Getting the best STC price is less about haggling and more about knowing what to compare. The market is tight, about $38 to $40 at the time of writing, so differences between traders sit in the terms around the number.
A simple scorecard
| Factor | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Rate | Published, current, and easy to find |
| Lock | Binding once a complete claim is lodged |
| Fees | None, or all fees stated up front |
| Settlement | Days, not weeks, with a clear process |
| Service | A named person who answers the phone |
| Compliance | Pre-checks that stop claims bouncing |
Score two or three traders on it. The winner is often not the one with the highest rate on page one.
Time is money
Cash flow is the hidden half of price. If you settle on 20 day terms, a $1,700 claim sits unpaid for almost three weeks. For a crew running ten claims a week, that is a rolling float of tens of thousands of dollars. Faster settlement is a real price improvement even when the rate is flat.
Avoid the traps
Unpublished rates, rate cards that change after lodgement, fees buried in a terms document, and traders who push claims back to you with vague reasons. Our trader checklist lists more.
What this means for installers
Energy Merchants publishes its rate daily, locks it on lodgement of a complete claim, charges no fees and settles established partners within 24 hours, with a first claim taking 48 to 72 hours. See the pricing page and switching if you want to compare.
Prices move, so treat any number here as a snapshot and check the live figure before you quote a job.
There is also a compliance angle to price. A trader that rejects or queries a claim after you thought it was done effectively lowers your price by delaying cash. Ask how many claims typically clear first time and who fixes problems when they appear.
It is also fair to ask what happens when the market moves. A trader that locks your rate on lodgement shields you from a drop while the claim is processed, whereas an unlocked rate leaves the risk with you. In a market this close to the $40 ceiling, downside moves matter more than upside, so the lock is worth more than it first appears.