A feed-in tariff is what your retailer pays you for solar you send to the grid. The catch is that it is now worth very little, often just a few cents per kWh, while the power you buy back in the evening costs around 30 cents or more. A battery turns that losing trade into a saving.
Why feed-in tariffs keep falling
When rooftop solar was rare, retailers paid generously for exports. Now that millions of Australian homes export at the same sunny time of day, that energy is worth far less to the grid, so feed-in tariffs have dropped almost everywhere. Generous legacy tariffs are being phased out, and new customers are offered only a few cents.
Indicative feed-in rates by state
Rates change often and vary by retailer, so treat these as a guide only. Across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA, most new feed-in tariffs now sit in the low single-digit cents per kWh. Some retailers offer a higher rate for a limited number of kWh, then drop to near zero. Your free rebate check looks at your actual tariff.
How a battery changes the maths
Instead of exporting your surplus solar for a few cents and buying it back at peak rates, a battery stores it so you use your own power after dark. The lower your feed-in tariff, the bigger that saving. It is one of the main reasons a battery is worth it for most solar homes, and you can put numbers on it with the savings calculator.