Topic
Choosing and switching STC traders
41 pages, one place. Start with the quick answers, go deeper with the articles.
In depth 3
- STC trader not paying: what to do, step by stepIf your STC trader has stopped paying, act in the first week: stop sending claims, build the file, send a written demand and know your escalation opti…
- Switch STC trader checklist: 18 checks before you moveAn 18-point checklist to run before you switch STC trader: contract, rate lock, fees, paperwork, accreditation and cash flow, with a score sheet you c…
- How to switch STC traders without losing a weekSwitching STC traders takes about a week to set up if you plan it. Here is the sequence, what happens to claims in flight and how to avoid a payment g…
Quick answers 38
- STC aggregator vs trader vs registered agent: what is the difference?A registered agent is the legal role: someone registered with the CER to create STCs for others. 'Aggregator' and 'trader' are commercial labels. An a…
- What is the best price for registered and unregistered STCs?Registered STCs are already created and validated in the REC Registry, so buyers pay closer to spot. Unregistered STCs are still to be created, so the…
- Best STC trader in Australia: how to judge oneThe best STC trader for you is the one that pays a locked rate fastest with no hidden fees and catches claim problems before lodgement. Score traders …
- Who pays STCs fastest in Australia, and is instant payment real?Fast traders pay within one to a few business days of a clean claim; genuinely instant payout is rare because claims need checking first. Compare the …
- How do I get the best STC price as an installer?To get the best STC price, compare net rates after every fee, lodge clean claims, commit volume where it earns a better rate, ask for a locked price a…
- What is a good STC trader price per certificate?A good STC trader price is a net rate close to the spot market (roughly $38 to $40 at the time of writing), with no extra fees, locked when you lodge …
- What are the REC Registry and CER fees for creating STCs?At the time of writing the CER charges about 47 cents per STC to create rooftop solar certificates (the first 250 free for a system owner), plus a one…
- How do I self-register and create STCs as an installer?To create STCs yourself, open a REC Registry account as a registered person, get the system owner's assignment, create the certificates with correct s…
- Should I self-register STCs or use a trader?Most installers are better off using a trader. Self-registering saves the trader's margin but costs registry fees, admin time, compliance risk and slo…
- How do you start an STC trading business in Australia?You need a business structure and ABN, a registered person account in the CER's REC Registry, enough capital to pay installers before you are paid, a …
- What fees do STC agents and traders charge?STC traders make money in the gap between spot and your rate, and some add admin, processing, registry or subscription fees on top. Compare on the net…
- What fees do STC aggregators and brokers charge?STC aggregators and brokers earn through a spread below the market price, a per-certificate fee, a flat admin or subscription charge, or all three. Co…
- How long do STC aggregators take to pay?STC aggregators commonly pay on terms ranging from a few days to 30 days or more after a claim is lodged or validated, with payment often tied to a we…
- What is the difference between an STC aggregator and a broker?An aggregator pools certificates from many installers and sells them on, usually buying from you as principal. A broker introduces you to a buyer and …
- What is an STC broker, and how is it different from a trader?An STC broker arranges deals between installers and certificate buyers and takes a commission, usually without owning the certificates. A trader buys …
- Is there an STC exchange or marketplace in Australia?Australia has no open STC exchange with a public order book. STCs trade over the counter between traders, brokers and retailers, or through the Clean …
- Is an STC a financial product, and does ASIC regulate STC trading?An STC is a certificate created under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act and is generally treated as personal property, not as a financial product…
- How can an STC trader pay in 24 hours, and who does it?A trader pays in 24 hours by using its own working capital, checking claims before lodging so few fail, and settling from a bank account on a fixed sc…
- Can I submit STC claims in batches or by bulk upload?Yes, most traders accept batch or bulk submission, typically a spreadsheet of job details plus individual photos and signed forms for each system. Eac…
- How do STC traders fund payments and make money?A trader pays installers for certificates, then sells them to liable entities at the Clearing House ceiling of $40 or on the spot market, and earns th…
- How do you complain about or dispute an STC trader?Start with a written complaint under the trader's contract, then escalate to the Clean Energy Regulator if registry conduct is involved, to fair tradi…
- Which STC trader contract terms should you check?Check when payment is due and from what point, whether the rate is locked on lodgement, any fees, exclusivity or minimum volumes, who bears a failed c…
- What is an STC trader's cut-off time?A cut-off time is the deadline by which a complete claim must reach a trader to be processed or priced that day. Miss it and the claim rolls to the ne…
- STC trader fees: what they charge and where they hideSTC trader fees can include a per-claim processing fee, an admin or portal fee, a monthly subscription, registry or transfer fees and charges for earl…
- Do you need a licence to trade STCs, and is it regulated?There is no general trading licence for STCs. The Clean Energy Regulator regulates the certificate registry, registered persons and agents, and conduc…
- What can you do if an STC trader owes you money?Confirm the transfer in the REC Registry, send a written demand citing the agreed terms, and set a short deadline. If that fails, escalate to the cons…
- What should you do when an STC trader pays late?Check whether the claim has actually cleared registry validation, then ask the trader for the specific reason in writing. One late payment with a clea…
- What is STC pre-validation, and can a trader check my photos first?Pre-validation is a trader reviewing your photos, forms and serial numbers before the claim is lodged with the Clean Energy Regulator. It catches fixa…
- Why does my STC trader's price differ from the spot price?A trader's rate sits below the spot price because it covers margin, registry and compliance cost, failure risk and the cost of paying you before it is…
- If my STCs are rejected, who pays: the trader or me?It depends on the trader's contract. Before payment, a rejected claim is simply unpaid and you fix it. After payment, many traders reserve the right t…
- How do you read STC trader reviews before choosing one?Treat STC trader reviews as a prompt for questions, not a verdict. Look for patterns about payment timing and claim handling, then confirm with a test…
- How do you spot an STC trader scam before you lodge claims?Warning signs are rates well above the market, pressure to lodge before you have seen terms, no clear contracting company, payments that slip, and ref…
- Who issues the tax invoice when I sell STCs to a trader?In most trader arrangements the buyer issues a recipient-created tax invoice (RCTI) for the STCs it buys from you, under an agreement you both sign. Y…
- Do STC traders pay better rates for higher volume?Often, yes. Many traders pay a small premium or give extras to installers who lodge regularly in volume, but the premium is rarely the biggest factor.…
- STC trading with no fees: what zero fees should meanSTC trading with no fees should mean you pay nothing beyond the published rate: no processing, admin, registry or subscription charges. Check the cont…
- How do I compare STC trading platforms in Australia?Compare STC platforms on six points: net rate after every deduction, when the rate locks, settlement time, whether batteries and hot water are support…
- What if an STC is rejected or audited after the trader has paid?Check the trader's recourse clause. Many contracts let the trader recover payment if the Clean Energy Regulator later invalidates certificates, someti…
- Why do some STC traders charge a fee per STC?Traders charge a per-STC fee to cover CER creation costs, compliance checks, admin and the risk of failed claims, instead of, or on top of, a spread b…
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