Topic
Compliance, photos, audits and rejections
57 pages, one place. Start with the quick answers, go deeper with the articles.
In depth 12
- Battery installation photo requirements for STC claimsPhoto evidence for home battery STC claims: the 1 March 2026 geotag and label rules, the shot list by stage, and why battery claims fail on evidence m…
- CER integrity review of rooftop solar: what changedThe Clean Energy Regulator's integrity review of the rooftop solar sector: its 13 recommendations, the reforms that followed and what they mean for in…
- CER solar compliance priorities for 2026-27What the Clean Energy Regulator says it will focus on for rooftop solar in 2026-27, and a practical plan to make your claims, crews and records ready.
- Common reasons STCs get rejected, by who causes themSTC rejections sorted by source: crew, office, customer, supplier and system. See which habits cause each failure and the owner who should fix it.
- Solar installation photo checklist: shot list by stageA stage-by-stage photo checklist for rooftop solar installs: what to shoot at arrival, roof, array, inverter, switchboard and handover, and the fixes …
- STC audit: what it is and how to be readyWhat a Clean Energy Regulator STC audit examines, what triggers one, the outcomes from clean result to cancelled certificates, and the records that pr…
- STC audit: what to expect, step by stepFrom the first request to the outcome letter: the stages of a Clean Energy Regulator STC audit or inspection, response timeframes and how to build you…
- STC claim rejected? A 48-hour recovery planWhat to do in the first 48 hours after an STC claim is rejected: read the reason, triage by type, fix the evidence, relodge and protect the 12-month w…
- STC compliance checklist: before you lodge a claimA pre-lodgement STC compliance checklist in six blocks: installer, product, installation, documents, claim data and timing. Print it and sign off ever…
- STC compliance for solar installers: the working checklistWhat the CER expects on every solar STC claim: accreditation, on-site attendance, written statements, photos, panel validation and record keeping, in …
- STC photo requirements: what crews get wrong on sitePhoto evidence for STC claims: what the regulator expects, the habits that cause rejections, and a crew workflow that captures compliant images first …
- 10 reasons STC claims get rejected, and the fixesBlurry serials, wrong installation type, CES date mismatches and more. The ten reasons STC claims bounce and how a pre-check desk catches each before …
Quick answers 38
- How do AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 4777 inverter settings affect STCs?Solar systems must comply with AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules and AS/NZS 4777 grid connection requirements to be eligible. Wrong inverter settings or non-co…
- Does AS/NZS 5033 affect STC eligibility, and what counts as non-compliant?Yes. Small-scale solar must be installed to the relevant standards, including AS/NZS 5033 for the PV array, to be eligible. DC isolator labelling and …
- What does AS/NZS 5139 require for battery installation?AS/NZS 5139 is the Australian and New Zealand standard for installing battery systems with power conversion equipment. It restricts where batteries ca…
- What photos does the CER need for batteries in 2026?Battery claims need clear photos of the installed battery, its serial number and the connection, plus evidence that supports the CEC-approved model an…
- What happens in a CER audit of a solar installer?A Clean Energy Regulator (CER) audit checks that STC claims match real, compliant installations. Expect requests for photos, signed forms, serial numb…
- What to expect from a CER audit letter or compliance noticeA CER audit letter or compliance notice asks you to produce records for specific installations by a set date, typically photos, declarations, equipmen…
- How does the CER check solar photos, geolocation and AI review?Photos must carry time, date and location metadata and show the required items. The Clean Energy Regulator monitors onsite verification photos and use…
- How does the CER choose which solar installs to audit?The Clean Energy Regulator uses data and risk indicators, not a random draw alone, to choose jobs for checking or inspection. Patterns in photos, timi…
- What happens in a CER site inspection of a solar install?CER runs physical inspections of small-scale solar and battery installations to check they exist, match the claim and meet safety and installation sta…
- What are the CER's solar and battery compliance priorities for 2026?In 2026 the Clean Energy Regulator is focused on incomplete or falsely declared installs, fake onsite verification photos, battery labelling and photo…
- Who pays when CER takes back or invalidates STCs after payment?CER invalidates the STCs in the registry and holds the registered person accountable. Who ultimately pays is set by your contract with the trader or a…
- When does CER suspend a solar installer or registered person?CER can suspend a registered person who is no longer fit and proper, for example after ignoring a statutory notice, making false or misleading stateme…
- Can the CER take back STCs?Yes. The Clean Energy Regulator can find that STCs were created incorrectly, invalidate them and require the registered person to act, for example by …
- What happens if STCs are claimed twice for the same system or address?A system can only create STCs once. A second claim for the same system, usually caught by matching serial numbers and addresses, is rejected or invali…
- What are the penalties for fake photos or false statutory declarations?Fake photos or a false statutory declaration can bring a criminal conviction, fines, community orders, loss of accreditation and registration, and rep…
- How do you fix a failed STC claim?Find the exact reason in the registry or from your trader, fix the specific issue, whether a photo, serial, form or classification, and resubmit. If t…
