Solar Feed-in Tariffs Australia 2026: Every State’s Rates Explained
If you have solar panels, you’re earning a solar feed-in tariff — and in Australia 2026, understanding what your state pays has never been more important. The question is whether you know how much — and whether it’s actually worth chasing.
The short answer for 2026: feed-in tariff rates across Australia have dropped significantly and self-consuming your solar is now worth three to six times more than exporting it. Understanding your state’s rates is still important — but the real opportunity lies in keeping more of what you generate rather than selling it cheaply to your retailer.
Here is every state and territory’s current feed-in tariff situation, in plain English.
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## What Is a Solar Feed-in Tariff?
A solar feed-in tariff (FiT) is the rate your electricity retailer pays you — in cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) — for any surplus solar electricity your system exports to the grid. When your panels generate more than your home is using, the excess flows out to the network and you receive a credit on your electricity bill.
Feed-in tariffs are separate from government solar rebates, which reduce your upfront installation costs. The FiT is an ongoing payment you receive throughout the life of your system.
### The key thing to understand in 2026
Feed-in tariff rates are now a fraction of what they were a decade ago. In some states, premium rates of 44–66c/kWh encouraged early solar adopters. Today, rates across Australia typically range from 2c to 12c/kWh — while electricity import rates sit at 28–45c/kWh.
This means every unit of solar electricity you use yourself is worth three to six times more than what you get paid for exporting it. A household in NSW on a 31c import rate and 7c feed-in tariff saves 31c for every kWh consumed directly — but only earns 7c for every kWh exported. The maths strongly favours self-consumption.
This is precisely why home battery storage has become so financially compelling in 2026. Rather than exporting cheap, you store it and use it when the grid is expensive.
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## Feed-in Tariff Rates by State — 2026
### New South Wales
**Regulated minimum:** None — NSW has no mandatory minimum feed-in tariff
**Market rates:** 5–12c/kWh depending on retailer
**Best available rates:** Up to 12c/kWh from retailers like Energy Locals and Amber Electric, which offer time-varying export rates that pay more during peak demand periods
**Import rate (for comparison):** 28–35c/kWh
NSW is a fully deregulated market — retailers set their own rates with no government floor. This creates both opportunity and risk. The best retailers offer genuinely competitive rates, but if you haven’t reviewed your plan recently, you may be on a low default rate without knowing it.
**What to do in NSW:** Compare plans using the NSW Government’s Energy Made Easy tool (energymadeeasy.gov.au). Look at the total plan value — a plan with 10c feed-in tariff and high usage charges may cost you more overall than a plan with 6c and lower usage rates.
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### Victoria
**Regulated minimum:** Deregulated from 1 July 2025 — no mandatory minimum, but retailers cannot go below 0c/kWh
**Market rates:** 3–8c/kWh from most retailers; some time-varying plans pay up to 12c during evening peak
**Average minimum across retailers:** approximately 1.1c/kWh flat rate
**Import rate (for comparison):** 26–35c/kWh depending on distribution zone
Victoria’s situation changed significantly from 1 July 2025. The Essential Services Commission, which previously set a mandatory minimum rate annually, was relieved of this responsibility following an amendment to the Electricity Industry Act 2000. Retailers now set their own rates, with the only constraint being they cannot offer below 0c/kWh.
The practical impact: the average minimum rate across Victorian retailers dropped to approximately 1.1c/kWh in 2025–26. However, many retailers voluntarily offer 3–8c to attract solar customers, and time-varying plans can pay up to 6.57c during evening peak periods.
**What to do in Victoria:** Time-varying feed-in tariffs reward evening exports — which aligns well with battery storage. If you have or are getting a battery, look for a retailer offering a higher evening rate. The Victorian Energy Compare tool (victorianenergy.compare.gov.au) lists current rates from all retailers.
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### Queensland
**Regulated minimum:** 8.782c/kWh (South-East Queensland, Energex network, valid through 30 June 2026)
**Regional QLD (Ergon network):** Different rate applies — contact Ergon Energy directly
**Market rates:** Up to 12c/kWh from competitive retailers
**Import rate (for comparison):** 28–33c/kWh
Queensland has one of the more consumer-friendly frameworks on the mainland. The regulated minimum in South-East Queensland ensures a meaningful floor, and competitive retailers offer rates above this. Queensland also has the most individual rooftop solar installations of any state — over 1.16 million systems — which reflects the state’s strong solar resource and historically supportive policy environment.
