Heat pump STCs are the same certificate as solar STCs, so the price they trade at is largely the same. What differs between traders is everything around the price: how fast you are paid, who checks your evidence and what the terms hide. For hot water the evidence is fiddlier, so the trader’s process matters more than it does on a straightforward solar job.
What to compare
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the rate published? | A rate you can see and hold the trader to beats a quote that changes after you lodge. |
| When is it locked? | Locking on lodgement means no surprise movement while you wait. |
| How fast is settlement? | Days of cash flow add up across a month of jobs. |
| Any fees? | Admin, registry or monthly fees cut into the rate. |
| Who pre-checks claims? | Catching a missing photo before lodgement saves a rejection. |
| Do they know hot water? | Installation type and removed-system evidence trip up generalists. |
Hot-water-specific checks
Ask whether the trader’s compliance team has handled replacement and additional installs, and whether they will tell you before lodging if the evidence is thin. Ask about the process for rejected claims, and how long a resubmission delays payment.
Beyond the headline rate
A slightly better rate that pays in ten business days is often worse than a fair rate paid in one. Add up what an average month of jobs would cost you in waiting time. Our choosing a certificate trader checklist walks through the full set of questions.
From the desk: ask a trader to explain, in one sentence, how a heat pump replacement claim is checked. A good answer is specific. A vague answer tells you what you need to know.
Trial a small batch first
Before moving all your hot water claims, send a handful to a new trader and track what happens. Note how long they take to respond, how they handle a query and when the money lands. A month of real experience tells you more than any sales call, and it limits your exposure if the fit is wrong.
What this means for installers
Energy Merchants buys heat pump and solar hot water STCs, publishes its rate on pricing, locks it when you lodge a complete claim, charges zero fees and settles in 24 hours for established partners. For the process, see how it works and the hot water STCs pillar, or start trading when you are ready.