Battery jobs carry big certificate values: roughly $3,460 to $3,640 on a 13.5 kWh battery in 2026 at $38 to $40 each. A week’s wait is a real cash-flow cost for a small crew, which is why the question gets asked.
What 24 hours means
For established partners, Energy Merchants settles within 24 hours of sign-off on a complete claim. For a new partner, the first claim takes 48 to 72 hours while details are verified, and after that you are on 24-hour settlement. It is not “instant”, and it depends on a complete claim: the compliance desk pre-checks photos, forms and serials before anything is lodged.
Settlement speed is about the trader’s payment, not about when the registry finishes its own checks. That gap is the trader’s risk to manage, which is part of what you are paying a trader to carry (we charge zero fees). The wider picture is in how long STC payment should take and battery STC payment time.
What speeds a battery claim up
- The model is on the CEC list on the installation date, and the model code matches.
- Photos meet the evidence rules in force since 1 March 2026.
- The assignment form is complete, signed and dated.
- Serial numbers are legible and match the registry entry.
- The installer’s accreditation number is current and matches who attended.
- The number of STCs matches the calculation (usable kWh x factor x tiers).
What slows it down
- A model suffix that does not match the listing.
- Photos that cannot be read or are out of order.
- A signature on the form that is not the owner’s.
- A quote and claim that disagree on capacity.
- Missing VPP-capability evidence.
See the battery submission guide and top rejection reasons.
What this means for installers
Treat the lodgement as the finish line of the job: send the claim the same week, with everything in it. Check your numbers in the battery STC calculator, look at the rate on /pricing/, and if you want fast settlement with a named account manager and a compliance desk that catches problems early, start trading. Our settlement is backed by REC Traders, trading since 2004.
Getting to 24 hours as a new partner
The first claim takes longer because we verify your details, such as your business and bank information, your accreditation and your RCTI and ABN setup (see RCTI, GST and ABN for STC payments). Have those ready before the first battery job finishes and the first claim moves faster.
A note on the alternatives
Some traders pay on terms of 20 days or more. Compare them on the full cost of waiting: on a 28 kWh battery, around $5,800 to $6,100 in certificates sits unpaid for the whole period. See 20-day versus 1-day payment terms.