Battery claims carry more value and more risk than solar claims. A 14 kWh battery installed in 2026 earns about 95 STCs, roughly $3,600 to $3,800 at current spot, which is double a typical 6.6 kW solar job. The regulator has noticed, and so has every reviewer who handles a battery claim. The photo set you take on the day is the cheapest protection you have for that money.
This article covers the evidence rules as they stand at the time of writing, with a shot list by stage and the traps that catch crews who treat a battery like a solar add-on. Always confirm against the Clean Energy Regulator’s current solar battery photo guide, since requirements are being refined. Our battery STC submission guide covers the paperwork side.
What changed on 1 March 2026
From 1 March 2026, installers must take clear, geotagged and timestamped photos of critical labelling for every solar battery installation. The most prominent item is the circular, green reflective label marked “ES” at the meter box, which tells emergency workers that an energy storage system is present. The photos do not need to be submitted with the claim, but must be provided if the regulator asks for compliance paperwork. Failing to supply them can delay or reject the claim.
The regulator’s concern is partly safety, since firefighters and electricians need to know what is on the premises, and partly integrity, because a good photo is hard to fake.
The shot list
| Stage | Photograph |
|---|---|
| Site | Property frontage, house number, meter box |
| Location | Battery position in context, showing surrounds |
| Clearances | Distances to openings, ignition sources and exits as the standard requires |
| Battery | Installed unit, wide shot |
| Label | Rating plate with model and serial legible |
| Capacity | Evidence of usable kWh (label, datasheet or app screen) |
| Connection | Cabling, isolation and protective devices |
| Switchboard | Updated board and labelling |
| Meter box | The ES emergency label in place, close and wide |
| Handover | Commissioning and VPP-connection evidence where applicable |
Check the final list against the current regulator guide, because items and wording have been updated since the program began.
Why serials and capacity matter more
The STC count depends on usable capacity, not the headline number on the box. For 2026 installs the factor is 6.8 STCs per kWh, applied in tiers: full value on the first 14 kWh, 60 per cent from 14 to 28 kWh and 15 per cent from 28 to 50 kWh. A battery with 13.5 kWh usable earns 91 STCs. A claim that enters 15 kWh instead is overclaiming, and the evidence for usable capacity is what a reviewer will check. See how to calculate battery STCs.
Serial photos tie the claim to a CEC-approved, VPP-capable model. A serial that cannot be read, or that belongs to a different model from the one claimed, is a straightforward reason for rejection.
Retrofits and existing solar
A battery added to an existing solar system is eligible, but the evidence has to show both the new battery and how it connects to the existing installation. Photograph the existing inverter and board along with the new equipment, so the connection is understandable. Where a hybrid inverter replaces an older unit, separate evidence for the replacement may apply under solar rules.
Where installers slip
- Photographing the label after the cover goes on. Many units hide the serial. Shoot it first.
- Forgetting the meter box. The ES label is outside the building and easy to leave for last.
- Missing metadata. Labelling photos must carry location and time data.
- Mixed-up documents. Capacity or serial on the form disagrees with the label.
- No clearance evidence. Installations that look tight need photos that prove compliance.
How regulators have been reacting
Inspections of early battery installs found enough safety and labelling issues for the regulator to publicly remind installers of their obligations. A well-documented job is both safer and cheaper to defend. If you are inspected, geotagged photos of the labels are the first evidence an inspector looks for.
A workflow for the crew
- Check location services and storage before arriving.
- Photograph the rating plate before mounting the cover.
- Photograph clearances while the area is uncluttered.
- Photograph switchboard changes before and after.
- Finish at the meter box: ES label wide and close.
- Run the driveway review against the list.
A worked claim, start to finish
Take a 13.5 kWh usable battery installed in zone 3 alongside an existing 6.6 kW solar system in October 2026. The battery claim is 13.5 x 6.8 = 91.8, so 91 STCs, around $3,500 at $38. The solar system is not part of this claim, but its inverter is. The reviewer will want to see:
- The rating plate of the battery, with model and serial legible, matching the CEC-approved list.
- A document or label showing the usable capacity of 13.5 kWh.
- The battery in place, with clearances.
- Its connection to the existing inverter and board.
- The ES label at the meter box, geotagged and timestamped.
- VPP-capability evidence from the manufacturer or program documentation.
If any one of these is missing, the $3,500 sits in limbo. If all are present and consistent, the claim clears without a query.
The January 2027 effect
On 1 January 2027 the STC factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 per kWh. The same 13.5 kWh battery earns 76 STCs (13.5 x 5.7 = 76.95, rounded down) instead of 91. Expect a rush of installs in the last quarter of 2026, which means crews will be stretched and photo discipline will slip. A busy December is exactly when a checklist earns its keep. See the battery rebate drop on 1 January 2027.
How tiers change the quoting conversation
A common customer question is whether to step up to a bigger battery to get more rebate. Show them the table for their situation. A household choosing between 13.5 kWh and 20 kWh sees the rebate rise from 91 to 119 STCs, about $1,060 at $38, for 6.5 kWh of extra hardware. They can decide whether the extra capacity is worth the extra cost without any misunderstanding about what the government is paying for. A customer who understood the tiers at quote stage is far less likely to complain later.
What to do next
Compare your current process against the battery STC pillar and the battery submission guide. The answer on CER battery photo guidance is the quick reference. For the money side, see the installer guide to the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, and consider a desk that reviews battery evidence before lodgement; how it works explains ours.