A solar feed-in tariff (FiT) is a credit on your power bill for extra solar energy exported to the grid. In 2026, competitive prices range from 3 to 12 cents per kWh, with top plans in New South Wales and Queensland paying up to 10c/kWh. Victoria’s regulated minimum flat rate is 0.04 cents per kWh. To get the greatest solar feed-in tariff, homeowners should compare energy suppliers, track daily consumption, and analyse both the export rate and the grid usage rate to maximise total savings.
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Understanding Your Solar Electricity Feed In Tariff
When your home’s rooftop solar panels create more power than your family needs throughout the day, the excess does not go to waste. It is transmitted (or “fed”) back into the common Australian electrical system. Your energy provider will pay you a set amount per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for this renewable energy. This rate is your solar power feed-in tariff.
Finding the best feed in tariff is no longer as straightforward as searching for the highest stated rate. A few years ago, feed-in prices were between 15 and 20 cents per kWh. However, since so many Australian households now export solar in the middle of the day, midday electricity has relatively little value to the grid. This pattern, known as the “duck curve,” suggests that grid overload and overproduction have significantly reduced wholesale spot prices during peak sunlight hours.
Understanding how to deal with this changing terrain is critical for The Solar King clients who want to realise the full value of their system.
2026 State-by-State Feed In Tariff Rates
Because energy markets are managed differently depending on where you reside, the feed in tariff prices available fluctuate dramatically among states. Here’s the most recent breakdown for 2026.
New South Wales (NSW
In New South Wales, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) establishes a baseline to help customers determine what constitutes an acceptable FiT based on wholesale energy price estimates. For 2025-26, the IPART all-day solar feed-in tariff benchmark ranges from 4.8 to 7.3 cents per kWh. However, since retailers are not required to conform to this norm, some extremely competitive plans from companies like as GloBird and Alinta are already providing up to 10c/kWh in NSW.
Victoria (VIC)
The solar feed in tariff in Vic has undergone major regulatory modifications as a result of the state’s large 76% rise in rooftop solar since 2019. The Essential Services Commission (ESC) has established a minimum flat feed-in tariff of 0.04 cents per kilowatt hour for 2025-26.
If you want the best feed in tariff in Victoria, you should consider time-varying rates. The ESC requires that time-dependent minimums range from 0.00 cents per kWh in the middle of the day to 6.57 cents per kWh during the evening peak. Victorian residents are encouraged to shift their power consumption to daylight hours in order to avoid high retail charges rather than depending only on export credits.
Queensland and South Australia
Queensland is one of the strongest markets for solar exports, with top competitive plans matching NSW at up to 10 cents per kWh (provided by merchants like as Alinta, AGL, and Globird). South Australia is somewhat lower, with regular non-time-of-use export prices ranging from 5 to 6 c/kWh via major merchants
Retailer Showdown: Comparing the Big Energy Providers
When looking for the highest solar feed in tariff, Australian customers typically turn to the big energy retailers. However, a high headline feed-in rate is sometimes accompanied with a higher grid consumption rate or daily supply charge, which might cost you more in the long term if your home consumes more electricity than it produces.
AGL Solar Feed-in Tariff
The agl solar feed in tariff varies significantly across states. In competitive areas such as Queensland, AGL offers prices of up to 10c/kWh on chosen plans. In Victoria, typical prices are about 8c/kWh, whereas in South Australia, they range from 5 to 6c/kWh. AGL is well-known for its tiered systems, so always check to see whether their highest quoted rate is limited to a certain daily export restriction.
Origin Feed In Tariff
The origin feed in tariff remains competitive, notably in South Australia, where they provide standard prices of 5 to 6 cents per kWh with AGL and Red Energy. Origin, like many other top-tier merchants, routinely uses promotional boosts to attract new consumers. Always clarify the current FiT with Origin before switching, since charges fluctuate dependent on your distributor zone.
Energy Australia Solar Feed-In Tariff
The Energy Australia solar feed in tariff compares to other big providers, delivering roughly ~8c/kWh in places such as Victoria. When analysing EnergyAustralia, it is critical to examine their utilisation rates. Based on 2026 benchmark data for a typical NSW home, EnergyAustralia provides a very competitive average use rate of 28.2c/kWh with a daily supply fee of $1.02/day.
4 Strategies to Secure the Highest Solar Feed In Tariff
At The Solar King, we make sure our customers get away from all the marketing rush to get a strategy that genuinely reduces their bottom line.
- Calculate the “Net” Cost: A headline 12c feed-in tariff seems wonderful, but if it comes with a high use rate, you’ll probably pay more. The winning plan is often the one with the lowest use rate and a reasonable solar power feed-in price.
- Master Load Shifting: The most valuable energy is the power you draw straight from your panels. Using a kWh from your own roof saves you the retail consumption rate (which might range from 25 to 45 cents), but exporting it only earns you the feed-in rate (5 to 10 cents). Run large appliances such as pool pumps and washing machines during peak solar output periods.
- Invest in Solar Batteries: With jurisdictions like as Victoria lowering daytime flat rates to 0.04c/kWh, storing solar energy is now more profitable than ever. A battery enables you to use your own electricity at night while exporting it during the evening peak to collect greater time-varying rates (up to 6.57c/kWh).
- Compare Annually: Retailers’ pricing are continually adjusted in response to wholesale market movements. Make it a habit to monitor the Energy Made Easy website or speak with our staff at The Solar King to compare your most recent metre data to current market offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Australia’s maximum solar feed-in tariff in 2026?
In 2026, top competitive plans in New South Wales and Queensland pay around 10 cents per kWh for exported solar. Some plans may offer higher headline prices (11 to 12 cents), but they often come with a higher consumption rate or a stringent daily export limit, resulting in a lower true value.
Which retailer offers the best feed-in tariff?
The highest feed-in tariff is not always the greatest overall strategy. You must compare the use and feed-in rates together. A plan with a low use rate and a moderate feed-in tariff often outperforms one with a high feed-in tariff and a high usage rate since the majority of homes consume more electricity than they export.
Why is my feed-in tariff so low currently?
Because so many households export solar in the middle of the day, midday grid electricity is now quite cheap. Rates have declined from 15-20c a few years ago to about 5-10c in 2026 (and almost nothing in Victoria), and the lower trend is expected to continue as solar saturation increases.
Is it preferable to utilise my solar or export it?
It is much better to utilise it. A kilowatt-hour used on your own roof saves you the retail consumption rate (25 to 45 cents), but a kilowatt-hour exported gets just the feed-in rate (5 to 10 cents). Using your own power is worth three to eight times more, therefore self-consumption and battery storage are the most effective solutions in 2026.
