A checklist beats a sales call. Trader pitches all sound alike, since every one promises a great rate, fast payment and great service. The difference shows up in the details: when the rate is locked, what triggers payment, who pays if a claim fails. This checklist turns those details into 18 yes-or-no checks you can score in an hour.
It is built for installers who have decided to move and want to avoid trading one set of frustrations for another. If you are still deciding whether to move at all, read how to switch STC traders for the sequence, then come back here to score your options.
How to use the score sheet
Ask each candidate the questions below and record yes, no or unclear. Treat “unclear” as a no until you have it in writing. Score one point per yes. Anything under 14 out of 18 deserves a harder look, and the six money checks are non-negotiable.
Section 1: Money (six checks)
- The rate is published or quoted in writing. If the rate only comes by phone, you cannot hold anyone to it.
- The rate is locked on lodgement of a complete claim. Not on settlement, and not “subject to market”.
- There are no processing, admin, registry or subscription fees, or the full list is stated.
- The payment trigger is defined. “Within 24 hours of sign-off” and “within 10 business days of registry acceptance” are very different promises.
- Payment is by bank transfer on a stated schedule, not on weekly batch days you have to work around.
- Volume rates are written down. If a premium applies from a monthly threshold, you can see the threshold and the amount.
On the rate itself, keep the market in view: at the time of writing, STC spot has been roughly $38 to $40, and the clearing house ceiling is $40. A trader quoting at or near the ceiling is paying you close to the clearing house price without making you wait for the clearing house. For comparison with the ceiling route, see STC trading price versus the clearing house.
Section 2: Contract (four checks)
- No exclusivity clause, or one you have read and accepted.
- No minimum monthly volume to keep your rate, or one you can reliably meet.
- Notice period is short and stated, with clear treatment of claims in flight.
- Failed-claim responsibility is spelled out. Who bears the cost if a claim fails validation or is later invalidated? See STC clawback for how that exposure arises.
Section 3: Paperwork and compliance (four checks)
- Claims are checked before lodgement, not after. A compliance review that catches a missing serial photo before it reaches the registry saves days. The top STC claim rejection reasons lists what to expect.
- They issue the RCTI. A recipient-created tax invoice means you do not invoice per claim. See RCTI, GST and ABN for STC payments.
- Bank-detail changes are verified by call-back. This protects you from payment redirection fraud.
- Assignment forms are supplied or reviewed. An agent that names itself correctly on your form prevents a whole class of rejection.
Section 4: People and track record (four checks)
- A named contact. You should know who to ring about a claim.
- A human answers the phone in business hours.
- Trading history is checkable. How long have they traded, and who is behind them?
- They offer a trial. A trader confident in their service will happily take a few jobs before you commit your book.
A scored example
Here are two imaginary candidates scored against the sheet.
| Check area | Trader A | Trader B |
|---|---|---|
| Money (6) | 3 (rate by phone, lock unclear, weekly runs) | 6 |
| Contract (4) | 2 (exclusivity clause) | 4 |
| Paperwork (4) | 2 (checks after lodgement) | 4 |
| People (4) | 4 | 3 (no named contact) |
| Total | 11 | 17 |
Trader A has a friendly manager and a decent rate, but scores 11 because the money and contract answers were vague. Trader B scores 17 and fails only on a named contact, which is easy to ask for. That is the pattern to look for: gaps in service can be fixed, gaps in the money rules cannot.
From the desk: get the answers by email, not on the phone. The act of writing “rate is locked on lodgement” is something a trader will do easily if it is true, and something they will quietly avoid if it is not. A trader that will not put the lock point in writing has told you what you need to know.
Checks specific to your trade
- Battery installers: confirm the trader handles battery STCs and the new evidence rules, and ask how they treat a claim where a battery photo set is incomplete. The battery submission guide lists what a claim needs.
- Hot water and heat pump crews: check they accept the installation-type categories correctly. See installation type: new, replacement or additional.
- VEEC work in Victoria: ask whether the trader handles VEECs too, so you have a single payment relationship for both. The veec-trading page covers it.
Run the trial
Once a candidate scores well, send three to five complete jobs. Time each one from lodgement to cash. Check the paid amount against the quoted rate times the certificate count, because that arithmetic is the quickest audit of whether the rate lock was honoured. For 45 STCs at a quoted $38.00, expect $1,710.00 before GST treatment, and ask the trader to explain any difference.
Where Energy Merchants sits on the sheet
We built our terms to pass this list: the rate is published daily on /pricing/, locked on lodgement of a complete claim, with zero fees, a named account manager and a compliance desk that pre-checks every claim. Settlement is 24 hours for established partners and 48 to 72 hours on a first claim. Do not take our word for it. Score us the same way.
Reading the answers you get back
Pay attention to how a trader answers, not only what they say. A trader with a clean process answers the money questions in a sentence and sends terms the same day. A trader that answers with “it depends” to the rate lock, or “we will sort that out when you sign”, has told you the terms are flexible, and flexible terms usually flex in the trader’s favour. Also notice who answers. If the first call comes from a salesperson and nobody can say who your account manager would be, score the people section accordingly.
Finally, remember the checklist is a snapshot. Rerun it every year on your current trader, because terms, rates and service drift. A trader that scored 17 two years ago and now scores 12 is a reason to ask questions, not to stay out of habit.
What to do next
- Print or copy the 18 checks and score each candidate, including your current trader.
- Get all money and contract answers in writing.
- Run a three to five job trial with the highest scorer.
- If you decide to move, follow the sequence in the switch page and update your assignment form.
- When ready, start trading.