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How can I prove my installation was completed on or by a certain date?

The Clean Energy Regulator classifies an installation as being complete when:

• all parts of the small-scale solar panel, hydro, or wind system are installed and demonstrated to be capable of producing electricity.  This includes the correct mounting of the solar panels/turbine, supply of batteries for off-grid systems, the completion of all of the DC wiring between the panels/turbine and the inverter, and the mounting/connecting of any other parts that are required to produce electricity.
• All parts of the solar water heater or heat pump are installed and demonstrated to be capable of delivering heated water.

For grid-connected small-scale solar panel, wind, and hydro systems, the inverter does not need to be connected to a meter or main-grid to be considered installed. 

The date of installation is the day that the final installer completes their job.

The date of installation is relevant to demonstrate a system’s eligibility to have STCs created for it (must be within 12 months of the date of installation), or to claim a particular Solar Credits multiplier (solar panel, wind and hydro systems only).

The Clean Energy Regulator will accept a range of documentation to support installation date claims, as long as that documentation clearly indicates a system that is capable of generating electricity or hot water (as appropriate).  Such documentation may include, but is not limited to:

• A signed statutory declaration from the homeowner and/or the installer.
• Date-stamped photos of all parts of the completed installation, sent to the Clean Energy Regulator as close to the installation date as possible.  (Please note that the Clean Energy Regulator also uses aerial photographs to check on installations).
• Signed and dated Certificates of Electrical Safety and Compliance. The electrician must always sign and date these forms on the day they have completed the installation, although in some States this form is then sent off to a State inspector to sign off at a later date.
• Any other signed and dated documents that demonstrate the completed installation of your system.

Such documentation would be supplied in addition to the normal paperwork requirements. 

Note that if any contradictory evidence is found during an audit, the Clean Energy Regulator could reject any STCs created for that installation, including those created using Solar Credits, requiring their re-submission or even the imposition of penalties, as appropriate.