Installing your solar water heater/heat pump

• Do not assign your STCs over to your chosen Agent until your system is installed and working. 
• If you are asked to sign any forms prior to your system's installation, check that you are not signing an STC Assignment Form.
• If your Agent asks you to sign the STC Assignment Form before the system is installed and working they are breaking the law. If this has happened please contact the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator's Compliance Team – compliance@orer.gov.au
• Before your system is installed make sure that the system is eligible for STCs. Check  with your Agent that:
  • The system is listed on the Register of Solar Water Heaters. Visit – Register of Solar Water Heaters
  • The STCs will be created within 12 months of the installation date. If you choose to go through an Agent they will create the STCs on your behalf.
• You must be the owner of the system at the time it is installed to be entitled to assign or create STCs. In some circumstances, where the solar panels are installed in new buildings, the owner can be the builder or property developer.  

The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator recommends that you request a copy of the installer’s licence.

When the system is installed your installer should test that the system is capable of producing hot water, before you complete any documentation.

Once the installation of your system is complete you can assign your STCs over to your selected registered Agent by signing an "STC Assignment Form".  

• Do not sign the form until the installation of your system is complete.
• Make sure you only sign the STC Assignment Form once.  
• For the purposes of the scheme the installation is classified as being completed when:
  • all parts of the water heater are installed and demonstrated to be capable of supplying hot water to the property.  This includes panels, pumps, tanks, wiring and electrical connection.
• Read any supplied paperwork carefully to ensure:
  • you are making an accurate declaration about who installed your system
  • you are making an accurate declaration about when it was installed
  • that you are only signing one version of any form.
• Request and retain a copy of all documentation for your own records.
• Be satisfied that you have received, or are going to receive the specified discount or payment for the STCs.
• The STCs can only be assigned once. You cannot re-assign your STCs once the form has been completed and provided to your Agent.

What will happen to the STCs?

Your Agent will create the STCs in an online system called the REC Registry. After the STCs have been validated the Agent will sell them to entities (usually electricity retailers) that have a legal requirement under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 to buy a certain number of STCs each year.

Although a majority of owners choose to go through a registered Agent to create and manage the STCs, some may choose to create the STCs themselves. This process is complicated and includes:

1. Determining the eligibility of the solar water heater/heat pump
2. Calculating the STCs
3. Completing the appropriate compliance paperwork 
4. Creating an account in the REC Registry
5. Verifying your identity
6. Creating STCs in the REC Registry
7. Waiting to have the STCs validated 
8. Finding a buyer or placing the STCs in the STC Clearing House queue. 

ORER cannot provide an estimate of how long it will take for STCs to sell in the Clearing House. STCs will only sell when a buyer is available and owners should plan their system purchase with this in mind.

Visit:

Creating STCs

Selling STCs

• If you believe an Agent or Installer has created STCs for an ineligible system – for example, if you have signed an STC Assignment Form but your system is not fully installed – please contact ORER on compliance@orer.gov.au .
• If you need to discuss your STC payment – including any delays in payment - contact your Agent.
• Payment for STCs or the rights to create STCs is a contractual matter between owner and Agent.
• ORER does not set the price of STCs traded outside of the STC Clearing House.
• ORER cannot mediate in price or payment-based disputes between owners and Agents.
• If you believe the terms of your contract are unfair, please contact the Department of Fair Trading in your state or territory.