Battery claims are valuable, so they are looked at more closely than a typical rooftop system. Audits fall into two broad kinds: a paper review of the claim and evidence, and an inspection of the installation itself.
What a paper audit looks at
- Product. Was the exact model on the CEC list on the installation date, and is it VPP capable?
- Capacity. Does the usable capacity claimed match the listing, and does the STC count follow from it (factor and tiers)?
- Installer. Was the person named accredited on the date, and was any supervision documented?
- Evidence. Do the photos show the battery, the serial number, the connection and location, in line with the rules that tightened from 1 March 2026?
- Documents. Assignment form signed and dated, invoice consistent, installation date consistent everywhere.
- Eligibility. One battery per property, size within 5 to 100 kWh usable.
What an inspection looks at
An inspection goes to the installed system. Typical areas are:
- Location and clearances as required by the installation standard (AS/NZS 5139). See our page on the standard.
- Isolation and protection, and the connection to the switchboard.
- Labelling and signage: the battery’s labels, warnings, isolator markings and system labelling at the switchboard.
- The unit installed matches the unit claimed: model and serial.
Labelling shows up in industry findings because it is cheap to omit and easy to see. Finishing the labels is a routine part of the job, not an extra.
Preparing an audit file
Keep one folder per job with:
- Listing screenshot dated on installation day.
- Photos in order, legible serials.
- Assignment form and invoice.
- Accreditation numbers and who attended.
- Commissioning sheet and connection approval.
- The calculation behind the STC count.
Our guide to how STC audits work and the battery photo guide explain the process.
What this means for installers
A file you could hand over in five minutes is your best defence. When you trade with us, the compliance desk pre-checks every claim for photos, forms and serials before lodgement, which finds many audit issues early, though it does not replace a good install. See the rate on /pricing/, /start-trading/, the battery submission guide and the battery STC pillar page.
When an inspection finds something
Findings are usually resolved by correcting the installation or the records, and the consequence depends on the nature of the fault. A missing label is fixed on site. A product or accreditation fault goes to the validity of the certificates, which is where clawback terms matter. Respond promptly and keep your communications in writing.