The honest answer is that it varies. The market runs from same-week to several weeks, and the difference is almost always about process rather than the registry.
What sits between install and payment
The time breaks into four stages: preparing the claim, the trader’s review, validation and creation of certificates, and settlement. The first is in your hands. The second and fourth are decided by the trader’s process. The third depends on the Clean Energy Regulator and the quality of your evidence.
Typical timings
- Trader with a fast desk. Same day or next day once a complete claim is in. We settle within 24 hours for established partners, and a first claim clears in 48 to 72 hours while we verify your details.
- Slower traders. Five to ten business days is common, and some batch payments weekly.
- Clearing house. The fixed price is attractive, but the wait and the admin can be longer.
See how long should STC payment take for benchmarks.
What slows a claim
Missing photos, mismatched names, serials that do not match the label, a form signed late or by the wrong person, and accreditation numbers that are out of date. Our top rejection reasons article lists the rest.
What to ask before you sign
Ask the trader three things: how long from lodgement to cash on a clean claim, what happens when something is missing, and whether weekends and public holidays count. A trader that answers precisely, and puts it in writing, is usually a trader that has measured its own process.
What this means for installers
Cash flow is a business risk. A 14 kWh battery job ties up about $3,700 of discount, and a few jobs a week adds up to a lot of money waiting. Faster settlement is worth real dollars. Compare the whole package, see how it works, and read the battery STC pillar. To see rates today, visit pricing.