Today, we’re sitting down with Halcol Energy owner and director, Andy Colley. As we celebrate 10 years of Halcol Energy, we thought it was a great chance to talk to Andy about what’s changed in the last decade, what motivates him, and what we can expect from the next decade and beyond!
Hi Andy, firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Andy Colley, I’m a director and the owner of Halcol Energy Pty. Limited. I oversee the day-to-day running of the company and I oversee the direction and forward planning that the company goes in. My drive is to help reduce the power bills of our customers and to help them understand their energy use. I have young children and I am passionate in educating them about the ways we can change the impact we are having on the environment like the use of renewable energy.
What motivated you to start Halcol Energy 10 years ago?
My business partner and I were moving our families from the UK to Australia where we were closely associated to a renewable energy company. We wanted to stay involved in the industry and to continue our crusade in making a difference to the world in which we live.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I guess it’s getting the customers ringing in or emailing with a thank you note and a copy of an energy bill that was, for example an $800 quarterly bill and is now in credit.
Why do you think Halcol Energy has been so successful?
The key for us is the depth of knowledge and experience in the industry of our team. Most of our staff have been with Halcol or in the industry for years. We know what to expect and can help to take the customers concerns away. From the initial consultation with the office through to the final installation and aftercare service.
What are the most common questions you get asked about solar?
The most common questions we get asked are “Will solar work for me?” and “Why is there so much confusing information in the industry?”. To answer the first questions, will solar work for me? Yes, good products installed well on the right roof will definitely reduce your bills considerably. The second question is a bit harder to answer, the difficulty we have with this industry, is the number of new companies that are setting up. They set up due to the government incentives that are offered and then try to mislead the customer into buying products they really don’t understand or know about themselves.
Is that why customers come to you?
I believe customers come to us because we’ve got so much experience in the industry and because we look after our customers which seems to be a rarity in business these days. We try to be the go-to guys and make the whole process easy for the customer.
If there is an issue with the system after install it’s a confidence for the customer that only six and a half thousand installs and over eleven years in the industry could give, that we’re here to do the right thing.
Can you sum up what Halcol Energy offers to customers?
Longevity, knowledge, integrity and reliability. I think that sums up what we offer to customers. Our strategy is to be constantly in touch with the industry. Keeping up with advancements into more efficient products and battery storage and making sure we continue in our quest to make a difference.
What advice would you give for people considering going solar?
Research, reviews, history, buy local and don’t be fooled by gimmicks or cheap prices. My mum used to say “buy cheap buy twice”. Because solar works. It does reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. Reduces your carbon impact on this beautiful area of ours and saves you money. There’s no passive investment you can do that works for you as well as a well-installed solar system. We know, we’ve got the testimonials to prove it.
