MY ROOFTOP SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) INSTALLATION

In view of the escalating TNB electricity bill in my house, I decided to install solar panels on my roof for the first time after living here for 32 years.

Four (4) Registered PV Service Providers (RPVSP) were approached, viz. Brilliant Solar, Green Innotech, Pathgreen Energy and Eco Hybrid Solar. Three of them came for site inspection using a drone to check the roof and advise on the required quantity  of panels based on the existing single-phase power. The other service provider came without using drone.

It is decided that a system of 12 pieces of solar panels and 3 nos. of micro-inverters is to be used and the prices varied from RM19,000 to RM24,000.

I have resorted to DeepSeek and ChatGPT to provide evaluations and recommendations on all 4 proposals received, considering financial value, technical & brand strength, programme choice, provider's credibility & experience and etc. Both AI models impressed me very much for their instantaneous responses with very detailed and comprehensive feedback.

I finally decided to select Pathgreen Energy for submitting the most competitive quotation in view of the following factors:

1. Lowest price per kWp / Best price-to-size ratio

2. Strong after-sales support including:

(a) 5-year free O&M / monitoring / annual maintenance

(b) 5-year workmanship warranty

3. Premium hardware stack

4. Commercial-grade installer discipline

5. Good ROI / payback estimate

Pathgreen Energy’s package comprises 12 pc. AIKO 670Wp and 3 no. Hoymiles micro-inverters 8.04 kWp for a total amount of RM19,000.

ChatGPT also provided a technical audit by stating that AIKO 670W is viewed as premium/high-efficiency (Tier-1, 30-year performance), and Hoymiles micro-inverter has good smart monitoring ecosystem and strong growth / adoption in Malaysia. 

PROGRESS TIMELINE

08/05/2026: Paid down-payment of RM3,800

18/05/2026: ATAP application submitted to SEDA

19/05/2026: Preliminary Assessment Report received from Pathgreen (covering site details, roof details, electrical point, proposed system design of panel layout / shading analysis / proposed cable route and Solar AC Box configuration etc.) 

25/05/2026: Installation of solar panels / micro-inverters / cabling & trunking /

Solar AC Box (incl. PV Meter) / setting up Data Transfer Unit (DTU):

8.25 am  Materials delivered on site

9.25 am  Skylift and installers (6 general workers + 1 supervisor) arrived

Pathgreen PIC Ahmad Zulfaqarulla came later to create plant & monitoring system (DTU).

1.05 pm  All works completed

Work done: hook & railing installation / panel hoisting, installation & alignment / DC/AC & earthing cable lay & termination / inverter & combination box installation / trunking AC installation / system testing & monitoring / housekeeping

25/05/2026: Paid 2^nd progress payment of RM6,650

25/05/2026: Site Progress Report & Hoymiles Solar Monitoring System User Manual received from Pathgreen

26/05/2026: Approval of eATAP Application received, pending issuance of digital certificate

29/05/2026: ATAP Certificate of Approval (digital) issued by SEDA 

04/06/2026: Pathgreen submitted ATAP application to TNB, after obtaining the SuRIA Home cash rebate guidelines (w.e.f. June 1, 2026):

Stage 1: Submission of ATAP application & contract

Stage 2: Approval from TNB HQ whether need to change meter or just activation of the export features

Stage 3: Payment of stamp duty and outstanding bill

Stage 4: Meter change or activation of the export features

Stage 5: Completed - Welcome Letter via email 

11/06/2026:  TNB Customer Service emailed for "One-time Charges Payment" (stamp duty) RM10.  Paid outstanding electricity bill incl. this stamp duty. 

12/06/2026: Received TNB's ATAP Welcome Letter and Summary of Account Information.  No meter change is necessary. Solar ATAP commissioning date is 11/06/2026 (for 10 years until 30/06/2036).

12/06/2026: Paid 3rd progress payment of RM6,650

13/06/2026: Started using solar energy

Delivery of materials

Solar panels

Micro-inverters

Skylift

Hoisting of railing

Roof checking before installation work

Installation of Solar DB & PV meter

Solar AC Box above TNB Main Distribution Box

Solar AC Box

Lifting of solar panels

Railing & micro-inverters installed

Solar panel installation in progress

Pathgreen PIC Ahmad

Replacing 2 no. damaged roof tiles
(I have prepared 10 pc. Monier roof tiles, but only 2 were used)

Installers ready to descend after completion of work

Solar panels installation just completed

Capturing aerial-view photos from skylift cage

Solar panel installation completed

DTU placed

Solar AC Box & voltage captured

Solar AC Box (PV Meter on the left)

Trunking waterfall cable flow completed

Aerial-view photo 

SOME VIDEO CLIPS ON THE DAY OF INSTALLATION:

After completion of the installation work, I was pleased to post a 5-star Google review to express my satisfaction and appreciation to Pathgreen Energy Sdn. Bhd. as follows:

https://share.google/3WZUXUeFJoNcg334Z