Note that the regulated minimum rate is reviewed annually and typically changes on 1 July each year. The rate quoted here applies through 30 June 2026 — check with your retailer or the Queensland Competition Authority for the rate applying from July 2026.
**What to do in Queensland:** If you’re with Ergon Energy in regional Queensland, you’re likely on a regulated tariff. SEQ residents should compare market offers — rates of 10c+ are achievable from competitive retailers and represent genuine value on top of the regulated minimum.
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### South Australia
**Regulated minimum:** No mandatory minimum
**Market rates:** 3–10c/kWh; some time-varying plans offer higher rates during peak periods
**Import rate (for comparison):** 35–45c/kWh — among the highest in the country
South Australia has the highest electricity import rates in Australia and no regulated feed-in tariff minimum. The combination of high import prices and low export rates makes SA one of the strongest economic cases for battery storage in the country — the gap between what you pay to import and what you earn to export is enormous.
SA has historically been a leader in rooftop solar uptake precisely because the economics are so compelling. The state’s grid also experiences significant volatility, which has spawned innovative retail products including virtual power plant (VPP) programs that can pay premium rates for battery exports during peak demand.
**What to do in South Australia:** Look seriously at VPP programs from retailers like AGL, Origin, and SA Power Networks. These programs pay above-market rates for battery exports during specific periods and can meaningfully improve the economics of battery storage.
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### Western Australia
**Structure:** Synergy’s Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) — WA does not participate in the National Electricity Market
**DEBS rates (time-varying):**
– Peak period (3pm–9pm): 10c/kWh
– Off-peak: 2.25c/kWh
**Import rate (for comparison):** approximately 30c/kWh
Western Australia operates an entirely different electricity system to the eastern states. Most residential solar customers are on Synergy’s DEBS scheme, which pays different rates depending on the time of day. The 10c/kWh peak rate for exports between 3pm and 9pm is the key figure — it creates a financial incentive to store solar energy during the day and export from batteries during the evening peak.
This structure makes WA particularly well-suited to battery storage paired with a smart inverter or VPP-capable battery. Exporting stored energy during the 3pm–9pm window at 10c is significantly better than the 2.25c flat rate for daytime exports.
**What to do in Western Australia:** If you’re on DEBS and considering a battery, model your returns based on evening peak exports specifically. A battery that charges during the day and exports during the 3–9pm window can meaningfully improve your system economics.
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### Tasmania
**Structure:** Aurora Energy regulated rate — one of the more generous rates in the country
**Rate:** 8–10c/kWh (Aurora Energy’s regulated rate)
**Import rate (for comparison):** approximately 28c/kWh
Tasmania operates largely through Aurora Energy, the state-owned retailer, with a relatively straightforward feed-in tariff structure. Rates are among the more generous on a national comparison basis, though Tasmania’s solar resource (lower irradiance than the mainland) means system output is lower than equivalent systems in Queensland or NSW.
Tasmania recorded a 58% increase in battery registrations in early 2026, suggesting strong local interest in storage despite the cooler climate and different solar economics.
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### Australian Capital Territory
**Structure:** Regulated, set by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC)
**Rate:** Regulated 1-for-1 scheme up to your metered export amount — one of the more consumer-friendly structures nationally
**Import rate (for comparison):** approximately 25–28c/kWh
The ACT’s feed-in tariff framework is administered by the ICRC and offers a relatively stable, regulated rate. The ACT also has the Next Generation Energy Storage Program offering interest-free loans of $2,000–$15,000 for battery installations, making it one of the better-supported jurisdictions for solar-plus-storage.
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## Why Your Feed-in Tariff Has Dropped — And Why That’s Not the Whole Story
Feed-in tariffs have fallen across Australia for a structural reason: there is now so much rooftop solar on the grid that daytime electricity is often worth very little to retailers. Australia has 28.3 GW of rooftop solar across 4.3 million homes — more solar per capita than any other country on Earth. During sunny days, the grid is flooded with solar generation, wholesale prices drop, and retailers have less reason to pay premium rates for your exports.
