The STC scheme is real, legal and has been running since 2001. It is not a scam. What is true is that a reliable scheme with a discount attached has attracted people who use it to sell. The tactics range from sloppy to unlawful, and they tend to turn up in a few predictable forms. If you know them, you can spot them in the first two minutes of a conversation.
This is a field guide for homeowners. It sets out the common red flags, gives you three numbers to test any offer against and shows you how to verify an installer before you sign. For a shorter take, see our answer on whether the solar STC rebate is a scam.
Three numbers that test any offer
Most dodgy offers fail one of these, because the maths does not work.
1. The size of the discount
At the time of writing, STC spot has been roughly $38 to $40 and the clearing house ceiling is $40. A standard 6.6 kW system in zone 3 earns 45 STCs in 2026, so about $1,750 of discount. In zone 1 it is 53 STCs, about $2,050. If someone tells you the government rebate on a standard system is $5,000, $8,000 or “thousands more than anyone else”, the number is not real. Use the STC calculator by postcode to see the actual count.
2. The deeming period
The deeming period is 5 years for 2026 installs, 4 for 2027, and falls to 1 in 2030. The discount does not vanish at midnight, and there is no special “last chance” window that a salesperson can lock in. An offer that promises to “lock in the 2026 rebate” for a 2027 install cannot be honoured, because the year is set by the installation date.
3. The price after the discount
A real quote shows a gross price, the STC count, the dollar value applied and the net price. If it shows only “free”, “$0 upfront” or a monthly payment, ask what the total cost is. Someone is paying for the system, usually through a loan, a lease or a higher bill.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited calls or door knocks that open with a government program. The federal scheme does not phone you. Be cautious of anyone claiming to be from “the rebate office”.
- “Free solar.” The STC discount is real, but a free system does not exist. Look for the finance contract.
- Urgency. “The rebate ends this month”, “we only have three installs left”. The scheme steps down each January. It does not end on a sales rep’s calendar.
- A request to sign an incomplete form. The assignment form should be fully filled in before you sign it. See who gets the STCs.
- Requests for personal details early. Do not give driver licence, bank or myGov details to an unknown caller.
- No accreditation number. An installer must be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia for the STCs to be valid. See checking installer accreditation.
- Pressure to pay a large deposit by bank transfer. Check your state’s limits on deposits for solar contracts and the payment method.
- A discount that seems to come from nowhere. If a quote shows a “government rebate” with no certificate count, ask what it is.
- Emails or texts asking you to “claim your STCs” or pay a fee to receive them. Households do not claim STCs separately from the installer’s process, and you should never pay to release your own rebate.
What real offers look like
A legitimate quote will:
- Name the installer, their accreditation and licence numbers and an ABN you can look up.
- State the system size, the panels and inverter by make and model.
- Show the STC count and the dollar value applied.
- Include the net price and payment terms.
- Give you a copy of the assignment form and let you read it before signing.
- Come without a requirement to decide on the spot.
How to check an installer in ten minutes
- Look up their accreditation number on the Solar Accreditation Australia register.
- Check their electrical licence with your state regulator.
- Look up the ABN on the Australian Business Register.
- Search the business name with the word “complaints” and check reviews, treating any single review with care.
- Ask for the name of the certificate agent or trader they use. A real installer knows.
- Ask how long they have been operating and who does the work, employees or subcontractors.
From the desk: the most reliable single check is to ask the installer how many STCs are on your quote and what price per STC they are applying. An installer who runs a clean business answers instantly, for example “45 at $38.50”. A vague answer, or a number that does not match your system size and zone, tells you to look harder.
Scams that target installers, not homeowners
Not every STC scam is aimed at households. Installers face fake buyer offers at unrealistic rates, requests to change bank details by email and traders that stop paying. Fraud in the registry itself, such as claims for systems that were never installed, is an enforcement priority for the Clean Energy Regulator. If you work in the industry, our guide to avoiding STC fraud as an installer and the trader checklist are worth reading.
If you think you have been scammed
- Stop paying. Do not make further payments, and do not sign anything new.
- Gather your documents: the quote, contract, messages and receipts.
- Contact your bank if you paid by card or transfer, as soon as possible.
- Report it to your state consumer protection agency, the ACCC’s Scamwatch and, if STC claims are involved, the Clean Energy Regulator.
- Seek advice from a community legal centre or consumer advocate if the amount is significant.
Why the confusion exists
The scheme has two features that make it easy to mislead people. First, the discount is large and visible, so it is tempting to exaggerate. Second, the mechanism is invisible to the buyer, since certificates are created and sold behind the scenes, so a salesperson can describe it however suits the pitch. The remedy is to make the mechanism visible: ask for the STC count, the price per STC, the zone and the deeming year. Four numbers, all checkable, and an honest installer will give them without hesitation. Anyone who cannot, or will not, has made the decision for you.
What to do next
- Get at least two written quotes with the STC count and price shown.
- Check each installer’s accreditation, licence and ABN.
- Test every offer against the three numbers above.
- Read how the solar rebate works so you know what a normal quote looks like.
- Use the resources hub for plain-language guides to the paperwork.