If you own or are planning to install solar panels in Victoria, understanding feed-in tariffs (FiTs) is essential for getting the most value from your system. Feed-in tariffs are the payments you receive when your solar system exports excess electricity to the grid — but Victoria’s framework has evolved recently, and rates vary depending on your retailer and plan.
⚡ What Is a Solar Feed-In Tariff?
A feed-in tariff (FiT) is the credit you receive (usually in cents per kilowatt-hour, c/kWh) for excess electricity your solar panels export to the grid. This credit is applied to your energy bill by your electricity retailer.
The value of the FiT depends on your energy plan and retailer — but importantly, retailers must pay you something (minimum 0c/kWh) for exports, even though there’s no guaranteed regulated minimum rate in Victoria today.
📉 No Regulated Minimum Tariff Since July 2025
Until 30 June 2025, Victoria’s energy regulator (the Essential Services Commission) set a minimum FiT that retailers had to offer — and for 2025–26 the draft minimum was as low as 0.04 c/kWh for a flat rate and varying amounts for time-of-day options.
However, due to legislative changes, minimum feed-in tariffs were deregulated from 1 July 2025 onward. This means:
✔ Retailers can now set their own FiT rates
✔ The only legal floor is 0 c/kWh — they cannot pay less than zero
✔ You must still receive a credit for exports, but the amount varies by plan and provider
As a result, some retailers may offer very low or near-zero values for exports, while others offer more competitive rates to attract solar customers.
📊 Typical Feed-In Tariff Rates in Victoria (2026)
Because FiT values are no longer regulated, they can vary widely — but current examples include:
🔹 Flat Feed-In Tariffs
- Some retailer offers around ~8 – 11 c/kWh for solar exports — often with conditions like a capped daily rate (e.g. first 8 kWh).
- Other plans may pay much lower (near 0 c/kWh) if export value is low.
🔹 Time-Varying Feed-In Tariffs
Some retailers offer time-dependent rates, for example:
- High credits in late afternoon/early evening (e.g. up to ~12 c/kWh) when demand peaks
- Lower credits during daylight hours when many systems export simultaneously
- Very low or zero credits at other times
Time-varying FiTs can reward exports at higher-value times and are more common with sophisticated retail plans.
📌 How Feed-In Tariffs Are Set Now
Since minimum FiTs are deregulated:
- Your electricity retailer sets the rate you’re paid for solar exports
- Rates must be transparent and listed in your energy plan’s fact sheet
- Retailers cannot charge you for exporting excess solar (i.e., they can’t offer negative export payments)
This deregulation aims to encourage more flexible and competitive offers — but it also means you need to shop around for the best FiT that suits your usage and export profile.
📉 Feed-In Tariffs vs Self-Consumption
Even with the best FiT, exporting solar may not be the most financially rewarding part of your system. That’s because:
✔ Typical retail grid electricity costs are often much higher than FiT credits
✔ Using your own solar power (self-consumption) avoids buying expensive grid electricity altogether
✔ Adding a solar battery lets you store excess power and use it later, potentially offering greater savings than export alone
In other words, feeding solar into the grid at low rates — especially midday — may be less valuable than storing it for evening use.
📋 Tips for Maximising Value from Solar Exports
👉 Compare energy plans — Different retailers offer very different FiT rates.
👉 Check time-of-use offers — If time-varying FiTs are available, pick one that aligns with when you export most.
👉 Track your export profile — Knowing when your system exports most helps you choose a better FiT structure.
👉 Consider a battery — A storage system boosts the value of your solar by reducing grid imports and utilising generated power during peak pricing.
📞 How Arise Solar Can Help You Get More From Your Solar
At Arise Solar, we help Victorian homeowners:
✔ Compare and select electricity plans with strong feed-in tariff options
✔ Design solar + battery systems that maximise self-consumption and export value
✔ Recommend energy plans that align with your export patterns
✔ Ensure systems are installed by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA)-accredited professionals
Contact us today to find the best feed-in tariff offers and solar design strategies tailored to your home — helping you boost savings from your solar investment!
