Two search phrases, “CER compliance blitz installers 2026” and “CER STC creation new requirements 2026”, describe the same shift. After a surge in battery installs under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) moved from guidance to inspection and enforcement.
What the CER has done
- Inspections. The CER ramped up battery inspections in early 2026. Its reported results to 30 June 2026 show 3,425 inspections of STC-claimed batteries, with about 37% rated adequate, about 62% substandard and under 1% unsafe. The recurring issues are fire protection and mechanical protection under AS/NZS 5139.
- Suspensions. In April to June 2026 the CER reported suspending 21 companies from the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme for failing the fit and proper person requirements.
- Messaging. CER media releases in February and July 2026 warned that unsafe or non-compliant work can end with an installer removed from the scheme.
New and recent rules for creating STCs
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 1 March 2026 | Extra battery photo rules: clear, geotagged and timestamped photos of critical labelling |
| 1 May 2026 | Tiered battery STCs: 100% of the factor to 14 kWh, 60% to 28 kWh, 15% to 50 kWh |
| Ongoing | STCs must be created within 12 months of the installation date |
| Ongoing | One battery claim per address; upgrades or expansions of a claimed battery are not eligible |
| Ongoing | Daily battery installation limit of two per installer, as reported |
See the battery photo guide and the battery submission guide. From 1 October 2026 there is a further change: solar systems above 100 kW and up to 1 MW can create STCs under the mid-scale rule; see mid-scale solar STCs.
What installers should fix now
- Audit your last 20 battery jobs against the photo guide.
- Check enclosure, clearance and fire protection details against AS/NZS 5139; see battery STC compliance.
- Make sure your files are complete, since audits can look back; see how the CER audits installers.
- Do not bunch installs to hit a deadline; rushed work is what inspections find.
Staying out of trouble
Keep your accreditation details current, brief your crews on each rule change and keep complete job files. If you receive a CER inspection notice, respond promptly and factually, and fix any defects at your cost. Customers also benefit from a safe installation, and a clean record helps with insurers, distributors and any future sale of the business.
What this means for installers
Treat compliance as part of margin. Energy Merchants’ compliance desk pre-checks photos, forms and serials on every claim before it is lodged; see how it works, pricing and how STC audits work. The market and policy hub tracks scheme changes, and the installer guide covers the battery paperwork.