This isn’t a reason to feel burned. The same solar uptake that pushed down feed-in tariffs also pushed down the cost of panels and batteries dramatically. A system that costs $5,000–6,000 after rebates today would have cost $25,000+ fifteen years ago.
The economic reality has simply shifted: feed-in tariffs are now a bonus, not the core return. The core return comes from self-consumption — using your own solar electricity instead of paying 28–45c/kWh to your retailer.
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## Maximising Your Solar Returns in 2026
Given where feed-in tariffs sit, here are the strategies that actually move the needle:
**1. Shift appliance use to daylight hours**
Run your dishwasher, washing machine, pool pump, and any other heavy appliances during solar generation hours (roughly 9am–3pm). Each kWh you consume this way saves you your full import rate rather than earning you your low feed-in rate.
**2. Review your electricity plan annually**
Feed-in tariff rates change regularly. A plan that was competitive 18 months ago may now be below market. Use your state’s comparison tool to check.
**3. Consider a home battery**
The economics of battery storage are fundamentally about converting cheap exports into avoided expensive imports. If your import rate is 30c and your feed-in rate is 6c, storing energy in a battery and using it at night is worth 24c/kWh more than exporting it. See our guide to the [Cheaper Home Batteries Program 2026] for how to reduce the upfront cost.
**4. Look at time-varying tariffs**
In states where time-varying feed-in tariffs exist (Victoria, WA, some NSW retailers), exporting during evening peak periods pays significantly more than daytime exports. A battery makes this much easier to achieve systematically.
**5. Explore Virtual Power Plant programs**
VPP programs from retailers like AGL, Origin, and state-specific operators can pay premium rates for battery exports during grid stress events. These programs are expanding rapidly across all states.
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## Frequently Asked Questions
**Can my retailer reduce my feed-in tariff?**
Yes, in most states. Retailers must give you notice (usually 10 business days to 20 business days depending on your state) before changing your feed-in tariff rate. If your rate is reduced, you can switch retailers.
**Does my feed-in tariff affect my solar rebate?**
No. The STC rebate for solar installation and the battery rebate under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program are completely separate from your ongoing feed-in tariff.
**Is a higher feed-in tariff always better?**
Not necessarily. A plan offering a high feed-in tariff often comes with higher supply charges or usage rates. Compare the total bill impact, not just the export rate. Your state’s comparison tool calculates this automatically if you enter your usage profile.
**What is a time-varying feed-in tariff?**
Some retailers offer different rates at different times of day. Export rates are typically higher during evening peak periods (when grid demand is high and solar isn’t generating) and lower during the middle of the day (when solar floods the grid). These plans suit households with batteries or those who can shift generation to later in the day.
**Will feed-in tariffs continue to fall?**
The long-term trend is downward as solar penetration increases. However, the introduction of time-varying tariffs and VPP programs creates new opportunities for households with batteries to earn more than flat-rate tariffs would suggest. The incentive is shifting from “export as much as possible” to “export at the right time.”
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## State-by-State Summary Table
| State | Regulated minimum | Typical market range | Best available | Import rate |
|—|—|—|—|—|
| NSW | None | 5–8c | Up to 12c | 28–35c |
| VIC | None (min 0c) | 3–8c | Up to 12c (peak) | 26–35c |
| QLD (SEQ) | 8.782c | 8–12c | Up to 12c | 28–33c |
| SA | None | 3–10c | Up to 10c+ (VPP) | 35–45c |
| WA (DEBS) | N/A | 2.25–10c | 10c (peak) | ~30c |
| TAS | Regulated | 8–10c | ~10c | ~28c |
| ACT | Regulated (ICRC) | Regulated | 1-for-1 scheme | 25–28c |
*Rates as at May 2026. Always verify current rates with your retailer and your state’s energy regulator.*
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*This article provides general information about solar feed-in tariffs in Australia. Rates change regularly. Always verify current rates with your electricity retailer and your state’s energy comparison tool before making decisions.*