ORER releases updates regularly and it is your responsibility to keep up to date with changes to delivery and processes regarding the RET scheme. In most cases you will be notified via the REC Registry. Also check the What's new page of the website regularly.

Visit - What's new

For details on how to assess eligibility and calculate RECs for SWHs and SGUs, including Solar Credits, visit -

SWH Eligibility and REC creation

SGU Eligibility and REC creation

For details on how to create, sell and transfer RECs see How to: Create, sell and transfer RECs in the REC Registry.

The REC Registry also has a technical support desk to assist you with using the REC registry system or technical difficulties.

If you are installing a system with a volumetric storage capacity greater than 700 litres on or after 9 September 2009 you are required by the RET legislation to submit two statutory declarations to ORER prior to creating RECs. The statutory declarations should state the following:

• Statutory declaration 1: That the owner of the system intends that the system remains installed in its original configuration and location for the life of the system.
• Statutory declaration 2 (to confirm appropriately sized system):
  • the model of the solar water heater
  • the volumetric storage capacity of the heater
  • the premises at which the heater is to be installed and used
  • the purposes for which the heater, and the hot water produced by the heater, are to be used
  • that the volumetric storage capacity of the heater is appropriate for the premises at which the heater is to be installed and the purposes for which the heater, and the hot water produced by the heater, are to be used
  • the expertise or experience of the person signing the declaration in relation to a heater of the kind covered by the declaration. (in most cases this will be the installer/supplier).

Download statutory declaration templates at - SWH statutory declaration examples

Your statutory declarations must be witnessed by a person who is licensed or registered by law to witness a statutory declaration.

After the statutory declarations have been signed you can either:

1. Scan the documents and submit via email to statdec@orer.gov.au.
   All emails must have the owner's surname and the street number and name in the subject line. (ie. Douglas - 26 Smith St)
   OR
2. Submit a photocopy of the statutory declaration and your contact details to:
   
   Small Units Team
   Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator
   GPO Box 621
   Canberra ACT 2601
   

The preferred option is to submit the statutory declarations via email.

Agents must keep the original statutory declarations as they may be requested at anytime by ORER for the purposes of auditing.

It's important to understand how the RET scheme works to increase the generation of renewable electricity in Australia and have the capacity to educate owners of SWHs and SGUs concerning their contribution to the scheme.

The ORER has created a fact sheet summary of the RET scheme. You are encouraged to distribute this fact sheet to owners when you outline the scheme during the REC assignment process.

Visit - RET - the basics

It is your duty to review the return when you first become an agent to ensure your records will allow you to provide the necessary information to ORER.

The Solar Water Heater and Small Generation Unit Return must be completed by Registered Persons, including Agents, who created more than 250 RECs for SWH and/or SGU from 1 January to 31 December inclusive for that given year, as specified under Section 23F of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (the Act) and Regulation 20C of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 (the Regulations).

Visit - Annual return

• Completed REC Assignment Form
• Installation Report
• Invoice of SWH or SGU system
• Site audit of SWH or SGU installation
• Photos of the installation
• Statutory declarations

Changing your details

If the information included in your original application to become an agent changes, you will need to update your details in the REC Registry.

The owner of the SWH or SGU at the time that is installed is entitled to create the certificate or certificates that relate to the installation. In some cases the owner of an installation may be the property developer, a builder or the eventual owner of a completed building.

The situation where the owner could be considered to be the property developer and builder is:

• Where a property developer or builder installs a solar water heater, prior to the final payment for the building and consequent exchange of legal title. This is regardless of the later sale to the eventual owner of the property. It is assumed that the property developer or builder is the owner of the land upon which the property is being constructed until such time as the title is exchanged.

If a separate individual owns the land and enters into contract with a builder to develop the property the contractual arrangements surround this arrangement would need to be examined on a case-by-case basis to determine ownership.

The ORER recommends that the property developer or agent retain details of the purchaser of the property to assist in audit, should the ORER need to confirm installation of the SWH.

There may be a need for parties to seek further advice from ORER or if required seek their own legal advice.

The owner of the SWH or SGU may not assign their right to create RECs until the installation of the SWH or SGU has been completed.

RECs created by registered agents where the assignment of the RECs occurs before the completion of the SWH/SGU installation (ie the REC assignment form is signed) will be considered by the ORER to have been improperly created. Penalties exist for the improper creation of RECs under Subdivision C of the Act.

All registered agents should ensure their REC assignment forms include a declaration that the installation of a SWH or SGU unit has been completed.

Solar Credits is a mechanism under the expanded RET which multiplies the number of RECs able to be created for eligible installations of SGUs.

There is not means testing for Solar Credits under the legislation.

Solar credits will apply to the first 1.5 kilowatts (kW) of capacity installed. Generation from capacity above 1.5 kW will still be eligible for the standard 1:1 rate of REC creation.

Eligibility requirements for Solar Credits are detailed under Option 2: Individual Trading in the SGU Owners Guide.

Visit – SGU Owners Guide.

• the price that you are willing to buy the RECs for
• the date the owner will be paid - factor in the time it will take you to trade the RECs on the REC Registry
• that the ORER does not set the price of RECs nor does it get involved in disputes between buyers and sellers. The payment for RECs or the rights to create RECs is a contractual matter between you and the owner.

