In NSW, certificates are not created by whoever does the work. They are created by an ACP, an entity approved under the scheme to do so for particular activities.
What an ACP does
An ACP is accredited for specific activities, then claims certificates in the NSW registry when those activities are carried out. They are responsible for the evidence behind each claim, for keeping records, and for answering audits. Certificates created are ESCs under the Energy Savings Scheme and PRCs under the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme.
Who works with an ACP
- Installers of eligible products, such as efficient hot water, heating and cooling or lighting upgrades, who either become an ACP themselves or sell the work to one.
- Businesses and households, who see the benefit as a discount.
- Traders, who buy the certificates from the ACP and sell them on.
ACP versus installer: the difference
An installer physically does the work, while the ACP is the legal certificate creator. In many small businesses the same entity does both. Others sign agreements with an ACP who handles registration, evidence and sales, for a share of the value.
What to expect from the process
Accreditation is activity-specific. The ACP has to show it can meet the requirements for each activity it claims, and it has to follow the scheme rules for evidence and record-keeping. The details are published by the scheme regulator, so read their current guidelines.
Why the model matters to your margin
If you work under an ACP you give up part of the certificate value, but you avoid the cost of accreditation, systems and audit risk. If you become an ACP you keep the value, but you take on the compliance work and the risk of failed audits. For a business doing a handful of jobs, working under an ACP is usually simpler. For a business with steady volume in a single activity, the numbers often favour accreditation. Work out which side you are on before you sign anything.
What this means for installers
If you do NSW work, decide whether to be an ACP or work with one. The next step is covered in how to become an ACP in NSW. For payment timing, see NSW ESC payment time. For STCs, the STC trading page and resources hub cover the federal side, and pricing shows STC rates.