Suspension is the Clean Energy Regulator’s blunt instrument. It does not need to prove fraud, it needs to be satisfied that the person is no longer fit and proper to take part in the scheme.
Why CER suspends
Examples from CER’s recent compliance updates show the range:
- Deregistered companies. In the April to June 2026 quarter, CER suspended 21 companies, mostly because ASIC had deregistered them, so they were no longer legal persons.
- Ignoring statutory notices. A company was suspended after failing to comply with a statutory notice and failing to show the capability and business practices expected.
- False or misleading statements. Another was suspended after declaring systems complete and capable of generating electricity when they were not.
- Larger collapses. The former Greenbot platform was permanently suspended as a registered agent in 2024.
CER also bars individual installers in some cases, as reported in industry media. Check the CER site for the up-to-date list.
What a suspension means
A suspended registered person cannot create certificates or act as an agent while suspended. For installers and homeowners, the practical effects are:
- Claims in progress may be stuck or need to be moved to another agent. See if an installer goes bust.
- Money held by the suspended party may be hard to recover; see Greenbot’s collapse.
- Previously created STCs can be reviewed.
Checking before you assign
Before you assign STCs or sign with a trader, check that they are a registered agent in good standing on the CER website, check accreditation numbers with the guide to checking accreditation, and ask how they handle your funds. The choosing a trader checklist lists the questions.
Suspension versus other action
Suspension is different from a fine or a conviction. It is an administrative step that takes someone out of the scheme while CER’s concerns are addressed or permanently. It can sit alongside audits, invalidated STCs and, in the worst cases, prosecution. The reasons are published in CER’s quarterly compliance updates, which are worth reading because they show what the regulator is prioritising: fit and proper person tests, photo and evidence quality, and responses to statutory notices. For homeowners, the consequence of dealing with a suspended agent is usually delay rather than loss, but a collapse can leave claims in limbo.
What this means for installers
Your own registration and accreditation are assets. Respond to every CER notice on time, keep claims accurate and make sure your company details are up to date (ASIC and ABN). A company that falls off the ASIC register can trigger suspension without any misconduct. If you are moving agents after a suspension, ask the new agent about the handover of pending claims; our switching page covers the process.
See also what to expect from an audit, STC trading and how it works.