Shoppers search for their city, but the Clean Energy Regulator assigns zones by postcode. The city answers below match the CER postcode table for the central postcodes of each city. Always confirm the actual installation postcode before quoting a certificate figure.
Quick reference by city
| City | Zone | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 3 | 1.382 |
| Brisbane | 3 | 1.382 |
| Perth | 3 | 1.382 |
| Adelaide | 3 | 1.382 |
| Canberra | 3 | 1.382 |
| Melbourne | 4 | 1.185 |
| Hobart | 4 | 1.185 |
| Darwin | 2 | 1.536 |
| Alice Springs | 1 | 1.622 |
Other zone 3 centres include the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, Cairns and Townsville. Geelong and Launceston join Melbourne and Hobart in zone 4.
Melbourne
Melbourne is zone 4, so it earns the fewest certificates per kilowatt in the country. A 6.6 kW system installed in 2026 creates 39 STCs there (6.6 x 1.185 x 5, rounded down), against 45 in Sydney. Victorian customers often have a state rebate to consider on top, but that sits outside the STC calculation. See Solar Victoria rebate changes from 1 July 2026.
Sydney and Brisbane
Both are zone 3. The same 6.6 kW system creates 45 STCs. The ratings are identical, so any difference in quoted discount between the two cities comes from the installer’s pricing, not the zone.
Perth and Adelaide
Also zone 3. Western Australia and South Australia have their own battery and VPP schemes, but solar STCs follow the national formula.
Darwin
Darwin is zone 2, rating 1.536, giving 50 STCs for 6.6 kW in 2026. The Northern Territory’s old battery scheme has closed, which makes the federal program the main battery incentive there.
Hobart and Canberra
Hobart is zone 4 (39 STCs for 6.6 kW), Canberra zone 3 (45 STCs). Tasmania’s Energy Saver Loan has closed.
What this means for installers
Do not quote from the city name. Pull the CER postcode result for the actual install address and save it to the job file. The STC calculator does this lookup for you. For the full picture of how zones, kW and deeming years combine, read the zones overview and the deeming period and zone ratings guide.
Once the certificate count is right, see current trading rates or how to start trading.