You have seen figures like $1.10 per certificate quoted on forums and trader pages. Here is what we can verify, and how to read the rest.
The CER’s fee structure
The Clean Energy Regulator charges two kinds of fee for the REC Registry.
Account fees (one-off):
| Account | Fee at the time of writing |
|---|---|
| General | None |
| Registered person | about $20 |
| Registered agent | about $230 |
Creation fees (per certificate):
- Small generation units (rooftop solar): about 47 cents per STC.
- Solar water heaters: about 8 cents per STC.
- The first 250 STCs a year are free for a system owner creating for their own system.
The CER sets and updates the schedule, so check it before budgeting. See also what it costs to register for the existing breakdown.
What about $1.10?
We cannot match $1.10 per certificate to the CER’s STC creation fee. A figure that high may reflect a trader’s all-in per-STC charge, a different certificate type, an older or proposed schedule, or a combination of registry, GST and admin costs. If a provider quotes $1.10 as the CER’s fee, ask them to point to the schedule. If it is their own charge, it is their fee, not the regulator’s. See why traders charge per STC.
Who pays when you use a trader
When you assign the right to create to a registered agent, the agent creates the certificates, so the CER fee is theirs. They have three choices: absorb it, show it as a deduction, or fold it into the rate. Over 45 certificates a job, 47 cents is about $21, so the difference between a fee-inclusive and fee-free offer is real money.
A worked example
A 6.6 kW system in a zone 3 city creates about 45 STCs. At 47 cents that is about $21 per job. Over 200 jobs, about $4,200, less the free allowance if you are the owner. If a provider adds a further charge, the total can be larger than you would guess.
What this means for installers
Whatever the registry charges, the number to compare is the net you receive. Energy Merchants charges no fees, including registry costs; the rate on pricing is the rate you are paid. For the mechanics read what the REC Registry is, the STC trading pillar, and the switching guide.
Budgeting for it
If you do self-register, add the fees to your job costing as a line per STC, not a lump. Update it when the CER revises its schedule, and remember that creation fees apply even when a claim later fails. That is another reason pre-checking evidence pays for itself.