A REC Assignment form is a legal document that must be completed before you can create RECs on behalf of an owner of a solar water heater or small generation unit installation.

The ORER requires that each form contain a minimum set of information and form fields. The minimum requirements for each form are outlined in documents available at the following page:

Visit - Mandatory information required for REC Assignment Forms

Agents may customise their REC Assignment forms to incorporate additional explanatory text, company logos and other features. The ORER requests that a copy of the REC Assignment form be provided when forms are created or changed.

File the REC Assignment form

Once a REC Assignment form is completed it must be retained by the agent for at least five years and must be provided to the ORER if requested.

There are two ways to create RECs for SWHs and SGUs:

1. Individual Upload
The REC Registry contains two drop-down menus for REC Creation for both SWHs and SGUs. Through the individual upload you can enter the details of individual systems into the REC Registry one at a time.
2. Bulk Upload Function
The ORER has developed SWH and SGU Bulk upload workbooks based on the bulk upload guidelines found in the REC Registry. The deemed installation bulk upload guidelines have been prepared to assist you in understanding the requirements of using the bulk upload functionality in the REC Registry. Use the guidelines if you want to create your own template, or just want a list of all the formatting rules for reference.
The ORER's SWH and SGU workbooks can be used for bulk upload REC creation in the REC registry if required. Instructions for use are on the first sheet of the excel workbook. The workbooks contain validation checks and use macros for converting the .xls files into a .csv file for upload into the REC Registry. Please note the version of excel used must be configured to enable the macros. For the latest version of these bulk uploads please email a request to the ORER at orer@orer.gov.au

Visit - Deemed installations bulk upload guidelines

When entering address details fill out all relevant fields.

The address of the installation must be sufficient to allow an officer of the ORER to visit the installation without requesting additional information. The ORER requires the following information as part of the installation address:

• Street number, street name, town/suburb, state/territory, postcode

• Lot number
• Property name, and distance and direction from the nearest town/intersection/landmark also included in the address;
• Boat name or chassis number
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) location
• Roadside Mail Box (RMB) number or Roadside Delivery (RSD) number
• An entry in the special address field that states how an ORER officer could find the address and the system on the property.

If none of the information listed above is available, please contact ORER for further advice.

Supply sufficient information if there are two or more installations at a specific address.

All complete eligible SWHs or SGUs installed on or after 11 September 2006 can have RECs claimed for them. If there are two installations at a single address ORER requires a way to identify where each system is located on the property. RECs will not be passed for systems that do not supply sufficient information to describe where they are located in comparison to current or previous systems at the address. You can enter a description into the special address field in the online forms. One system can be nominated west and the other as east or other descriptions can be used such as 'Main house' and 'Granny Flat'.

Supply a site map if there are a large number of systems at a single address. When maps have been sent to ORER via email you must put a note in the special address field that states the date the email was sent and a number and/or description that matches the map that was sent via email.

Suggested details to include on the map are:

Accreditation code:
Street number:
Street name:
Street type:
Town /suburb:
State:
Postcode:
First name:
Surname:
Special address:

Visit - Example site map

If serial numbers are duplicated you will need to conduct a site audit.

When duplicate SWH tank serial numbers or duplicate PV panel numbers are entered into the REC Registry, ORER will require you to conduct a site audit of the systems involved. The more evidence you can supply to ORER of the inspection occurring the more likely your RECs will get passed without issue.

There are 3 ways to conduct a site audit.

1. Ask installers or home owners to take photos of the serial numbers involved. Provide the ORER with a copy of these photos along with a signed REC Assignment Form that confirms the tank serial number. 
2. Ask installers to go back to the site and fill out a site audit report that states the address, tank brand, model, serial number and a date that the installer inspected it along with their signature.
   

   Visit - Example site audit declaration

3. Ring the owner of the system and ask them to complete a physical inspection while you are on the phone. Following this conversation you inform the ORER in an email stating the owner visually checked and confirmed the tank serial number. 

ORER does not mind how you check the tank serial numbers just as long as you can provide some form of evidence that someone has physically checked the serial number. Please be aware that a clear photo will be the best form of evidence and has a higher chance of RECs being passed without further issues.

This form is to be completed when:

• you need to obtain the accreditation code for a small generation unit for which the right to create RECs has been properly assigned to them

• RECs have been previously created for that small generation unit by another registered agent.

ORER will only supply accreditation codes when the right to create RECs properly assigned to you. By submitting this form to ORER you are warranting that the right to create RECs has been properly assigned to you under Subdivision BA of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000.

Visit - Application to obtain accreditation codes

ORER has no role in setting the value of RECs nor does the ORER monitor the price of RECs. The value of RECs is determined by the demand and supply for certificates and may vary from buyer to buyer and from day to day. The ORER also does not get involved in the buying and selling of RECs.

The basic steps to sell and transfer your RECs are:

1. Log onto the REC Registry and follow the prompts for technical advice on how to sell and transfer your RECs
2. Research potential buyers - most of whom will be wholesale purchasers of electricity who must buy RECs in order to acquit their liability under the Act.
3. Set a price for your customers based on your research. See - Research the REC market
4. Research the market frequently and adjust your price according to the market.