Sparking change - where good energy meets great service

Bobbi McKibbin loves her job.

Yackandandah born and bred, Bobbi found her passion when she started working for a local solar company in 2007 and is now co-owner of Solar Integrity Albury Wodonga.

“I love seeing our customers reducing their electricity bills by adding renewables, but it also just makes their lives a little bit easier.

“My mother is an older person on a pension, but she’s got a great solar system. It means she’s paying a much lower electricity bill than what she’d be doing otherwise, but it also means she can live in greater comfort because she can afford to run her heater in winter and her air conditioner in summer without worrying about what it’s costing her,” said Bobbi.

As an SEC-endorsed installer, Solar Integrity Albury Wodonga supports its customers in improving their energy efficiency, saving money and reducing their emissions by installing solar, battery systems, and hot water units across a wide swathe of North-East Victoria.

“We service an area within a two-hour radius from Wodonga, from Mansfield to Corryong, helping our customers to improve their energy efficiency at home or meet their energy independence goals.”

A keen advocate for the renewables sector, Bobbi holds a volunteer non-executive position on Solar Accreditation Australia’s Board. She also sits on the Victorian Government’s Solar Victoria Industry and Consumer Reference Group and was a founding member of AWISE – Australian Women In Solar Energy.

“For me, it’s about doing things a smarter way. If we can stop digging coal out of the ground and transition to renewables, it helps the planet, but it also helps with overheads.”

Solar Integrity works with its customers every step of the way, starting with a conversation that puts their hopes and needs at the forefront. They’ll ask for details about a customer’s goals, plans, and concerns.

“They may be considering electrification or introducing an electric vehicle (EV). These factors will impact their usage.”

The consultant will then request electricity bills to assess energy consumption and look at rebate eligibility, before arranging to inspect the site.

“Having that physical inspection is really important, particularly with positioning hardware, such as batteries. We check the meter box and look at the roof if they’re interested in solar. It helps to firm up the quotation so there aren’t any hidden extras. Once we’ve done the quote, we don’t add anything else to the cost.”

The Solar Integrity team can also help customers apply for rebates and pride themselves on customer service before and after an installation.

But Bobbi says the best part of her job is seeing the difference it makes to households when they’ve achieved their energy-efficiency goals.

“I love reconnecting with our customers after they’ve had their installations. They get really excited and want to share their stories. I love hearing about it because you know that what you’re doing is meaningful and has purpose, seeing the difference it’s made in their lives. They’ve been saving on their bills, and they can spend money on things that are more important to them.”

Bobbi said it was an easy decision for her business to apply to become an SEC-endorsed installer.

“I remember SEC as a kid and I thought it was an exciting project to be involved in. The new SEC is very different and it’s great to see the strong customer focus. Being truly customer focused is really important to us too, so it was an opportunity for us to jump in and work on something that aligns with our values.

“The process also benefits households who could enjoy the peace of mind of knowing their installers had been through a due diligence process run by a government-owned company.”