Renewable Energy Target (RET)
The Clean Energy Regulator continues to actively monitor and manage compliance in the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to protect scheme integrity and maintain consumer confidence. We take compliance seriously and are committed to identifying and addressing non-compliance with scheme requirements. While most participants meet their obligations and comply with scheme requirements, we continue to monitor industry activity, investigate non-compliance, take appropriate regulatory action and refer matters onto other regulators where necessary.
Our investigation and enforcement activities provide assurance that the vast majority of industry participants are meeting scheme requirements and there is no evidence of systemic fraud within the scheme.
We will continue to take strong action against participants who engage in fraud, deliberate wrongdoing, or other conduct that undermines scheme integrity, including the provision of false or misleading information for personal or commercial gain.
Solar Installer convicted for false statutory declarations
A Victorian solar installer was convicted and fined $10,000 following an investigation into fraudulent conduct under the scheme. Toby Payne pleaded guilty to intentionally making false statements in statutory declarations that were used to support the creation of small-scale technology certificates (STCs).
Our investigation found Mr Payne falsely claimed that he had attended solar installations in Melbourne when he was interstate at the time. Installers are reminded that statutory declarations are legal documents, and we will not tolerate participants who make false or misleading claims for STCs.
Mr Payne has also had his accreditation with Solar Accreditation Australia suspended.
Solar PV installer declared ineligible: Shunqi Sun
We have declared accredited installer Shunqi Sun ineligible to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems or batteries under the scheme for 12 months following an investigation into 10 installations completed between September 2024 and July 2025.
The investigation found multiple compliance breaches, including undertaking installations without the required endorsement, failing to provide electrical safety certificates, non-compliance with mandatory electrical standards, and providing false or misleading installer statements.
Solar PV installer declared ineligible: Sandeep Shinde
We have declared accredited installer Sandeep Laxman Shinde ineligible to install solar PV systems or batteries under the scheme for 3 years following an investigation into 24 installations completed between February 2023 and July 2025.
The investigation identified multiple breaches including failures to meet onsite attendance requirements, failures to provide required electrical safety certificates, and the provision of false or misleading installer statements.
Emerging Environmental Group’s registration permanently suspended
We have permanently suspended the registration of Emerging Environmental Group Pty Ltd as a registered person under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 after determining the company no longer met the fit and proper person requirements necessary to participate in the scheme. As a result, the company is no longer permitted to create renewable energy certificates.
This decision forms part of our broader regulatory response to a group of related entities operating within the scheme. Since June 2024, we have taken action to remove Greenbot Pty Ltd, Emerging Energy Solutions Group Pty Ltd, NetZero Environmental Group Pty Ltd and Hello Solar Pty Ltd from the scheme after determining those entities no longer met the fit and proper person requirements. We will continue to take action where necessary to protect the integrity of our schemes and ensure participants meet the standards expected of registered persons.
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme and Safeguard Mechanism
2025–26 NGER reporting
NGER emissions and energy reports for 2025–26 must be submitted by 11:59 pm (AEDT) on Monday 2 November 2026. Reports must be submitted through Emissions and Energy Reporting System (EERS), accessed through Online Services. We expect all NGER reporters to submit accurate reports on time. There are no extensions available to the statutory reporting deadline and there are penalties, including infringement notices, for non-compliance. Read our published list of late reporters.
To support reporters to submit on-time, accurate and complete NGER reports, we provide a range of resources available on our reporter support page on our website. These include updated reporting guidance, calculators and tips for compliant reporting.
Safeguard excess emissions
The next compliance deadline under the reformed Safeguard Mechanism is 31 March 2027. Safeguard entities with facilities that exceed their baseline must manage their excess emissions, including through the surrender of ACCUs and Safeguard Mechanism credit units (SMCs), before the compliance deadline. Any responsible emitters that do not meet their obligations should expect that we will take strong enforcement action.
Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme
Improving the accuracy of ACCU crediting applications
Project proponents must provide complete and accurate offsets reports meeting all legislative requirements and supported by clear evidence when submitting claims for ACCUs.
In the September 2026 quarter, our assessment process identified 23 applications (7.8%) where the number of claimed ACCUs needed to be reduced, an increase from 6.6% of applications in the June quarter. These corrections were generally required because carbon estimation areas needed to be re-stratified to remove ineligible areas or because of errors in abatement calculations.
We will provide additional education to participants in the December quarter to drive higher quality applications. Repeated errors in applications may result in stronger compliance action. Proponents are reminded they need to notify us if errors are identified in previously submitted offsets reports.
Audit Uplift
We continue to uplift audit quality across the ACCU Scheme. Audits are a key compliance monitoring tool and play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the Scheme.
In the September quarter, we progressed work to better understand stakeholder experiences with audit requirements, identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the audit process, and strengthen our visibility of audit quality. Findings from this work will inform ongoing improvements to audit oversight and support a more risk-based approach to compliance monitoring and enforcement.