This page covers three searches that all ask the same thing: what documents are needed, what a claim checklist looks like and what traders want to see. The answer is one list, so here it is once.
The core documents for a solar claim
| Document | What it proves | Common fault |
|---|---|---|
| STC assignment form | The owner has assigned the right to create STCs | Unsigned, undated or wrong address |
| Installation photos | The system exists, is installed as claimed and matches the serials | Blurry serials, no array overview |
| Electrical safety certificate | Licensed electrical work was done (CES, CCEW or COES by state) | Missing or mismatched address |
| Panel and inverter serial numbers | Products are CEC-approved and not already claimed | Typos, or products off the approved list |
| Installer and designer details | CEC-accredited people did the work | Expired or wrong accreditation number |
| Site address, postcode and install date | The zone rating and deeming period | Wrong postcode, wrong year |
| Installer written statement or declaration | The installer’s declaration of compliance | Left blank |
| Invoice or quote showing the STC discount | The owner received the benefit | Discount not shown |
For the form itself, see our solar STC assignment form guide and the downloadable resource. For the pictures, use the photo requirements.
What traders check, and why it differs from the CER
The CER decides whether certificates are registered. A trader decides whether to pay for them and when. Traders therefore check what could stop the claim validating or come back in an audit. A strong trader will review the documents before lodgement rather than after, because a bounced claim costs both of you time.
That is the point of a pre-check. At Energy Merchants the compliance desk looks at photos, forms and serials before the claim goes in, so you hear about a blurry label or a missing signature the same day.
A pre-lodgement checklist
Run this before every claim:
- Assignment form signed by the owner, dated on or after the contract and on or before install.
- Postcode matches the zone and the install date matches the deeming year.
- Panel and inverter models are on the current CEC approved lists.
- Serials in the registry match the serials in the photos.
- Electrical certificate in hand, with matching address.
- Installer and designer accreditation current on the install date.
- Photos cover the array, inverter, labels, isolators and the install in context.
- Discount shown on the customer’s invoice.
What this means for installers
Documents are the cheapest part of a claim and the most expensive to get wrong. Build the list into your job closeout so the crew cannot mark a job complete until each item is ticked. For the more common reasons claims fail, read top STC claim rejection reasons and how STC audits work. If you want a trader that checks this for you, start at how it works or the STC trading page.