In this article, Canstar Blue explains and compares feed-in tariffs across leading Australian retailers. We also look at what else customers should consider to find the best solar deal.
With some solar bonus schemes and installation rebates drawing to a close in recent years, many Aussies have begun to consider whether solar is still a good investment. The short answer is yes – solar is still a great way for Australian households to save on electricity – but only if you know how to find a good deal.
Most electricity retailers these days offer competitive feed-in tariffs as part of their standard product range. Some even have products specifically designed for customers with solar panels. Solar plans are slightly different to standard electricity deals. While you are still charged for electricity usage and supply, you will also receive something called a feed-in tariff. Canstar Blue compares feed-in tariffs from leading providers in Australia below, taking note of where households might find the best value.
On this page:
- What is a solar feed-in tariff?
- Solar plans with feed-in tariffs
- NSW feed-in tariffs
- QLD feed-in tariffs
- VIC feed-in tariffs
- SA feed-in tariffs
- ACT feed-in tariffs
- TAS feed-in tariffs
- WA feed-in tariffs
- Can I receive a premium solar feed-in tariff?
- Should I choose a larger discount or higher FiT?
- How to find a good deal on solar
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What is a solar feed-in tariff?
A feed-in tariff (FiT) is a small credit rebate that households receive for any excess electricity produced by a solar system or other small-scale generator. Simply put, unless you have a solar battery, any solar power produced by solar panels must be immediately used or it will feed into the shared electricity grid for other properties to use.
For each kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity that a household’s solar system exports to the electricity grid, that property will receive a feed-in tariff of a few cents, usually between seven and 16 cents per kWh. Feed-in tariffs are not paid out cash in hand, rather they apply as a deduction on your regular bill. A high feed-in tariff can help drastically reduce what you pay for electricity, that’s why it’s so important to shop around for solar deals.
Solar plans with feed-in tariffs
See solar energy plans in your state by tapping the correct tab below.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on SA Power network in Adelaide but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Feed-in tariffs by state
Feed-in tariffs vary markedly across states and retailers. Below is a state-by-state breakdown of the largest feed-in tariffs offered by retailers in New South Wales, South East Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia at the time of publication.
NSW
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| AGL | 5c | 10c (for the first 10kWh/day, 5c/kWh thereafter) |
| Alinta Energy | 6.7c | 6.7c |
| Amber | 5.74c | 5.74c (estimated based on wholesale prices) |
| Ampol Energy | 7c | 7c |
| CovaU | 5.5c | 5.5c |
| Diamond Energy | 0c | 5.2c |
| Discover Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Dodo | 3.5c | 3.5c |
| Electricity in a Box | TBC | TBC |
| EnergyAustralia | 5c | 10c (for the first 12kWh/day, 5c thereafter) |
| Energy Locals | 1c | 2c |
| Engie | 5.5c | 12c (for the first 8kWh/day, 5.5c thereafter) |
| Future X Power | TBC | TBC |
| GEE Energy | TBC | TBC |
| GloBird Energy | 1c | 12c (for the first 8kWh/day, 4c thereafter) |
| Glow Power | TBC | TBC |
| Kogan Energy | 1.4c | 1.4c |
| Momentum Energy | 5c | 5c |
| Nectr | 0c | 0c |
| Origin Energy | 5c | 10c (for the first 14kWh/day, 5c thereafter) |
| OVO Energy | 3c | 3c |
| Pacific Blue | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Powershop | 1.4c | 1.4c |
| Radian Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Red Energy | 5c | 10c (for the first 5kWh/day, 5c thereafter) |
| Smart Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Sumo | 5c | 8.1c |
| Tango Energy | 0c | 0c |
| 1st Energy | 1.5c | 5c (for the first 15kWh/day 2.5c thereafter) |
Feed-in Tariffs are for residential customers on a single rate tariff in Sydney on the Ausgrid network. Accurate as of November 2024.
The NSW regulator recommends a solar feed-in tariff of at least 7.7c to 9.4c/kWh, however only some retailers exceed this suggestion. Most of the better-known retailers in the state also offer specialised solar products.
