Battery claims moved from a niche add-on to a volume product once the Cheaper Home Batteries Program arrived. At the time of writing, eligible installations can create STCs based on the battery’s usable capacity, and the rules around approved products, installer accreditation and evidence are tighter than most installers expect. This guide gives you the submission process we use at the desk.
Rules and eligibility settings are updated by the government from time to time. Always confirm the current position with the Clean Energy Regulator and read our battery STC page for the program overview.
Step 1: check the approved list before you quote
Only batteries that appear on the approved product list at the time of installation are eligible. The list is maintained by the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Before you quote:
- The exact model is on the CEC approved battery list
- The listing is current on the installation date
- Any listed conditions or configurations match what you are installing
- The inverter or hybrid inverter combination is permitted
Model names that differ by a single suffix are different products. Match the whole string.
Step 2: count modules on site
For modular batteries, the number of modules physically installed determines the capacity you can claim.
- Count the modules on site, not the number on the purchase order.
- Photograph the full stack so every module is visible.
- Record each module serial number.
- If the customer plans to add modules later, that is a separate event with its own paperwork.
Step 3: serial numbers exactly
Serial numbers are the single most common source of error. Copy them character for character from the label, not from the delivery docket.
| Check | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Source | Read from the unit label or a legible photo of it |
| Format | Letters, zeros and ones exactly as printed |
| Match | Same serial on the form, the photo and the system record |
| Count | One serial per module or unit, none duplicated |
Step 4: usable versus nominal capacity
Manufacturers quote more than one capacity. For certificate purposes:
- Nominal capacity is the headline figure used in marketing.
- Usable capacity is the energy the battery can actually deliver after reserve and depth-of-discharge limits.
Use the usable figure from the approved listing. If your quote, invoice and form show different numbers, resolve that before you lodge. The glossary explains both terms under usable capacity and nominal capacity.
Step 5: take the photo set
Take geo-tagged, time-stamped photos for each of these.
- Battery installed in position, showing the surrounding space
- Full module stack with every module visible
- Battery label with the model and serial numbers legible
- Each module serial label, close up
- Battery isolator and protection devices
- Inverter or hybrid inverter and its serial label
- Switchboard showing the battery circuit and labels
- Meter board
- Warning and signage labels
Quality rules are the same as for solar. See the STC photo requirements checklist for what good looks like.
Step 6: cross-check the dates
Dates that do not line up are the quiet reason many claims stall. Put these side by side before you lodge:
- Installation date
- Commissioning date
- Certificate of Electrical Safety, CCEW or COES date, as applicable in your state
- Network connection or NMI paperwork, where an application was needed
- Date the claim record was created
- Photo timestamps
Commissioning should not precede installation. The electrical certificate should not predate the work. The creation date should be after the install. If there is a legitimate gap, such as a delayed network approval, note it so the desk understands the sequence.
Installer checklist
- Product on the approved list on the install date
- Module count on site matches the claim
- Serials copied exactly and photographed
- Usable capacity taken from the listing
- Assignment form signed by the owner, see the STC assignment form guide
- Electrical safety certificate attached
- Photo set complete and geo-tagged
- Dates cross-checked
- Installer and designer accreditation details correct
Where we fit in
Send the full pack to the desk by email or upload it to your portal. We check it against this list before anything is lodged, and tell you the same day if something needs fixing. Your rate is locked when a complete claim is lodged, and settlement runs on our usual 24-hour timeline. See pricing for today’s rate, how it works for the process, and start trading if you want an account manager on your battery volume.