Most installers start with a template someone else used, then patch it after a claim goes wrong. It is better to design it deliberately once. A template does two jobs: it satisfies the regulator, and it forces the crew to capture the right details at the right time. We cover the formal requirements in STC assignment form requirements, and our assignment form guide goes through the form line by line.
Core fields
- Owner’s full name, contact details and ABN if applicable.
- Installation address, matching the registry exactly.
- System type and size, with brand, model and serial numbers.
- Installation date and installer details, including accreditation numbers.
- A clear statement that the owner assigns the right to create STCs.
- The value or discount passed on to the owner.
- The owner’s signature and the date.
Product-specific sections
Solar needs panel and inverter details and the system capacity. Batteries need usable capacity, model and serial numbers, and the VPP capability declaration. Hot water needs the installation type and the replaced system. See our pages for solar, battery and heat pump forms.
Design choices that prevent errors
- Make required fields obvious, and refuse to accept a form with blanks.
- Pre-fill what you know from the quote so the owner only confirms.
- Generate the form from the same data you use for the claim, so addresses and serials match.
- Use a digital version with a timestamp, if your process allows.
- Keep copies with the job file.
From the desk: the most common error is a form completed from memory after the install. Capture it on site, with the equipment in front of you.
Version control
When the regulator updates its guidance, your template needs to change with it. Put a version number and date at the bottom of the form, keep old versions archived and note which version each job used. If a question arises about a job from two years ago, you can show exactly what the owner signed.
What this means for installers
Build the template once, test it against a handful of completed claims and keep it under version control. If you are changing traders or process, our switch page explains what moves, and how it works shows where the form sits. The resources hub has the rest of the paperwork guides.