🇦🇺 All States Updated 2026-07-17 · 8 min read

Solar Feed-in Tariffs Australia 2026: Rates by State

For every kilowatt-hour your solar panels generate that you don't use yourself, your retailer pays you a feed-in tariff. Rates now range from about 2.5¢ to 10¢/kWh depending on your state and retailer — and choosing the right plan can add $200–$500 a year to your solar savings. Use the calculator below to estimate your own export income.

Written by

Muhammad Umar Khan

Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills and realising there were no clear, jargon-free tools for ordinary homeowners. He researches energy rates, solar payback, EV charging, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia — sourcing every figure directly from official government and regulatory data.

8.9¢

TAS regulated minimum (highest)

2.5¢

WA rate (lowest)

15–30¢

Best time-varying (with battery)

~$300

Typical annual FiT income

Solar Feed-in Tariff Calculator

Pick your state for a typical 2026 rate, then adjust to your actual feed-in tariff and yearly export. Estimates your solar export income — free, no email.

Per year: $300
Per quarter: $75
Per month: $25

Estimate only. Feed-in tariffs vary by retailer and change often — enter your own rate from your bill for an accurate figure. Remember: electricity you use from your solar is worth far more (25–45¢/kWh avoided) than electricity you export, so self-consumption beats export.

Feed-in Tariff Rates by State (2026)

State	Minimum FiT	Market range	Notes
🏠 Victoria	No meaningful minimum	1–5¢/kWh	The ESC stopped setting a mandated minimum from 1 July 2025; retailers now set their own (can't be below 0). Compare at compare.energy.vic.gov.au.
🌊 New South Wales	No minimum	5–15¢/kWh	No mandated minimum. Rates set by retailers — compare carefully.
☀️ Queensland	No minimum	5–12¢/kWh	Ergon Energy and Energex customers. Legacy Premium FiT (44¢) closed to new applicants.
🦘 South Australia	No minimum	5–15¢/kWh	SA has very high solar penetration. Time-of-use FiTs increasingly common. Battery exports lucrative.
🦢 Western Australia	2.5¢ off-peak (DEBS)	2.5–10¢/kWh	DEBS: 10¢ peak (3–9pm business days), 2.5¢ all other times. Synergy only.
🌿 Tasmania	8.78¢/kWh (regulated)	~8.8¢/kWh	Highest guaranteed rate in the country — a regulated minimum set annually by OTTER (8.782¢ for 2025–26). Aurora Energy is the main retailer.
🏛️ ACT	No minimum	5–15¢/kWh	ACT had a strong legacy feed-in tariff scheme (closed). New systems use retailer market rates.

FiT rates as of July 2026 — indicative ranges. Actual rates vary by retailer and change frequently. Always compare using Energy Made Easy (energymadeeasy.gov.au) or Victorian Energy Compare. Regional Queensland (Ergon) has a higher regulated rate than the south-east market shown here.

🏆 Tasmania has the best guaranteed rate

Tasmania now offers the highest regulated feed-in tariff in Australia — a mandatory minimum of 8.782¢/kWh for 2025–26, set annually by the state regulator OTTER. Every Tasmanian retailer must pay at least this for exported solar.

Important change for Victoria: until mid-2025 Victoria set a mandated minimum FiT (4.9¢ in 2023–24), but from 1 July 2025 the Essential Services Commission stopped setting a single mandated minimum. Victorian retailers now set their own rates (which cannot be below zero), so the effective floor is around 1¢/kWh — shop around and compare your whole bill at compare.energy.vic.gov.au.

⚡ WA's Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS)

Western Australia has a unique two-rate FiT via Synergy's DEBS scheme. The time-based structure makes battery storage highly profitable:

10¢/kWh

Peak rate: 3pm–9pm, Mon–Fri (business days)

2.5¢/kWh

Off-peak rate: All other times (including weekends)

How to Maximise Your Feed-in Tariff Income

🔁

Compare retailers annually

FiT rates change regularly. Use Energy Made Easy to compare your whole bill — not just the FiT. A retailer offering 8¢ FiT with a 35¢ usage rate may cost more overall than one offering 6¢ FiT with a 28¢ usage rate.

