Settled STC

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 3 October 2026

A settled STC is one that has been transferred and paid for. Of all the statuses an STC passes through, this is the one installers care about most, because it is when the cash arrives.

The steps before settlement

An installation is created in the registry, validated, registered, then transferred to the buyer. Payment follows. Settlement terms differ between buyers. Some pay on registration, some on transfer, and some after a hold period, which is where the difference between a quick trader and a slow one shows up.

Worked example

You settle 200 STCs. At a rate of $38.50 that is $7,700. The buyer issues a recipient created tax invoice for the transaction, and the money lands in your account. See RCTI and the RCTI, GST and ABN guide.

In practice

Energy Merchants settles within 24 hours for established partners, with a first claim taking 48 to 72 hours while details are verified. The rate is published daily on pricing and locked on lodgement of a complete claim. The point of quoting that is the clock: your cash flow runs on days from lodgement to settlement.

Slow settlement affects margin. If you pay your crew and suppliers weekly, a ten-day gap is working capital you are lending to the market. See how long should STC payment take.

Common confusion

Settled is not the same as registered. A certificate can be registered and not yet settled. And settled does not close the compliance question. If a settled certificate is later found invalid, the buyer may seek a replacement or refund under their terms.

More terms are in the glossary.