The 2022 Quarter 2 deadline to surrender small-scale technology certificates (STCs) is approaching. You should now know whether you will have enough certificates or require purchasing more from the STC clearing house for surrender on or before 28 July 2022.

The Clean Energy Regulator does not have any discretion to amend or extend this deadline. Failure to surrender the required number of STCs on time will result in a shortfall charge of $65 per certificate not surrendered.

Planning on using the STC clearing house?

  • Ensure your REC Registry account details and user permissions are up to date.
    • If you need to create a new or update an existing REC Registry account to enable users to buy STCs through the STC clearing house, visit the create account page for more information.
    • To ensure that your account users can purchase certificates on behalf of the entity, they will require the 'Buy from the STC Clearing House' permission enabled. This permission can be enabled by your account administrators.
  • It is important that payment is made into the account specified within the clearing house invoice you receive. This is a different account to other transactions you may have undertaken with the Clean Energy Regulator. If you have paid into the wrong account, there will be a delay in the timeframe to release certificates into your account.
  • We recommend purchasing from the STC clearing house at least 5 to 10 business days before the surrender deadline. The only payment method accepted is through electronic funds transfer (EFT). You can choose a real time transfer if your bank provides this service, otherwise payments may take up to 5 business days to clear.
  • Don't leave this to the last minute! If your buy order payment is not cleared in time to meet your surrender obligations by the deadline, you will incur a shortfall charge.

Need to decrease your STC required surrender amount?

  • If an electricity retailer is expecting to acquire significantly less electricity in 2022 than the year before, for example due to loss of customers, you may apply to decrease your STC required surrender amounts for quarters 1 to 3. An application can be submitted under s38AF of the REE Act, the form is available on Vary surrender amount.
  • If an application is submitted, please also provide forecast calculations for 2022 to support the new proposed amount.
  • Please note this process should not be used to delay surrender compliance and you understand the potential risk when applying to vary the required surrender amount. If the assessment year's reduced acquisitions (AYRA) exceed the proposed amount in the application by more than 10%, the AYRA (lodged in the EAS (Energy Acquisition Statement)) will be used to recalculate the required surrender amount for quarters 1 to 3. A miscalculation will result in an automatic shortfall charge being applied for the first 3 quarters of the assessment year.

Surrender your certificates by logging into your REC Registry account and follow the steps below:

  • select 'Surrender' from the left side panel
  • select 'Liability surrender' from the drop-down menu
  • click on the applicable 'Assessment year'
  • click the 'STC surrender' icon, and
  • enter the amount of certificate you need to surrender.

For more guidance visit Forms and resources for liable entities.

If you require support, please contact us.