“Pre-approval” is used for three different things in battery work, which is why searches for it return mixed answers. Here they are separated.
1. Distributor connection approval
Before a battery is connected, the local network operator (DNSP) generally needs to approve the connection and any export limits. This is about the grid, not the certificates. Get it done early, and keep the approval in the job file because it supports the commissioning record.
2. Trader pre-check of the claim
This is what most installers mean. Before the claim is lodged on the registry, the trader’s compliance team reviews:
- the battery model and pairing against the CEC list on the installation date,
- usable capacity and the STC calculation (factor, tiers, rounding),
- photos, serial numbers and labelling,
- the assignment form: owner, signature, date,
- the installer’s accreditation and who attended,
- consistency of dates across every document.
If something is wrong the claim is returned for correction rather than lodged and bounced. See what is STC pre-approval for the general version.
3. Regulator validation
After lodgement the Clean Energy Regulator processes the claim, and may query or audit it. This is not a pre-approval. It is the official step that produces valid certificates. We are not aware of a separate step in which the regulator pre-approves a battery claim before it is lodged, so if a customer or salesperson refers to one, ask what they mean.
Why a pre-check pays
Battery claims are worth thousands of dollars, so a mistake is expensive: a 13.5 kWh battery is about 91 STCs in 2026, roughly $3,460 to $3,640. A pre-check turns a rejection that takes days into a correction that takes hours. The pattern of what is caught is in top STC claim rejection reasons.
What this means for installers
Build a routine: finish the job, assemble the file, send for pre-check the same week. Our compliance desk pre-checks every claim for photos, forms and serials before anything is lodged, the published rate locks on lodgement of a complete claim, and established partners are settled in 24 hours (first claim 48 to 72 hours). See /pricing/, /start-trading/, the battery submission guide and the battery STC pillar page.
What to send for a pre-check
Send the model and serials, the listing screenshot, the photos in order, the signed assignment form, the invoice, your accreditation details and the STC calculation, all as one pack. A pack that arrives complete is processed quickly, and one that arrives in pieces gets queried piece by piece. Use the battery STC calculator to confirm the count before you send it.