Audits trigger the question of who pays. The honest answer is that it depends on three layers: law, scheme rules and contracts.
The three layers
The scheme. The Clean Energy Regulator expects the accredited installer to meet attendance, product and standards requirements, and expects the registered agent to lodge accurate claims. It deals with whoever holds the certificates.
The installer. You are accountable for the installation, photos, serials, forms and the customer’s consent. A failure on the day of install is usually yours to carry.
The trader or agent. They are responsible for lodging an accurate claim, for checking what they can and for following scheme rules. If they lodged something wrongly, that is on them.
What decides who pays
| Issue | Likely responsibility |
|---|---|
| Installer did not attend | Installer |
| Ineligible product used | Installer, or whoever specified it |
| Registry data entered wrongly | The party who entered it |
| Missing form not collected | Installer |
| Claim lodged ignoring a known problem | Trader or agent |
The table is a guide. The agreement between you and your trader is what binds you, including clawback clauses and time limits. See contract terms to check.
How to respond to an audit
- Respond within the deadline.
- Gather the evidence: photos, forms, statements, serials.
- Be accurate, never alter or backfill documents.
- Tell your trader early.
Splitting risk fairly
A fair arrangement splits risk by control. You carry the risk of what happens on site, because you control it. The trader carries the risk of how the claim is checked and lodged, because they control that. Where a trader insists you carry everything, including errors in their own process, expect to pay for it, and expect that to be reflected in the rate you accept. If the risk is entirely yours, a higher rate or stronger pre-checking should be on the table.
What this means for installers
The best defence is a good process before the audit. Read how STC audits work and the top rejection reasons. For the money side, see STC clawback and what the CER can take back. Our how it works page shows where compliance checks sit in our process, and the resources hub has more.