- Can a homeowner be liable for STC fraud if they sign a form without an install?A homeowner who knowingly signs an assignment form for an installation that did not occur, or lets someone claim on their property, can be exposed to …
- What are the installer attendance requirements for STCs?The accredited installer must carry out the installation or directly supervise it, which means being physically on site for the key stages. A name on …
- What is an installer written statement for STCs?An installer written statement is a signed declaration from the accredited installer confirming that they installed or supervised the system and that …
- What are phantom installations and STC claims for systems that don't exist?A phantom installation is an STC claim for a system that was never installed, or not installed as stated. It is fraud, it is actively hunted by the Cl…
- What photos do you need for solar STCs?For solar STCs you need photos of the installed array, panel and inverter serial numbers, the inverter, the switchboard and the site, all taken on the…
- What are a registered agent's obligations, audits and suspension risks?A registered agent creates STCs for system owners and must meet the fit and proper person test, hold valid authority, keep records and cooperate with …
- How do you report STC fraud or a dodgy solar installer to CER?Report suspected STC fraud to the Clean Energy Regulator through its online reporting tool, which allows anonymous reports, or by email to referrals@c…
- What is an SAA installer audit and what are the requirements?Solar Accreditation Australia audits accredited installers by reviewing job documentation and sometimes inspecting installations. Results can be a pas…
- How do SAA complaints work and what is the installer code of conduct?Complaints about an accredited installer go to Solar Accreditation Australia, which assesses them, may ask you to respond and rectify, and can apply d…
- How do installers lose accreditation and get it reinstated?Accreditation can be suspended or cancelled for serious or repeated non-compliance, falsified evidence, or failing to respond to notices. Reinstatemen…
- What are the CER photo requirements for solar installations?The CER expects clear, timestamped photos showing the installed array, the panel and inverter serial numbers, the inverter, the switchboard and the in…
- What must a solar retailer do under the CER, and what are the penalties?A retailer must give the customer a written statement for each solar or battery system and make sure its content is true. False or misleading statemen…
- Why did my STC claim fail validation?STC claims usually fail validation because the system details do not match the registry, the installer or product is not eligible, a required document…
- What is STC clawback and when does it happen?Clawback is when a trader or the Clean Energy Regulator treats STCs as invalid after payment and the money must be repaid or the certificates replaced…
- Is there insurance against STC clawbacks for solar installers?There is no standard, widely sold insurance that covers the loss when CER invalidates STCs after payment. Professional indemnity and other policies ma…
- STC compliance checklist, training and software for solar installersSTC compliance comes down to eight things: accredited people on site, approved products, correct installation type, complete photos, accurate serials,…
- What happens to STCs if a solar install fails an audit or has defects?If an audit finds a system does not meet the standards or the claim details, the certificates can be invalidated and the value recovered. Rectifying t…
- What counts as STC fraud in Australia, and what are the common examples?STC fraud means creating or claiming certificates for systems that were not installed as stated, using false photos, declarations or ownership details…
- Is there a same-day limit or distance rule for STC installers?There is no single distance rule, but an accredited installer has to be on site during setup, mid-installation and commissioning. A day that makes tha…
- Who is responsible for STC compliance: installer, subcontractor or retailer?The accredited installer is responsible for the installation and their declaration, the retailer for the sale and the retailer written statement, and …
- Who is responsible for a failed STC audit?Responsibility follows the fault and the contract. The installer is accountable for the installation and evidence, the registered agent or trader for …
- Why was my STC claim rejected?STC claims are usually rejected for unclear or missing photos, serial numbers that do not match the equipment, incomplete or late forms, or an eligibi…
Checklists and guides 7
- Certificate trading glossary for installersA plain-English A to Z of the terms you meet selling STCs, VEECs and battery certificates, from assignment and clawback to usable capacity.
- Deeming period and zone ratings: how STCs are countedHow the deeming period to 2030 and the four zone ratings determine STCs per solar system, with a worked example and why counts fall each January.
- How STC audits work and how to be audit-proofWhat CER and trader audits check, how to keep your evidence ready, how long to hold records and what happens if a certificate is invalidated.
- New, replacement or additional system: which to pickWhy picking the wrong installation type gets claims rejected, what to record about the old system and how each type affects STC eligibility.
- RCTIs, GST and ABNs for STC paymentsHow recipient-created tax invoices work for certificate sales, GST treatment on assignment, ABN and bank detail checks and what your remittance shows.
- STC assignment form: what it is and how to complete itWhat the STC assignment form is, who signs it, which fields are mandatory, the mistakes that cause rejections and how long to keep the original.
- STC photo requirements for solar PV installsEvery photo a solar PV STC claim needs, the quality rules that stop rejections, and the mistakes our compliance desk sees most often.
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