NSW Solar Feed In Tariff Information

Last Updated: 2nd Sep 2025

In NSW, solar feed-in tariffs are what’s called Voluntary Retailer Contributions.  This means electricity retailers don’t have to offer any if they don’t want to.  But most do pay – and so they should!  While there’s a lot more of it than there used to be, solar energy is still valuable!

While electricity retailers don’t have to pay a feed-in tariff in NSW, the Independent Pricing And Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) publishes a recommended range for them.  For the past few financial years, their guidance for a flat “all-day” feed-in tariff has been:

• 2022-23 financial year  6.2-10.4 c/kWh
• 2023-24 financial year  7.7 to 9.4 c/kWh
• 2024-25 financial year  4.9 to 6.3 c/kWh

For the 2025-26 financial year it’s 4.8 to 7.2c/kWh.  This is a wider range than last year, with a mid-point of 6c, which is 0.4c higher than the mid-point last year.  So, if IPART’s recommendation was followed, NSW feed-in tariffs should slightly increase this financial year.  

Note these are just benchmark ranges.  Some electricity retailers may offer a rate higher than this, and have done in recent years.

To find current feed-in tariff rates, use our electricity retailer comparison tool.

Available Feed-in Tariffs

As of September 2025, the residential electricity plan with the highest feed-in tariff I’ve been able to find, that has no restriction on inverter size, is:

• Origin Solar Boost:  8c for first 8kWh per day and 3c after that.

If your inverter capacity is 10kW or less — or potentially export limited to 10kW — some options are:

• Energy Australia Solar Max:  10c for first 12kWh per day and 5c after that.
• Engie Solar:  10c for first 8kWh per day and 5.5c after that.
• AGL Solar Savers:  8c for first 10kWh per day and 4c after that.

Note that when retailers say they’ll pay a higher feed-in tariff for a set number of kWh per day, they don’t actually look at the amount exported each day.  Instead, they multiply the set number of kWh per day by the number of days in the billing period, and then pay the higher feed-in tariff for that amount.  This is an advantage because solar exports can vary considerably from day to day.

Time-Dependent Solar Feed-in Tariffs

While most retailers offer a flat “all day” feed-in tariff that’s the same no matter when solar electricity is exported to the grid, they can offer a variable feed-in tariff instead.  But, at the moment, Red Energy is the only retailer that does.  These offer lower rates for most of the day and higher ones in the late afternoon and evening when wholesale electricity prices are usually higher and solar output is low or zero.  They can be especially useful for homes with west-facing panels, as they produce more power late in the day, and also homes with batteries.

Currently, in September 2025, Red Energy is the only electricity retailer offering 

The table below compares the IPART benchmark ranges for time dependant feed-in tariffs in the Ausgrid network area (East Sydney and Newcastle) for 2025-26 and what Red Energy offers:

While Red Energy’s feed-in rates are all lower than IPART’s benchmarks, NSW electricity retailers can offer as little or as much as they wish.  If you want more information, you can read IPART’s report on solar feed-in benchmark ranges.

When shopping around for electricity retailers in New South Wales, bear in mind that plans with higher feed-in tariffs won’t necessarily give the lowest electricity bills. Depending on the size of your solar system and electricity consumption patterns, a plan with comparatively low feed-in tariffs may offer the best overall deal due to lower daily charges and consumption rates.

Batteries & Feed-in Tariffs

If you have a battery, you may be able to join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) that offers a high feed-in tariff during the evening, potentially allowing you to make money by discharging your battery to the grid.  With the right battery you can also join Amber Electric.  This lets you sell energy from your battery at the wholesale price of electricity, which can range from less than zero to over $19 per kWh when demand is especially high.

Find NSW Feed-In Tariffs And Compare Electricity Retailers

The easiest way to find a local retailer with a good solar buyback rate is to compare them using this tool I made.

NSW’s Generous Gross Feed-in Tariffs Ended On The 31st Of December 2016

From the 1st of January to the 27 of October 2010, NSW households could lock in a gross feed-in tariff of 60 cents a kilowatt-hour. After that, from the 28th of October 2010 to the 28th of April 2011, a gross feed-in tariff of 20 cents could be secured.

Both of these ended on the 31st of December 2016.

If you were on one of these tariffs you probably had your old gross meter replaced years ago.  But if you’re not certain this occurred you can check your electricity bill to see if you’re receiving a solar feed-in tariff.  If you aren’t and your electricity plans says you should be getting one, it’s possible — although unlikely — that you don’t have an electricity meter that can record your solar exports.

Having your meter replaced with a new one should cost you nothing and can be arranged by contacting your electricity retailer. 

Options Now The Gross Feed-in Tariff Has Ended

Most solar power systems that received the high gross feed-in tariff incentive in New South Wales were quite small and usually around 3 kilowatts or less, with most being just 1.5 kilowatts. If you still have one of these,I can almost guarantee you’ll be far better off with a larger system.

Batteries Can Now Pay

Now that generous feed-in tariffs are no longer available, many solar owners are considering installing batteries.  These can now pay for the majority of households thanks to the federal battery rebate.  To be sure you’ll come out ahead financially it helps to have a large solar system and average or higher overnight electricity consumption.

>> Next: Choosing A Solar Installer >>