Solar FAQs

Zero Upfront Commercial Solar for Australian Businesses

MetroElectro delivers fully funded commercial and industrial solar and battery systems across Australia. Below are answers to the most common questions from tenants, business operators, landlords and property owners.

For Tenants & Business Operators

How can commercial solar be zero upfront?

There is no catch. MetroElectro operates on an Energy-as-a-Service model. We fund, design, install, own, maintain and operate the entire system. Your business simply pays for the solar energy it produces at a rate that is guaranteed to be lower than your current grid price.

Think of it like a local power plant. Instead of drawing all your energy from a power station hundreds or thousands of kilometres away, MetroElectro provides locally generated solar and battery power from your own site.

MetroElectro earns revenue by financing, owning, managing and operating complex energy generation and storage infrastructure, while reducing risk for your business and for the local network.

Yes. This is one of MetroElectro’s key specialties.

If a tenant installs their own solar system on a leased property, they may be required to “make good” at the end of the lease and return the building to its original condition. With MetroElectro, we negotiate directly with the landlord and secure a separate access agreement, so when you leave the premises there is nothing extra for you to remove, repair or manage.

This means the system can continue delivering value long after your tenancy ends.

MetroElectro handles the negotiation and contracting with your landlord. You simply need to let them know you would like to use MetroElectro and make an introduction. From there, we take care of the rest.

Your existing energy retailer remains in place and you will continue to be billed by them as usual. However, your grid bill will reduce significantly because part of your energy will now come from the MetroElectro system.

You will then receive a monthly invoice from MetroElectro for the solar energy supplied. When combined, your total energy spend is designed to be lower than what you are currently paying.

Yes. Because MetroElectro funds the system, you do not make a capital purchase and your savings begin immediately. There is no traditional payback period because you are not putting upfront capital into the project.

That means the financial benefit starts from day one.

After the initial MetroElectro term expires, which is generally aligned with your current lease term, the agreement is designed to mirror your lease arrangement until you leave the building.

This means you remain free to leave in line with your lease conditions, without make-good obligations related to the solar system.

MetroElectro does everything possible to align our agreement with your current lease term. If your lease is unusually short, we may need to structure the agreement a little differently, but in most cases we can find a commercially sensible solution that aligns everyone’s interests.

Because MetroElectro handles the process end to end, including landlord negotiations, systems can be up and running in as little as 10 weeks. We understand that rising power bills create urgency. 

In many cases, the longest part of the process is internal decision-making.

Very little. MetroElectro handles the engineering, landlord approvals, network applications, construction and ongoing maintenance.

Your team’s role is mainly to review the proposal, approve the solution and then enjoy lower power bills. Billing is also simple. You receive a straightforward monthly invoice showing the amount of power supplied multiplied by the agreed rate.

The agreement between your business and MetroElectro is a power subscription agreement. Your business agrees to purchase energy generated by the MetroElectro system at a set price for a period of time while you remain a tenant of the building.

Savings begin from day one.

Because MetroElectro provides the capital, owns the system and manages it for the life of the asset, your business does not make a capital investment in the hardware. That means your financial return begins immediately.

The only investment your business makes is the internal time required to assess the proposal and approve the agreement.

For Landlords & Property Owners

How do landlords benefit if the tenant is the one saving money?

MetroElectro represents a building upgrade without requiring capital from the landlord.

A tenant with lower energy bills is more likely to remain in the building and renew for longer. At the same time, the property benefits from better ESG performance, stronger tenant appeal and improved long-term competitiveness.

A building with integrated, lower-cost renewable energy can become a more attractive and higher-quality asset. It can help attract stronger tenants, improve retention rates and contribute to ESG outcomes, all without requiring landlord capital expenditure.

MetroElectro enters into long-term access agreements with landlords so that we can service, maintain and operate the equipment over the long term. These agreements are commonly structured as 20 + 20 year access arrangements.

MetroElectro is fully responsible for ongoing maintenance, cleaning, monitoring and repairs.

Because MetroElectro only earns revenue when the system produces power, our incentives are aligned with both the tenant and the landlord. If the system needs repairs or is damaged by an external event such as hail or fire, MetroElectro handles the repairs and any insurance process.

In the meantime, the site simply continues drawing more power from the grid as usual, with no interruption to business operations.

No. MetroElectro systems are engineered to strict Australian standards and require landlord approval before installation begins.

We use tier 1 equipment, accredited mounting solutions and experienced installers specifically suited to industrial rooftops, with the goal of protecting the long-term integrity of the asset.

Solar provides an additional source of electricity during daylight hours. Where batteries are included, they can provide an additional source of stored energy as well.

