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 (20%) 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 2nd progress payment (35%) 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 (35%) of RM6,650
13/06/2026: Started using solar energy
19/06/2026: Paid the final progress payment (10%) of RM1,900
01/07/2026: Received email from Solar ATAP myTNB informing eligibility to claim Sustainable Rebate & Incentive Assistance (SuRIA) Home cash rebate RM3,000. Filled in and submitted details (bank account etc.) . Payment advice to be notified in the next 7 working days.
03/07/2026: Received SuRIA Home cash rebate of RM3,000.
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| Delivery of materials |
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| Solar panels |
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| Micro-inverters |
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| Skylift |
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| Hoisting of railing |
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| Roof checking before installation work |
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| Installation of Solar DB & PV meter |
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| Solar AC Box above TNB Main Distribution Box |
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| Solar AC Box |
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| Lifting of solar panels |
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| Railing & micro-inverters installed |
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| Solar panel installation in progress |
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| Pathgreen PIC Ahmad |
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| Replacing 2 no. damaged roof tiles (I have prepared 10 pc. Monier roof tiles, but only 2 were used) |
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| Installers ready to descend after completion of work |
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| Solar panels installation just completed |
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| Capturing aerial-view photos from skylift cage |
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| Solar panel installation completed |
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| DTU placed |
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| Solar AC Box & voltage captured |
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| Solar AC Box (PV Meter on the left) |
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| Trunking waterfall cable flow completed |
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| Aerial-view photo |
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