The million-plus Australian residents with solar panels on their roofs will be less likely to be treated poorly by power companies and politicians following the creation of a new advocacy group, its backers say.

The group, Solar Citizens, expects to muster tens of thousands of members in a bid to defend the rights of the million-plus homes with panels on their roofs.

Solar Citizens expects to muster tens of thousands of members. Credit:Craig Abraham

“People are feeling vulnerable having invested thousands of dollars in solar panels,” Geoff Evans, manager of Solar Citizens, said. “We think there is a pushback going on.”

In recent months, corporate chiefs including Origin Energy’s managing director Grant King have blamed efforts to promote solar and wind energy for driving up electricity costs. If solar PV owners retain access to the grid but source little power from it, costs will be higher for everybody else, Mr King said in March.