🕐

Shift loads to the day

Every kWh you use directly from solar avoids paying the import rate (25–35¢/kWh). Run washing machines, dishwashers, and pool pumps during peak solar hours (10am–3pm) rather than in the evening.

🔋

Consider battery storage

With FiT rates far below import rates, storing your solar for evening use is typically worth $600–$1,200/year for a 10kWh battery. Use our battery ROI calculator to model your specific situation.

📊

Look for time-varying FiTs

Retailers like Amber Electric pass through wholesale spot prices for exports, which can reach 20–30¢/kWh or more during high-demand periods. This suits homes with batteries that can time their export strategically.

🇦🇺 Victorian homeowner?

Stack your FiT income with Victoria's $1,400 solar rebate, interest-free solar loan, and up to $8,800 in interest-free battery loans through the Solar Homes Program.

VIC Solar Homes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a solar feed-in tariff (FiT)? ▼

A feed-in tariff (FiT) is the rate your electricity retailer pays you for solar electricity that you export to the grid — energy your solar panels generate but that your home doesn't use at that moment. It's credited on your electricity bill, effectively reducing what you pay. FiT rates in Australia typically range from 3¢ to 20¢ per kWh depending on your state, retailer, and time of day.

Which state has the best feed-in tariff in 2026? ▼

Tasmania has the highest guaranteed rate — a regulated minimum of about 8.9¢/kWh (set by OTTER for 2025–26). Queensland's competitive retail market often reaches 8–10¢/kWh in the south-east, and regional Queensland (Ergon) has a higher regulated rate. Elsewhere, feed-in tariffs are set by retailers and typically sit around 4–7¢/kWh, with Western Australia the lowest (~2.5¢). Note that Victoria no longer mandates a meaningful minimum since 1 July 2025. Some time-varying retailers (like Amber Electric) can pay 15–30¢+ during high-demand periods for homes that export strategically with a battery.

Why are feed-in tariffs so much lower than they used to be? ▼

Australian FiT rates have fallen significantly from their peak of 44–60¢/kWh in the early 2010s (government-funded premiums). Today's rates reflect the wholesale market value of solar electricity, which is lower because solar supply peaks at midday when overall demand is lower. The solution is battery storage — storing solar during the day and using or exporting it in the evening when grid demand (and FiT rates) are higher.

Should I maximise self-consumption or maximise exports? ▼

In most cases, maximising self-consumption gives you better value. Import electricity typically costs 25–35¢/kWh, while FiT rates are 5–15¢/kWh. Each kWh you use directly from your solar is worth 2–4x more than exporting it. Run your dishwasher, washing machine, and EV charger during the day when solar production is highest. Use a battery to capture afternoon sun for evening use rather than exporting at a low FiT rate.

Can I switch retailers to get a better feed-in tariff? ▼

Yes — and you should compare regularly. FiT rates vary significantly between retailers, and a retailer offering a higher FiT might have a higher usage rate or supply charge that offsets the benefit. Use a comparison tool that considers your total bill (import rate + supply charge + FiT income) rather than just the FiT rate alone. Sites like Energy Made Easy (energymadeeasy.gov.au) and Victorian Energy Compare let you compare your total costs.

What is the WA Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS)? ▼

DEBS is Western Australia's feed-in scheme for Synergy customers. Unlike other states, WA has a regulated scheme with different rates at different times: 10¢/kWh during peak demand periods (3–9pm on business days), and 2.5¢/kWh at all other times. This incentivises households to export during peak periods. For most WA homeowners, a battery that stores midday solar for evening DEBS-peak export is highly lucrative.

Sources (verified July 2026): OTTER Tasmania regulated feed-in tariff determination 2025–26 (8.782¢/kWh); Victorian Essential Services Commission — cessation of the mandated minimum FiT from 1 July 2025; IPART NSW benchmark FiT range; Synergy DEBS rates (WA); Aurora Energy Tasmania tariff schedule; AER (Australian Energy Regulator) retail markets data; Energy Made Easy comparison tool (energymadeeasy.gov.au). FiT rates are indicative, vary by retailer, and change regularly — always verify current rates with your retailer before switching. This page is general information, not financial advice.