Our Story
We've worked inside the solar industry since 2017. We've seen what goes wrong — and we built Rebate Spy to fix it.
Founded by brothers Pedro & Luis Estrella after watching their own employer collapse and orphan thousands of Australian solar customers.
Where this started
Two brothers. Nine years in solar. One promise we couldn't keep — because the company we worked for went broke.
We're Pedro and Luis Estrella. We've worked inside the Australian solar industry since 2017 — selling, designing, quoting, troubleshooting, and cleaning up other people's messes. We've seen the good, the bad, and the genuinely ugly.
Early in our careers we worked for a retailer whose entire business model was overcharging customers and pushing them onto “0% interest” finance plans that quietly baked in 10–15% merchant fees. On paper, every job was profitable. In reality, they couldn't manage stock, couldn't manage installers, couldn't manage callbacks, and couldn't manage their own books.
Within a few years they were bankrupt — leaving thousands of customers with solar systems and no one to call when something failed. No warranty. No service. No accountability.
The industry-wide problem
It wasn't just one bad company. It's a pattern.
Once we got out, we kept seeing the same story repeat — new retailers flooding the market, selling hard for a few years, then quietly winding up and leaving their customers stranded. Consumer group CHOICE estimates thousands of Australian homes have been left with “orphaned” solar systems — equipment that should still be under warranty, but with no installer left to honour it.
Solar businesses are genuinely hard to run. Stock, installer crews, callbacks, electricians, tech support, warehouse, office overhead, STC paperwork — it all has to work together. Most don't. Industry analysts have flagged that most new solar retailers don't survive their first five years, and when they fold, the customer is the one left holding the bag.
We decided we didn't want to keep watching this happen.
Why Rebate Spy exists
An independent advisor — not a lead farm.
Most “comparison” sites are lead farms. You type your number in, it gets sold three or four times, and your phone lights up with salespeople you never asked to speak to. None of them have been meaningfully checked.
We don't take applications from any installer who wants to “be on the platform.” Our network is small on purpose. Every installer we refer is someone we know personally, have watched operate over time, and would be comfortable putting on our own grandmother's roof.
Here's how we get paid, plainly: the retailers and installers we work with give us their price for the product and the installation, and we add our margin on top of it. That margin covers our marketing, our advisory team and our account managers — and it is already included in the price we quote you. Our calculators and guides are free to use, and you're never obligated to accept a quote.
Our promise to you
Information first. Pressure never.
- No pushy phone calls or high-pressure tactics
- Your details are never sold to multiple companies
- Vetted-only network — no open installer applications
- Honest advice, even if it means telling you to wait
- Free rebate checks, calculators and guides
Free and no obligation. No pushy calls.
The Rebate Spy Service Guarantee
We don't disappear after the introduction.
Most platforms hand off your details and never speak to you again. We're not most platforms. We have an in-house customer care team that stays with you from the first call to the final commissioning.
Real human follow-up
We personally call every homeowner we work with to confirm you're being looked after, not pressured.
Post-install check-in
After install, we follow up to make sure the system is performing and the paperwork is right.
We back you up
If a vetted installer doesn't deliver the service you and we expect, we step in, escalate, and help make it right.
Our guarantee is a service commitment, not a financial warranty — equipment, workmanship, and statutory warranties are provided by the installer and product manufacturers.
How we work
What We Stand For
Independence First
We're not owned by any installer, and we don't install systems ourselves. We give you straight information so you can make the right choice.
Consumer Advocacy
The solar industry is full of misinformation and high-pressure tactics. We cut through the noise with facts.
Transparency
We're upfront about how we make money: our margin is included in the price we quote you, with no separate fee.
Quality Over Quantity
We'd rather connect you with one great installer than ten mediocre ones. That's why we vet everyone.
Our Vetting Checklist
- All accreditations required for the rebates
- Licensed and fully insured business
- Minimum 7 years installation experience
- Strong customer review and complaint history
- Workmanship warranty
- Proper documentation guaranteed
What “Vetted” Really Means
Anyone can claim to vet who they work with. We actually do it, and we're transparent about exactly what we check.
Every retail partner we work with has passed our screening process, and they use accredited installers on every job. If we receive complaints, we investigate and can stop working with partners who don't meet our standards.
Ready to Claim Your Rebate?
Use our calculator to see what you could save, or find out which rebates you're eligible for.