STC validation

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

STC validation is the check applied to a creation after it is lodged. It stands between an unregistered claim and a registered certificate.

What is checked

The regulator’s system tests the creation’s details: the system is eligible, the installer and designer hold current accreditation, the product is on the approved list, the installation date is valid and the STC quantity is consistent with the deeming rules. Some creations are also flagged for a closer review or a documentary audit. See how STC audits work.

In practice

Validation outcomes are usually quick for clean claims. Where details do not match, the creation can be held for correction or fail. A second layer of checks sits with a good trader, who reviews photos, forms and serial numbers before lodgement so that validation has less to catch. Energy Merchants’ compliance desk does this on every claim.

Worked example

A creation lists a battery model that the program does not recognise because of a typo in the serial prefix. Validation flags it. The installer corrects the record and resubmits, adding a day or two. Had the desk caught the typo before lodgement, there would be no delay.

Common confusion

Validation is not an audit of the installation itself. It checks the data. An audit goes further, asking for photos, certificates and other evidence. A creation can pass validation and still be audited later. See audit status.

It is also not the same as registration. Registration is the outcome of passing validation.

See also STC photo requirements, how it works and the glossary.