October 10, 2023
The ACCC has warned all households with solar storage batteries to check urgently if their system has a recalled LG battery installed.
If so, they should switch off the affected batteries immediately.
An ACCC spokesperson said that when these batteries malfunction there is a serious risk of injury or death due to the affected batteries overheating and causing a fire.
LG is instructing all consumers with affected LG batteries – which may be branded LG, SolaX, Opal, Red Earth, Eguana or VARTA – to switch their energy storage system off immediately and to keep it switched off “until they are remediated”.
Consumers with affected LG batteries should contact LG or SolaX to arrange either a free battery replacement, a software update or a refund.
“It is critically important that anyone with a solar energy storage system checks their battery’s serial number, as this recall has been updated to include new models, affected systems and dates of manufacture,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
“Even if you don’t have an LG-branded solar storage system, you may still have an LG branded battery that has been recalled. For peace of mind – check your system again and turn off your battery straight away if it has been recalled.”
LG has agreed to provide financial compensation to consumers who have higher electricity bills as a result of not being able to use their battery.
“Please put your safety first and follow this important advice to switch off. LG will compensate consumers who are out-of-pocket on their electricity bills as a result of switching off and not being able to use their battery,” Ms Lowe said.
- Further information is available at the Product Safety Australia website: LG Energy Solution recalls: PRA 2020/18529 and PRA 2022/19550 and SolaX Power recall: PRA 2022/19420.
- External link: LG website
