CER (Clean Energy Regulator)

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 2 October 2026

CER stands for Clean Energy Regulator. It is the federal agency responsible for running the Renewable Energy Target, along with the national greenhouse and energy reporting framework and the carbon credit scheme. For installers, the part that matters is the small-scale scheme: the CER decides how STCs are created, registered and surrendered.

What the CER does

• Operates the REC Registry, where certificates are created, held and transferred. See REC Registry definition.
• Publishes the rules and guidance for STC eligibility, including the deeming period, zone ratings and battery calculations.
• Checks claims, including through audits and inspections, and can require certificates to be corrected or removed.
• Sets the yearly Small-scale Technology Percentage that tells retailers how many STCs they must surrender.
• Maintains the register of registered agents and persons.

In practice

You are most likely to meet the CER in three ways. The first is the registry login that a trader or you use to lodge a claim. The second is a request for further evidence on a particular system, after the certificates have been created. The third is public guidance, which is where new photo rules or calculation changes are first announced. For example, new evidence rules for battery claims applied from 1 March 2026.

If the CER finds a certificate invalid, the loss can flow back to whoever sold it. That is the origin of a clawback. See how STC audits work.

Common confusion

The CER is not the same as the Clean Energy Council (CEC), which is an industry body that has historically run product approvals and installer accreditation. Installer accreditation is now managed by Solar Accreditation Australia. See SAA definition. The CER is also separate from state regulators such as the Essential Services Commission in Victoria.

Browse other terms in the certificate trading glossary, or see how it works for the lodgement process.