The honest answer is that it varies by trader and by deal, which is exactly why it is worth comparing. At the time of writing spot has been roughly $38 to $40; installers are paid some distance under that, and the distance depends on how the trader runs its business.
The four numbers that make up your price
- Headline rate. What is advertised per certificate.
- Lock point. When the rate becomes binding. A rate that is only indicative can move before payment.
- Fees. Admin, processing or registry fees that get deducted afterwards.
- Settlement time. How long between lodging and cash.
Two traders with the same headline rate can pay very differently once fees and timing are counted. For instance, 45 certificates at a $0.50 per certificate difference is $22.50, while ten days of waiting on a $1,700 claim costs more than that in cash flow if you borrow or delay a supplier payment.
Questions to ask
- Is the published rate locked once I lodge a complete claim?
- Are there any fees at all?
- What is the settlement time for a first claim and for established partners?
- Is there a volume or loyalty tier?
Watch for rate games
Rates that look high but are conditional on volume, on a slower payment option or on a bundle of other services. Rates that are not published at all and are quoted job by job. Both make comparison difficult on purpose.
What this means for installers
Energy Merchants publishes the buy rate daily on the pricing page, locks it on lodgement of a complete claim, charges zero fees and pays established partners within 24 hours. See the Partner Program for volume perks and the trader checklist to compare any provider.
Prices move, so treat any number here as a snapshot and check the live figure before you quote a job.
A final sense check is to calculate your effective rate: total cash received on a claim divided by the number of certificates, then adjusted for how many days you waited. That single figure is much more honest than any headline, and it makes switching decisions straightforward.