QLD
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| AGL | 4c | 10c (for the first 10kWh/day, 4c/kWh thereafter) |
| Alinta Energy | 8c | 8c |
| Amber | 0c | 3c (estimated based on wholesale prices) |
| Ampol Energy | 5c | 5c |
| CovaU | 5.5c | 5.5c |
| Diamond Energy | 0c | 4.73c |
| Discover Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Dodo | 3.5c | 3.5c |
| Electricity in a Box | TBC | TBC |
| EnergyAustralia | 4.6c | 10c (for the first 12kWh/day, 4.6c thereafter) |
| Engie | 5.5c | 12c (for the first 8kWh/day, 5.5c thereafter) |
| Energy Locals | 7c | 7c |
| Future X Power | TBC | TBC |
| GEE Energy | TBC | TBC |
| GloBird Energy | 1c | 11c (for the first 8kWh/day, 3c thereafter) |
| Glow Power | TBC | TBC |
| Kogan Energy | 0c | 1.4c |
| LPE | TBC | TBC |
| Momentum Energy | 0c | 2.9c |
| Nectr | 0c | 0c |
| Origin Energy | 4c | 4c |
| OVO Energy | 0c | 3c |
| Pacific Blue | 0c | 0c |
| Powershop | 1.4c | 1.4c |
| Radian Energy | TBC | TBC |
| ReAmped Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Red Energy | 5c | 8c |
| Smart Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Sumo | 2c | 6c for the first 10kWh per day |
| Tango Energy | 0c | 0c |
| 1st Energy | 1.5c | 5c |
Feed-in Tariffs are for residential customers on a single rate tariff in Brisbane on the Energex network. Accurate as of November 2024.
Aside from Ergon Energy, all Queensland retailers have free reign to set their own feed-in tariffs. Those with solar-specific deals tend to offer higher FiT rates.
VIC
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| AGL | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Alinta Energy | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Amber | 3.3c (estimated based on wholesale prices) | 3.3c (estimated based on wholesale prices) |
| Arcline by RACV | 4.1c | 4.1c |
| CovaU | 4.9c | 4.9c |
| Diamond Energy | 5.2c | 5.2c |
| Discover Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Dodo | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| EnergyAustralia | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Energy Locals | 3.3c | 5c |
| Engie | 3.3c | 12c |
| GloBird Energy | 2.1c | 2.1c |
| Kogan Energy | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Lumo Energy | 3.3c | 4.5c |
| Momentum Energy | 3.3c | 6c |
| Nectr | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Origin Energy | 3.3c | 10c (for the first 14kWh/day, 3.3c thereafter) |
| OVO Energy | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Pacific Blue | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Powershop | 3.3c | 3.7c |
| ReAmped Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Red Energy | 3.3c | 4.5c |
| Sumo | 3.3c | 3.3c |
| Tango Energy | 3.3c | 4.9c |
| 1st Energy | 3.3c | 3.3c |
Feed-in Tariffs are for residential customers on a single rate tariff in Melbourne on the Citipower Network. Accurate as of November 2024.
Victoria is the only state to impose a legal minimum feed-in tariff on a competitive energy market. As of July 2024, the minimum FiT is 3.3c. As you can see, some retailers simply offer the bare minimum, but there are some solar specific products with higher rates. The introduction of the minimum flat-rate FiT was accompanied by the introduction of time-varying FiTs. Under new laws, all retailers must offer either a single rate FiT, time-varying FiT, or both.
SA
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| AGL | 4c | 10c (for the first 10kWh/day, 4c/kWh thereafter) |
| Alinta Energy | 8c | 8c |
| Amber | 0.74c (estimated based on wholesale prices) | 0.74c (estimated based on wholesale prices) |
| CovaU | 5.5c | 5.5c |
| Diamond Energy | 5.2c | 5.2c |
| Discover Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Dodo | 3.5c | 3.5c |
| EnergyAustralia | 4.5c | 10c (for the first 12kWh/day, 4.5c thereafter) |
| Energy Locals | 6c (for the first 8kWh/day) | 6c (for the first 8kWh/day) |
| Engie | 5.5c | 11c (for the first 8kWh/day, 4c thereafter) |
| Future X Power | TBC | TBC |
| GloBird Energy | 1c | 1.5c |
| Glow Power | TBC | TBC |
| Kogan Energy | 1.4c | 1.4c |
| Lumo Energy | 3c | 4.5c |
| Momentum Energy | 2.5c | 2.5c |
| Nectr | 0c | 0c |
| Origin Energy | 4c | 10c (for the first 14kWh/day, 6c thereafter) |
| OVO Energy | 2c | 2c |
| Pacific Blue | 0c | 0c |
| Powershop | 1.4c | 1.4c |
| ReAmped Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Red Energy | 3c | 4.5c |
| Sumo | 1c | 1c |
| Tango Energy | 0c | 0c |
| 1st Energy | 1.5c | 1.5c |
Feed-in Tariffs are for residential customers on a single rate tariff in Adelaide on the SA Power Network. Accurate as of November 2024.
