. The badge reflects quality of products and service, not a price tier.
What area does Winki Energy service?
We cover Greater Melbourne, Greater Geelong, the Bellarine and Surf Coast regions, and broader regional Victoria. If you’re unsure whether we service your area, give us a call on 1300 494 654.
Do you do commercial solar as well as residential?
Yes. We handle residential and commercial solar, battery storage, EV chargers, and heat pump hot water systems. All installed in-house by our own SAA-accredited electricians.
What happens if something goes wrong after installation?
We honour our warranties and we stay reachable. We’re career electricians. This isn’t a side business. If your system has an issue, you can contact us directly and we’ll deal with it.
