The phrases “point of sale solar rebate”, “point of sale discount” and “is the STC discount upfront” all describe one thing: how Australians normally receive the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme benefit.
What point of sale means
There is no government cheque. The incentive is a certificate, an STC, created after the system is installed. To avoid you waiting and trading them, the installer gives you the value as a discount on the day, then collects the certificates by way of the assignment form you sign. The discount is “upfront” because it reduces what you pay immediately. It is a point of sale discount because it is applied to the sale itself.
You can see how this works in our short guide to the upfront rebate and in what assigning STCs means.
Is the STC discount included in the price?
This depends on how the quote was written. Two layouts are common:
- Shown separately. System price, then a negative STC line, then the amount payable. This is the clearest.
- Already deducted. A single “after rebate” price. It looks tidy but hides the numbers.
Many advertised prices are “after STCs” prices, which means the real price is higher. Ask: “Is that figure before or after the STC discount, and how many STCs is it based on?” If the answer is vague, treat the quote cautiously.
When the discount is not upfront
There are a few cases where the benefit does not arrive on the day:
- You keep the STCs and sell them yourself, which delays the money and takes registry paperwork.
- A retailer promises a rebate “cashed back” after installation. This is a warning sign, since the discount should not depend on you waiting for anything.
- Finance arrangements where the loan covers the full price and the certificate value comes back separately. See STCs and no interest loans.
What this means for you
Always compare the same layout across quotes: price before the discount, STC count, unit value and amount payable. Use our STC calculator to sanity check the figures, and read how GST works on the invoice. The homeowners guide covers the wider picture. Installers can see how their claim gets settled behind the discount on our how it works and pricing pages.
A quick checklist before you sign
Ask for the full price before the discount, the STC count and unit value, the amount payable, and the date the installer will confirm the claim was lodged. If those four items are on the quote, the upfront discount is real and easy to verify. If any is missing, ask for it before you pay a deposit.