Solar feed-in tariffs in 2026: what you’re paid in each state

A feed-in tariff is the credit you get for each kWh of solar power your system sends to the grid. It appears on your bill as a credit against what you buy. Rates were once generous, but they’ve fallen as more homes added solar and midday power became cheap.

Feed-in tariffs by state, 2026–27

Where the rate is regulated, here’s what the regulators say:

• Victoria. The Essential Services Commission no longer sets a minimum feed-in tariff. Since 1 July 2025 retailers set their own, but it can’t be below zero. Retailers offer a single rate or a time-varying feed-in tariff.
• New South Wales. IPART’s all-day benchmark for 2026–27 is 3.4 to 6.5c/kWh, down from 4.8 to 7.3c the year before. It’s a guide, not a requirement.
• Regional Queensland. The QCA set 6.006c/kWh from 1 July 2026, down from 8.660c.
• Tasmania. The Tasmanian Economic Regulator set a minimum of 9.276c/kWh for 2026–27 that retailers must offer to eligible customers.
• Western Australia. Energy Policy WA lists Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme rates of 10c/kWh for exports from 3pm to 9pm, and 2c (Synergy) or 3c (most Horizon Power customers) at other times. Rates are reviewed each year. The scheme covers systems of 500 W to 5 kW, and retailers pay for up to 50 kWh a day.

Why feed-in tariffs keep falling

Feed-in tariffs track what exported solar is worth on the wholesale market, and that’s low in the middle of the day, when millions of rooftops export at once. IPART put this year’s drop down to a lower estimate of the wholesale value of exported solar.

The practical result: a kWh you use at home saves you the full retail price, while a kWh you export earns a few cents. That’s why the best returns now come from using more of your own solar, through timers, a heat pump, an EV or a battery.

Time-varying feed-in tariffs

Exports are worth more in the late afternoon and evening, when demand is high and solar output is falling. IPART’s time-of-day benchmarks are around 3–4c for most of the day but above 17c in the late afternoon and evening on some networks. WA’s buyback scheme pays more from 3pm to 9pm for the same reason.

A time-varying feed-in tariff can suit you if:

• your panels face west and keep producing late in the day
• you have a battery that can export in the evening
• you’re out during the day and can’t use much of your midday solar.

How to compare feed-in tariffs

• Use a government comparison site. Energy Made Easy covers most states, and Victorian Energy Compare covers Victoria. Enter your NMI to compare using your actual usage.
• Compare the whole plan. A high feed-in tariff can come with higher usage rates or supply charges.
• Check the fine print. Some higher rates only apply to the first few kWh exported each day, or for a limited time.

This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rules, rebates and prices change, so check the linked sources before you decide. Facts checked 18 October 2026.