Claiming STCs is a defined sequence. Doing it in order is more important than doing it fast.
Before you claim
The installation has to be eligible: accredited installer, CEC-approved panels and inverter, a compliant install, and the right system capacity. For solar that means SAA accreditation and the equipment on the CEC approved lists. Get the customer’s signed assignment form at or before commissioning, not weeks afterwards.
The claim package
- System details: address, postcode (which sets the zone rating), capacity in kW, panel and inverter make and model, and serial numbers.
- Photos: geotagged and timestamped, showing the array, the inverter, labels and the install in context. See the photo requirements.
- Installer written statement: a declaration of the work and compliance.
- Installation type: new, replacement or additional. Pick the wrong one and the claim can be rejected. See installation type.
Lodging it
The claim goes into the REC Registry. You can hold your own registered person account and lodge yourself, or lodge through a registered agent. The agent route is common because it handles the registry fees and gives you a second check before the CER sees the claim. Either way, the CER validates the data and, if satisfied, creates the STCs. The number created follows the standard calculation: kW times zone rating times deeming years, rounded down. Use the STC calculator to check it.
What happens after
Created STCs are transferred to the buyer, who pays you. Timing of that payment is covered in how long it takes to get paid for STCs. If the CER later audits the claim, the same photos and statement are your evidence, so keep the file for several years. See how STC audits work.
What this means for installers
The claim itself is administrative. The risk is the quality of what goes in. A compliance desk that reviews photos and serials before lodgement is the cheapest insurance you can get. Ours pre-checks every claim at Energy Merchants, and there are no fees for it. Compare options at how it works or open an account via start trading. The FAQ covers related questions.