To cut a long story short, solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs) are similar to the ‘Return and Earn’ scheme in NSW, where people return containers in exchange for a refund. However, instead of being refunded cash, feed-in tariffs allow households to get credits on their power bills in exchange for exporting any leftover electricity back into the grid. And depending on the FiT rate, there are usually some decent savings to be made.
Anyway, you’re here to find deals that unlock the most value out of your solar investment, and with so much competition right now, we don’t blame you. But enough chit chat, let’s show you the best solar feed-in tariffs NSW has to offer.
On this page:
- Which provider has the best solar feed-in tariff in NSW?
- Best solar feed-in tariffs in NSW
- Origin Energy feed-in tariffs NSW
- Which is the best solar energy provider?
- Are solar-specific plans always available?
- Energy rates or feed-in tariff: What’s more important?
- How do I know what my solar feed-in tariff is?
- Is there a minimum feed-in tariff in NSW?
- Is solar worth it in NSW?
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Which provider has the best solar feed-in tariff in NSW?
Origin Energy currently has the best solar feed-in tariff in NSW, where eligible customers on a single rate tariff can get 20 cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) for feeding electricity into the grid. AGL has the second highest feed-in tariff rates at 15c/kWh.
Compare NSW Solar Plans
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These are products from referral partners†. 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 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Best Solar Feed-in Tariffs in NSW
Many energy providers have currently switched off their market offer plans to new customers. We will do our best to keep the details on this page up to date as new information becomes available. Please treat information below as historical only, and check solar plan details/availability directly with energy providers.
Here are the solar feed-in tariffs in NSW, showing details of both the minimum and maximum FiTs available. Some of these electricity providers may not operate in all areas of NSW, and some FiTs may only apply when certain conditions are met. Be sure to check out each provider’s website for more information.
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| Retailer | Minimum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) | Maximum Feed-in Tariff (kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| AGL | 5c | 15c (for first 10kWh/day, 7c/kWh thereafter) |
| Alinta Energy | 6.7c | 6.7c |
| Amber | 0c | 5.99c (estimated based on wholesale prices) |
| CovaU Energy | 0c | 5.5c |
| Diamond Energy | 0c | 5.2c |
| Discover Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Dodo | 6.2c | 6.2c |
| Electricity in a Box | TBC | TBC |
| EnergyAustralia | 7.6c | 12c (first 15kWh/day, 7.6c thereafter) |
| Energy Locals | 5c | 5c |
| Future X Power | TBC | TBC |
| GEE Energy | TBC | TBC |
| GloBird Energy | 1c | 12c (first 8kWh/day, 5c thereafter) |
| Glow Power | TBC | TBC |
| Kogan Energy | 0c | 5c |
| Momentum Energy | 0c | 7c |
| Nectr | 0c | 0c |
| Origin Energy | 7c | 20c (must purchase solar system through Origin that’s under 7kW) |
| OVO Energy | 0c | 5c |
| Powershop | 0c | 5c |
| Radian Energy | TBC | TBC |
| ReAmped Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Red Energy | 6c | 12c (for the first 5kWh/day, 6c thereafter) |
| Simply Energy | 5.5c | 12c |
| Smart Energy | TBC | TBC |
| Sumo | 8.1c | 8.1c |
| Tango Energy | 0c | 0c |
| 1st Energy | 6c | 6c |
Feed-in tariffs are for residential customers on a single rate tariff in Sydney on the Ausgrid network. Accurate as of February 2024.
Origin Energy Feed-in Tariffs NSW
Origin Energy offers a higher-than-standard 20c/kWh feed-in tariff in NSW – but the catch is that, in order to get this, you’ll need to have your solar panels installed by Origin and have a system under 7kW. Customers who have a system over 7kW installed by Origin will be eligible for 17c/kWh. Otherwise the best feed-in tariff from the retailer is still a very reasonable 12c/kWh. See Origin’s solar options below.
Which is the best solar energy provider?
Red Energy is currently ranked as Australia’s best solar energy provider, topping our customer satisfaction ratings in 2023. The Aussie-owned company scored five-star reviews for its customer service, focus on environmental sustainability and overall satisfaction. Red Energy has only one solar-specific plan on offer in NSW, however it does offer standard FiTs across its market offers in all states.
Here are Red Energy’s plans on our database for NSW. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Are solar-specific plans always available?
Some energy retailers offer solar-specific plans for customers looking to maximise returns on their solar systems, however these are not always publicly available. It could be a short-term promotion or it may be a case where customers must purchase an eligible PV system through an energy retailer’s third-party solar installation company.
Energy rates or feed-in tariff: What’s more important?
There’s no point in having solar panels only to realise the electricity plan you’re on is cactus. While feed-in tariffs will make a difference to your power bills if you’re generating enough electricity to feed back into the grid, you should still be wary of the rates you’re paying. All electricity plans have usage and supply charges, which are the underlying rates you pay for consuming power as well as having energy supplied to your address.
Get into a habit of checking the energy rates on all plans, regardless of how high the feed-in tariff might be. If your solar system isn’t producing enough exportable power, you may find that an energy plan with inflated base rates will cancel out any guarantees of a credit on your next bill. Conversely, if your solar PV system is exporting plenty of power, you may be able to justify paying higher electricity rates in exchange for a high FiT. Ultimately it will come down to your personal needs and situation.
How do I know what my solar feed-in tariff is?
Your solar feed-in tariff will be located on your last energy bill or statement. It should be listed under the summary of charges which is normally found on the second page of your bill. This section should outline your feed-in tariff (per kWh), how much electricity you’ve exported (i.e. 2,000kWh), as well as the amount of money you’ll have deducted off your bill.
Alternatively, check the energy price fact sheets of your plan, as all power companies must provide these documents. This sheet contains all the fees, charges and rates you’ll be paying. Unfortunately, some retailers make these documents harder to find than others, but as a general rule of thumb, they’re normally found at the bottom of each retailer’s website.
Is there a minimum feed-in tariff in NSW?
While there’s no set minimum feed-in tariff rate in NSW, there is a benchmark range of 7.7c to 9.4c/kWh, according to NSW’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). Unlike Victoria where there is a minimum FiT of 4.9c/kWh, solar customers in NSW will have to pay extra attention to a plan’s FiT rate or risk signing up to a dud deal.
Is solar worth it in NSW?
Moving one step off the grid in NSW can be made possible by installing solar, and is a great way for households to become more self-sufficient. However, unlocking value from a solar system usually takes time, so don’t expect a return on your investment overnight, even if you manage to snag a good solar rebate. With PV systems costing well into the thousands, it’s incredibly important you do your homework.
Just like it’s equally important to review energy prices frequently, regardless if you have solar or not. This way you stay on top of the latest deals in your area.
Image credits: chinasong/Shutterstock.com, 3Dstock/Shutterstock.com
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