For most households, claiming the solar rebate is about signing the right form and checking it. The actual claim to the Clean Energy Regulator is made by your installer, behind the scenes. This page follows the sequence as it looks from your side.
Step 1: choose an accredited installer
Only accredited installers can create STCs for a rooftop system. Ask for their Solar Accreditation Australia details and electrical licence. If they cannot supply them, move on.
Step 2: get a quote that shows the STCs
A good quote shows the system size, the STC count, the value per certificate and the price after the discount. You can test the count with the solar rebate calculator method.
Step 3: sign the assignment form
The form hands your right to the certificates to the installer. Check every detail first. See what assigning STCs means for what each section does. Never sign anything blank.
Step 4: installation and compliance
After install, the installer completes the electrical safety paperwork and takes photos of the panels, inverter, serial numbers and mounting. These go into the claim. If you want to understand why photos matter, our photo requirements guide explains it.
Step 5: the installer creates and sells the STCs
They lodge the claim in the registry. Once registered, the certificates are sold to a trader, and that is how the installer gets paid for the discount they gave you. You do not need to do anything.
Step 6: keep your records
Keep the signed form, the invoice, the compliance certificates and the system details for as long as you own the system. If the claim is ever questioned, you may be asked for them.
From the desk: if the installer has not lodged the claim after a few weeks, ask for a status update. Delayed claims are usually a photo or document issue, and they are fixable.
What this means for you
You get the discount at signing and the installer carries the claim risk, provided the contract says so. To see how installers get paid, read how it works or the resources hub. If you want the same topic in a different framing, see how to claim the solar rebate in Australia.