The deeming period is how many years of future solar generation the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme credits upfront when STCs are created. That block shrinks each 1 January and reaches zero in 2030. In 2026 only four deeming years remain — which is why federal panel discounts are smaller than early-SRES era quotes.
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Indicative 2026 pricing: a typical 6.6kW system often quotes around $5,000–$8,000 after the STC discount (metro installs often $5,000–$7,500; premium/regional can run higher). See our solar cost guide.
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Certificate count scales with system size × zone rating × deeming years (with regulatory rounding). Fewer deeming years means fewer STCs and a smaller point-of-sale discount at the same spot price.
At about $39.85 per STC (as of 5 August 2026), a Zone 3 6.6kW system is roughly $1,435; Zone 4 about $1,235. Those figures already embed four-year deeming. A 2027 install loses another year.
You may save on bills for 25+ years. Deeming only sets the certificate creation window. Do not confuse the two timelines.
Cheaper Home Batteries (~$372/kWh usable since 1 July 2025) does not restore lost PV deeming years. Panel timing and battery timing are related but separate decisions.
Watch for last year's deeming assumptions or inflated spot prices. Ask installers to show deeming year, zone and $/STC explicitly.
If you are ready to install with a CEC-accredited crew, waiting rarely improves the federal panel discount. Compare current net prices via MrSolar rather than gambling on future policy nostalgia.
Lock in current-year STC deeming with clear quotes — compare CEC-accredited installers on MrSolar.
Written and reviewed by Daniel (Marketplace lead, Epic Unicorn Pty Ltd). We build pages from Australian solar datasets and regulatory references, then map you to CEC-accredited installers only.
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