There are plenty of answers on this site to the headline question, such as how long STC payments take. This version is for people stuck in a forum thread: where do the days actually go?
The stages
| Stage | Typical driver of time |
|---|---|
| Paperwork ready | Your own routine: photos, signed form, serials |
| Trader pre-check | Whether the trader reviews before lodging, and its queue |
| Lodgement and registry validation | Automated checks, often quick when data is clean |
| CER review or audit | Only for some claims, but it can add weeks |
| Certificates transferred | Depends on the trader’s process |
| Payment | The trader’s stated terms and settlement run |
Where payment is quoted as “within 24 hours”, it should be clear what that is 24 hours from. The payment terms comparison shows the gap between a one-day and a twenty-day trader, and the insight on payment time gives the reasoning.
What you can control
Complete claims. Most delay is the claim going back and forth. A signed assignment form, correct serials, legible photos and consistent dates get through first time.
Registered details. ABN, bank account and GST status on file with the trader. A missing RCTI detail can hold a settlement run.
Lodge promptly. Claims lodged in the same week as the job have fewer lost documents; see battery STC timing.
Choose terms deliberately. A lower headline rate with a one-day settlement can beat a higher rate paid in three weeks once your cash flow is counted. Installer cash flow shows the sums.
What you cannot control
CER sampling and registry queues. These are small shares of claims, but they are why a trader that promises a fixed day must be clear about the exclusions. If a claim is held at the CER, see STCs stuck at the CER.
What this means for installers
Treat the settlement time as part of the price. Energy Merchants publishes its rate daily, locks it on lodgement of a complete claim and settles in 24 hours for established partners, with the first claim at 48 to 72 hours. Whatever trader you use, write the clock down: when it starts, when it stops, and what pauses it.
From the desk: if you are waiting and the trader’s terms say 5 business days, count business days from the date the claim was complete, not the date you first sent it.
See also pricing, how it works and start trading. For delayed payments, why an STC payment has not arrived.