South Australia has had quite a surge in feed-in tariff rates recently. Some retailers now offer FiTs upward of 8c/kWh, although it seems some didn’t get the memo.
ACT
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| ActewAGL | 8c | 12c (for the first 15kWh/day, 8c/kWh thereafter) |
| Amber | 5.74c (estimated based on wholesale prices) | 5.74c (estimated based on wholesale prices) |
| CovaU | 5.5c | 5.5c |
| Discover Energy | TBC | TBC |
| EnergyAustralia | 5c | 10c (for the first 12kWh/day, 5c thereafter) |
| Energy Locals | 7c (for the first 8kWh/day, 3c thereafter) | 7c (for the first 8kWh/day, 3c thereafter) |
| Nectr | 8.94c | 8.94c |
| Origin Energy | 9c | 12c (for the first 14kWh/day, 10c thereafter) |
| Radian Energy | TBC | TBC |
| ReAmped Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Red Energy | 5c | 5c |
Source: Canstar Blue electricity database/respective retailer websites, November 2024.
TAS
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora Energy | 8.94c | 8.94c |
| CovaU | 8.88c | 8.94c |
| Future X Power | TBC | TBC |
| Glow Power | TBC | TBC |
| 1st Energy | 8.94c | 10c |
| Energy Locals | 8.94c | 8.94c |
Source: Canstar Blue electricity database/respective retailer websites, November 2024.
The newly competitive Tasmanian energy market now gives households a few retailers to consider, some of which have come to the table with a compelling offer for solar customers.
WA
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Synergy | 2c (off-peak/shoulder times) | 10c (peak times) |
| Horizon Power | 16.92c (off-peak/shoulder times) | 55.99c (peak times) |
Source: Respective retailer and WA government websites, November 2024.
If you live in the west, you unfortunately have no choice of electricity retailer in WA, with Synergy and Horizon Power covering metro and regional areas respectively.
Can I receive a premium solar feed-in tariff?
You may have heard about feed-in tariffs as high as 60c/kWh. Unfortunately, these premium solar feed-in tariffs are only available to homeowners who installed and registered their solar systems many years ago – generally before 2011, depending on the state. This means you are not eligible for a premium tariff if you’ve only installed solar in the past few years, or plan to do so shortly. Unfortunately, there’s no sign of any new solar bonus schemes in the near future.
Queenslanders and South Australians who signed up to a solar bonus scheme before they closed will continue to receive a premium tariff until 2028. Victorian bonus scheme customers will also receive their premium FiT until 2024. Unfortunately for New South Wales solar bonus customers, the scheme came to its scheduled conclusion at the end of 2016 and all customers were reverted to a standard rate.
Best feed-in tariffs in each state:
Should I choose a larger discount or higher solar FiT?
So which should you choose, the better solar FiT or larger discount? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t clear and it will depend on your personal circumstance. Consider the following points.
Consider choosing the higher FiT if…
- You have a large solar system (5kW or more)
- A lot of solar is exported to the grid from your house because no one is home during the day to use it
- There are conditions attached to receiving the discount which you’re not sure you can meet.
Consider choosing the higher discount if…
- You have a small solar system (less than 5kW)
- You use most of your solar power through the day and export very little to the grid
- You own a solar storage battery.
Solar monitoring technology can give you insights into your electricity usage habits and help you make a better informed decision about which plan is best suited for your home.
Further reading:
How to find a good deal on solar
A large feed-in tariff is definitely nice, but you shouldn’t just assume a bigger feed-in tariff means it’s a better deal. You should always look at the energy price fact sheets when comparing electricity products. Keep an eye out for ‘solar metering charges’. These are daily supply charges that certain retailers apply to solar customers. It’s also not uncommon to find solar products with large feed-in tariffs charging higher electricity usage or supply rates, so you need to consider if the trade-off is worth it.
If you have a large solar system, say 5kW or over, then you will most likely be better off on a deal that provides a high feed-in tariff, even if it means slightly higher electricity usage rates. A bigger feed-in tariff may also be attractive for households that are hardly home during the working day to use their solar power and consequently have most of it exported to the energy grid. Conversely, customers with small solar systems or a storage battery probably won’t export much solar to the grid and should focus on cheap electricity rates overfeed-in tariffs. The same applies if you’re home during the day and tend to use up all your solar power.
Now, while rates are important, so is customer service. If you truly want to make the most from your investment in solar, you need an energy retailer that will help you at every step of the process. To see which solar energy companies are meeting customer expectations, check out Canstar Blue’s solar provider customer satisfaction ratings via the link below.
Image credits: bombermoon/Shutterstock.com
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