Most assignment forms name the installer, but the form is flexible about who the other party is. Two situations come up: choosing a different company in place of the installer, and the more common case where the installer moves the certificates on to someone else.
Assigning to a different company
The right to create STCs belongs initially to the system owner, and the owner can assign it to another person or company. The assignee has to be able to act in the Clean Energy Regulator’s registry. Reasons a household might want this include a business that buys certificates at a better price, or a family company, trust or solar-lease provider that holds the system.
The practical problem is the installer. A discounted quote assumes the installer collects the STC value. If you route the STCs elsewhere, the installer loses the funding for the discount and will probably quote a higher price, so the net result is the same as declining to assign. Settle the question before you accept the quote, not after.
Installers assigning onward
It is routine for installers to sell or assign certificates to a trader. If you assigned to the installer, they are free to do this, and it does not change your discount. What matters to you is that the installer meets their side of the quote. For installers, choosing a buyer is a business decision: see our checklist for choosing a certificate trader.
Third parties that hold the system
If a company, trust or lease provider owns the system, the owner of the STCs is that entity, and the form must be signed on its behalf. The details on the form (name, address, ABN where relevant) need to match. See who owns the STCs in a solar system.
What to do
- Ask the installer in writing whether they will accept a different assignee, and how that changes the price.
- Confirm the assignee is registered and can pay you or the installer on time.
- Work out the value: a zone 3, 6.6 kW system earns about 45 STCs in 2026, roughly $1,710 to $1,800 at $38 to $40. Check with the STC calculator.
What this means for you
Unless you have a specific reason, assigning to the installer is simpler. Read the assignment form guide, the homeowners pillar and, if you are an installer looking for a buyer, pricing and start trading.
Common questions
Does the third party pay me? Only if you agree terms; there is no automatic payment. Is a written agreement necessary? Yes, keep one, alongside the signed form.