Two documents carry the most weight in an STC claim: the photos that show the install and the declaration that the installer attended or supervised it. Making either of them false turns a routine claim into a legal matter.
Fake photos
A fake photo is one that does not show what the claim says it shows: a photo from another job, a stock image, an edited image or one taken before the system existed. CER reviews photos in bulk, including by automated checking for batteries, and compares them against metadata, serial numbers and other claims. Reuse across jobs is easy to detect.
False statutory declarations
Installers declare that they installed or supervised the system. A false statutory declaration made to a Commonwealth body is a serious offence. In one case reported by CER, a Victorian installer pleaded guilty to making false statutory declarations that he had attended installations when he was interstate, and was convicted and fined $10,000.
Convictions reported by CER
CER’s published outcomes include:
- an installer who claimed to have installed or supervised 13 systems while overseas, resulting in 1,637 STCs and about $60,000 paid to him, who was convicted
- an installer who claimed 11 systems that did not exist, creating 1,390 STCs and about $50,000 in payments, who received a two-year community correction order with 300 hours of unpaid work
- an electrician in South Australia who pleaded guilty to charges involving 62 installations
- a good behaviour bond in another false-statement matter
These are reported by CER and in industry media; check CER’s news pages for the latest. Courts decide the outcomes, so similar conduct can lead to different results.
Other consequences beyond court
- STCs invalidated. Certificates can be marked invalid, with the loss recovered under your trader contract; see who pays.
- Suspension. CER can suspend registered persons; see CER suspensions.
- Accreditation. The Clean Energy Council can act on accreditation.
- Civil and commercial. Traders may terminate agreements and pursue repayment.
What this means for installers
The line between an honest mistake and fraud is knowledge. If you spot a wrong photo or date before lodgement, fix it. If you spot it after lodgement, tell your trader promptly. Do not backfill, edit or reuse images. Our photo requirements and audit guide explain what is expected, and the battery fraud penalties page covers batteries.
For a wider view, read what counts as STC fraud and the STC trading overview. Pre-lodgement checks at how it works help catch honest slips before they become findings.