The ceiling answers most of the question. Because liable entities can buy from the Clearing House at $40, no trader can pay installers more than that and stay in business, and in 2026 the spot market has been roughly $38 to $40. Any claim of a rate far above that deserves a hard look.
What ‘highest’ really means
A higher headline can still be a worse deal. Consider two offers on a claim of 45 certificates:
| Trader A | Trader B | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Slightly higher | Slightly lower |
| Fees | Admin fee deducted | None |
| Payment | 20 days | Next day |
Trader B is likely ahead once the fee and the 19 days of waiting are counted. If you pay suppliers on 14 day terms, the gap grows.
Where genuine upside comes from
Not from beating the ceiling, but from volume tiers, loyalty or partner perks, referral credits and reliable fast settlement. Those are the levers a good trader can actually pull. Ask what changes in the rate as your volume grows, and whether the tiers are published.
Claims to be sceptical of
Rates that are quoted only by phone, rates that vary per job with no rule, and rates that rely on a long contract. We do not claim to be the highest in Australia, because that is not a claim anyone can verify. We publish our rate daily so you can check it yourself.
What this means for installers
See Energy Merchants’ daily rate and terms on the pricing page, explore the Partner Program for tiered perks, and use the trader checklist to compare any provider. The STC trading pillar has more on how pricing works.
Prices move, so treat any number here as a snapshot and check the live figure before you quote a job.
Treat any league table of traders with caution. Rates change daily, terms differ and many tables are published by the traders themselves. The only reliable method is to request current terms in writing from each provider and compare them on the same day.
If you are weighing a switch, run a test: send one or two straightforward claims through the new provider and record the whole journey. The rate, the response time and the cash date will tell you more than any brochure. Our switching guide explains how to move across without disrupting jobs in the pipeline.