Assigning is the legal step that lets your installer claim the certificates for your solar system. You are the original owner of the right. By signing an assignment form, you transfer it to the installer, who then creates the STCs in the Clean Energy Regulator registry and sells them to a trader.
What the form says
An STC assignment form is a short document. It includes your name and contact details, the installation address, the system details such as panel and inverter models and the size in kilowatts, and a declaration that you agree to transfer the right to create the certificates. It also usually confirms that you have been told the value of the STCs or that the discount has been included in your price. A fuller requirements list is in STC assignment form requirements.
Why the discount follows
The installer cannot get paid for the STCs until they have been created and sold, so they price the discount in as part of the deal. You see a lower figure on the invoice. That is the benefit of assigning.
What to check before you sign
- The system size on the form matches your quote.
- The address and your name are correct, because registry mistakes can cause rejections.
- The STC count and dollar value are shown on the quote or invoice.
- You have a signed copy.
What can go wrong
Problems are rare but real. A vague form, a missing signature or an incorrect address can lead to a rejected claim. If that happens, the installer should fix it, but a badly written contract might push cost back onto you. Read the terms.
From the desk: never sign a blank or part-filled form. Everything on it should already be correct when your pen touches the page.
Why installers ask for it early
Installers want the form signed at the quote stage or on install day because everything downstream depends on it. They cannot create the certificates without it, and they cannot give you the discount with confidence until they know it is in place. A request to sign early is normal, as long as the numbers are filled in.
What this means for you
Assignment is routine. It is how the national solar discount is delivered. Understand it, check the numbers, and keep your copy. To see where it fits, read who owns the STCs on my solar system, the STC assignment form guide and the resources hub.