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EnergyAustralia Solar Review & Guide

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In this Canstar Blue guide, we look at the solar installation, feed-in tariff and rebates options from EnergyAustralia. We’ll also highlight any special solar deals for households.

Aussies are spoilt for choice when it comes to companies offering solar feed-in tariffs, and while competition is usually good, it can make finding the right provider even harder. That’s why we’ve put together this guide that focuses on what’s being offered by one of the country’s biggest energy retailers – EnergyAustralia.

EnergyAustralia is one of Australia’s largest energy companies and solar providers. In recent years, it has emphasised its commitment to the environment, claiming ‘sustainability is part of who we are and how we operate’. As part of this, EnergyAustralia provides ongoing support for customers who have previously purchased solar with it, also offering feed-in tariffs to help customers earn a good return on their solar investment.

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EnergyAustralia Solar Plans

EnergyAustralia offers solar feed-in tariffs (FiT) to customers who export their leftover solar power. These FiTs are standard across all its market offers in each state. We have listed these below for eligible customers.

State Feed-in Tariff
NSW 7.6c/kWh
VIC 5.4c/kWh
QLD 6.6c/kWh
SA 8.5c/kWh
ACT 7.6c/kWh

Source: EnergyAustralia website, September 2023.

Victorian solar customers with EnergyAustralia also have access to the Time of Use (TOU) FiT. This is a new type of FiT whereby customers are paid varying FiT rates that reflect the demand for power. Customers that export during evening peak demand times will earn the highest FiT, while customers that export during off-peak times will receive a lower rate.

Feed-in tariffs are a great way to save even more on your power bill, however it’s important that you don’t take a tunnel-visioned approach. When comparing deals across different retailers, be sure to consider a variety of factors, including usage rates, supply rates, discounts and contract terms.

Does EnergyAustralia install solar panels?

It appears that EnergyAustralia is no longer retailing and installing solar panels and inverters. In the past, EnergyAustralia has been known to offer solar packages, with brands such as LG, Trina and JinkoSolar offering solar panels, with inverters from either Enphase or Zeversolar.

These systems were combined to create three tiers: the Premium System, Smart System and Saver System. As the names suggest, the Saver System was the most affordable, the Smart System included intelligent features, and the Premium Range offered greater performance for a higher price.

New South Wales customers on the Ausgrid network however, may also be eligible for a no upfront solar and battery bundle with EnergyAustralia. Terms and conditions can be found on the EnergyAustralia website.

If you’re looking to get panels installed at your home, then check out our solar energy installer guide.

What about solar battery storage?

At the same time EnergyAustralia was retailing solar panels and inverters, the energy giant was also offering battery storage systems to customers who wanted to get the most from their solar panels. Essentially, battery storage allows you to capture and store the excess power generated by your solar panels to use later. By preventing the excess solar from exporting to the grid and using it yourself, you reduce the amount of electricity you’ll need to buy from the grid, helping to lower your bill even more. EnergyAustralia once had two popular solar batteries on offer – the Tesla Powerwall 2 and the Redback Smart Hybrid System.

EnergyAustralia solar system maintenance and warranties

If you’ve purchased an energy system from EnergyAustralia, you may be curious as to the warranties available on your products. EnergyAustralia previously sold products from leading solar brands that are backed by some impressive manufacture warranties:

  • LG NeOn 2 Panels (Premium System): 25-year product warranty, 25-year performance warranty
  • Trina Honey M Plus Panels (Smart/Saver System): 10-year product warranty, 25-year performance guarantee
  • JinkoSolar Panels (Smart/Saver System): 10-year product warranty, 25-year performance guarantee

While the panels list some impressive warranties, the EnergyAustralia website does not appear to provide warranty information on its inverters. There’s also no indication that the systems are covered by an installation warranty to protect you from faulty workmanship. These are some more things you should check with EnergyAustralia.

Should I choose EnergyAustralia if I have solar?

While EnergyAustralia’s standard feed-in tariffs are reasonably competitive, other retailers such as AGL and Origin have feed-in tariffs ranging a little higher on its solar-specific offers. That said, a higher feed-in tariff doesn’t necessarily result in a better deal, and some of these plans require certain conditions to be met in order to receive a higher FiT rate.

When comparing retailers and electricity deals, customers should also factor in usage rates, supply rates, discounts, fees and contract terms to make a fully-informed decision. You can start comparing solar energy providers by using Canstar Blue’s price comparison tool and customer satisfaction ratings via the link below.

Compare Solar Power Providers

Kelseigh Wrigley
Energy Specialist
Kelseigh Wrigley covers Australia's retail energy market, growing her industry specific expertise over the last 2 years. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism at the Queensland University of Technology and has contributed her skills to online publications Hunter & Bligh and local radio station 4ZZZ.

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