If you only remember one name, make it the Clean Energy Regulator. It is the federal statutory authority that administers the Renewable Energy Target, and so the SRES, under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000.
What the CER actually does
Registers participants. To create STCs you need an account in the REC Registry: a registered person for your own systems, or a registered agent if you act for others. The CER sets the account and creation fees; see what registering costs.
Validates and audits claims. Each STC creation is checked against rules on system size, product eligibility, accreditation, and installation evidence. The CER can audit after the fact and, if a system was ineligible or the declaration was wrong, it can invalidate certificates. See how STC audits work and the clawback explained.
Sets the STP. Each year it publishes the small-scale technology percentage, 11.67% for 2026, based on forecast creation. See the creation forecast.
Runs the clearing house. The STC Clearing House lets certificate holders sell at a fixed $40 (excluding GST), although the transaction can take weeks. It is the backstop, not the usual route.
Enforces the scheme. It receives quarterly surrenders from liable entities, charges the shortfall for non-compliance, and can sanction registered agents. A registered agent whose registration is suspended or cancelled is the reason some installers have been left holding stuck certificates.
Who else is involved
- Clean Energy Council: approved panel, inverter and battery lists, and installer accreditation via Solar Accreditation Australia.
- State regulators: electrical licensing, and in Victoria the Essential Services Commission for the VEU program.
- Distribution networks: connection and export rules.
- Australian Energy Regulator, ACCC and state fair trading: consumer and market conduct.
What this means for installers
The CER is a risk you manage, not a friend or enemy. You are accountable for the installation and the declaration; a trader cannot take that off you. Keep photos, serial numbers, and signed forms, and use a trader whose compliance review happens before lodgement. Our compliance desk pre-checks every claim for this reason; see how it works.
For the commercial side, read the STC trading pillar, the compliance resource on audits, and choosing a certificate trader.
If something goes wrong
If a claim is rejected, start with your trader and the registry status. If you suspect misconduct by a registered agent, such as unpaid certificates or false claims, you can report it to the CER, and contract or payment disputes can go to fair trading. Keep emails, remittances and claim lists, because a clear paper trail speeds up any complaint.