By adding solar and, where appropriate, battery storage, MetroElectro can improve energy reliability and reduce reliance on an ageing and sometimes unstable grid.

Technical, Commercial Model & Performance

Do we stay connected to the grid?

Yes. Your site remains connected to the grid at all times.

MetroElectro’s solar and battery system supplies local power first, and the grid automatically supplies the rest when required. This gives your business the benefit of lower-cost local generation while preserving the reliability of the grid.

Yes. For sites with high energy use outside daylight hours, or for businesses operating in areas with less stable grid performance, MetroElectro can include battery storage as part of the fully funded solution.

This helps reduce reliance on expensive peak-period grid energy and increases resilience.

A bank loan creates debt on your balance sheet and must be repaid regardless of whether the solar system performs.

MetroElectro’s model is different. It is a service agreement, not a loan or hardware purchase. There is no debt to repay, and you only pay for the energy the system actually produces. MetroElectro takes the performance risk.

Because MetroElectro’s model is a service agreement rather than a hardware purchase, it is generally treated as an operating expense, similar to your existing utility bill, rather than as debt or a capital asset.

This often means it is treated differently to a loan or purchased equipment. As always, your accountant or tax adviser should confirm how this applies to your business.

If reducing power bills and lowering emissions are important to your business, MetroElectro is likely relevant.

The best next step is a Free Energy Audit and ROI Assessment. MetroElectro will benchmark your current energy costs, design a tailored system and show you what savings and emissions reduction may be possible before you commit to anything.

The solar and battery infrastructure remains MetroElectro’s responsibility for the life of the asset. MetroElectro owns, manages, maintains and operates the system throughout the partnership.

Your business is not left with an ageing asset to manage. MetroElectro’s incentives remain aligned with system performance over the long term.

Yes. MetroElectro designs systems with future augmentation in mind. If your business plans to add EV charging, electrify fleet vehicles or increase energy demand over time, solar and battery infrastructure can often be structured to support that transition.

A typical solar and battery installation takes between 3 and 8 weeks, depending on the site and system complexity.

MetroElectro works closely with your team to align installation timing with your operational requirements.

Solar panels are installed on suitable rooftop space. Internal electrical equipment is generally located near or around the main switchboard. Battery systems are usually installed outside the building on a concrete slab close to the switchboard, positioned to avoid interference with business operations.

MetroElectro plans projects to minimise disruption. In most cases, there is no meaningful impact on day-to-day business operations during installation.

Cutover is the point where the solar and battery system is connected to the site’s electrical infrastructure and the external grid.

This usually takes place on a weekend and often lasts between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the system. MetroElectro works with your team to minimise operational disruption as much as possible.

MetroElectro typically aims to deliver emissions reductions of 50% or more from power usage, although the final outcome depends on the site, system size, structure and financial settings of the project.

If your business has a specific emissions target, MetroElectro can discuss that with you during the design process.

MetroElectro provides an estimated emissions reduction as part of the final offer based on expected system performance. Because the relationship is long term, MetroElectro can also provide actual annual emissions reduction data over time.

Because MetroElectro provides the capital, designs, owns and operates the system for its full design life, MetroElectro retains any carbon credits generated.

If carbon credits are strategically important to your business, MetroElectro is open to discussing a commercially sensible solution.

A battery stores excess solar energy generated during the day and releases it later when renewable energy is most valuable, typically in the evening peak.

This can increase the use of on-site solar, reduce reliance on higher-cost peak grid energy and further lower emissions.

Safety & Compliance

What are MetroElectro’s safety procedures?

Safety is a core part of every MetroElectro project. MetroElectro operates under a comprehensive Work Health and Safety management system for commercial and industrial solar projects.

This includes pre-qualification of EPC and installation partners, site-specific risk assessments and Safe Work Method Statements for high-risk tasks such as working at heights, crane operations and high-voltage electrical work.

Installations are delivered in line with relevant Australian standards, including AS/NZS 5033, AS/NZS 4777 and the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules.

The risk of a battery energy storage system fire is statistically very low, particularly under Australia’s strict regulatory environment.

In addition, MetroElectro installs battery systems outside the property envelope and uses multiple layers of fire suppression and protection. The largest risk in the event of a fire is typically to the battery asset itself, which is managed under MetroElectro’s ownership and relevant manufacturer warranties.

Contact us

Power Up Now!

Let’s Work Together

Ready to make an impact? Join us in transforming energy usage, reducing emissions and powering a sustainable future with zero upfront costs. All queries are replied within 1 business day.

Let's Talk