source: The CER
Accredited installer on-site attendance requirements
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) would like to remind all accredited installers and agents they are required to collect on-site evidence as part of their compliance paperwork. This is relevant for all solar photovoltaic (PV) installations claiming small-scale technology certificates (STCs).
This requirement is legislated under 20AC(f)(iii) of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 and is outlined in Section 3.1.1 of the Clean Energy Council (CEC) Guidelines.
An accredited installer must only sign off on solar PV systems where they have installed the system themselves, or supervised the installation by others. It is mandatory for an accredited installer to physically attend the site during:
- job set up
- mid-installation check-up
- testing and commissioning.
Photographic evidence for each installation will demonstrate compliance with the Regulations and for the installation to be eligible for STCs.
Expected practice for installers
- All photographic images should contain the accredited installers face. Photos where the installer is not clearly visible or identifiable will not be considered.
- Each photo must contain time and date metadata and geolocation. Use of Solar Panel Validation (SPV) apps is encouraged but if unavailable use your phone camera.
- Photos should demonstrate the stage of installation.
- Timing intervals of each photo provided should be consistent with the overall time it would take to install the system.
- Statutory declarations may be used as supplementary evidence to photographs provided, however should not be relied upon as standalone evidence.
- Your final photo must match the date of testing and commissioning on your Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) or equivalent. Returning to site later to take photos or changing the dates on a CES may be considered fraud.
Expected practice for registered agents
- Ensure that installers are meeting on-site attendance requirements before creating certificates.
- Submit photos in their original form or print outs from SPV apps.
- Provide all collected evidence to support your claim. If evidence is missing, include an explanation and any supporting evidence or information to satisfy that the installer was present.
- Include information about any barriers to collecting the required evidence. This may include any unusual features of the installation (for example, that might affect the timeframe or composition of the photos) that raises a concern about the validity of the evidence. This information can be submitted in your STC claim.
Positive compliance outcomes
The CER has observed a reduction of STC claims where the accredited installer cannot provide satisfactory evidence that they physically attended the installation across all 3 stages. However, agents, retailers and installers that are repeatedly unable to provide satisfactory on-site verification evidence may be the subject of compliance action. CER encourages scheme participants to put processes in place to ensure they are meeting the documentation and record keeping requirements for all installations.
Please contact the Clean Energy Regulator for more information about STC eligibility on 1300 553 542 or
Yours sincerely
REC Registry
