Compare solar plans and feed-in tariffs

How to choose the best solar plan

When choosing the right solar plan for your household there are three main factors you’ll need to consider; the feed-in tariff you are after, the size of your solar system and whether or not you’ll have battery storage.

Find the best solar feed-in tariff

The solar feed-in tariff (FiT) is a credit that can be earned on energy bills for exporting excess solar power back into the electricity grid. FiTs are calculated in cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh), with most rates varying between 0.03-10 c/kWh, depending on the state.

Most plans these days offer some kind of FiT for solar customers, but these can vary drastically between energy providers and plans, so if you’re planning to export unused solar energy to the grid, you’ll want to consider this feature when comparing deals.

Why are solar tariffs important?

The reward of having solar is directly affected by which tariff a customer chooses.

Variable feed-in tariff

Electricity providers usually offer single rate FiTs, however there are two other tariffs that offer variable FiTs: time of use and block tariffs.

Time of use FiTs have different charges at different times of the day (peak, off-peak and shoulder) and block FiTs change depending on how much solar is exported.

Lower feed-in tariff

Each July, the Default Market Offer (DMO) and Victorian Default Offer (VDO) are released; these tariffs act as price caps for electricity plans in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC.

Electricity providers then adapt electricity prices accordingly, which also affects the value of electricity. This can then have a flow-on effect on the value of FiTs.

If you have noticed that your FiT has fallen recently, it could be related to these price changes. If this is the case, try and use as much solar before exporting it and if possible, invest in a solar battery to save solar for use at a later time.

Compare solar FiTs in each state:

Depending on the climate of the state or territory you live in, the installation costs, discounts, solar FiTs, and availability of solar products, installers and providers may vary significantly.

Should I get a solar-specific electricity plan?

Some electricity providers offer specialty solar electricity plans for customers with solar panels. These plans generally offer higher-than-average FiTs, with some awarding additional credits or discounts to customers that also installed their solar system through the provider’s preferred installer.

However, you shouldn’t just focus on a solar plan’s FiT. There are other key factors to consider when shopping around for a solar plan:

• Usage and supply charges: Solar-specific plans can sometimes have higher usage and supply rates, which could cancel out any savings made via credits earned through the FiT if your energy usage is not monitored carefully.
• Your energy consumption: To understand your energy habits, consider installing an electricity usage monitor or downloading your energy retailer’s app on your smartphone (this is only applicable if you have a smart meter installed). Only by understanding your energy habits can you carefully assess if a solar plan is right for you.

Can you still get a good solar feed-in tariff?

While there are still decent solar FiTs available, customers should be aware that feed-in tariffs are declining overall, and a two-way ‘sun tax’ has come into effect in 2025 for certain customers in NSW and SA.

The sun tax not only offers customer rebates for sending electricity back into the grid when needed, but also charges customers for exporting energy during low-demand/high-supply periods.

Consider your solar system size

A plan with a high FiT isn’t the only way to get a return on your solar investment. This is especially the case if you have a larger system size installed – you may even find that you could be locked out of certain electricity offers or plans. This is where considering your solar system size is vital when comparing solar plans.

Residential solar power system sizes in Australia generally range from 2 kilowatts (kW) up to 15 kW, although most homes only need between 5kW and 7kW. Not all energy providers, however, will accommodate their electricity or solar-specific plans to every size rooftop system.

Some retailers cap their highest FiT to systems less than 10kW or 15kW, while others may only offer their best deals to those who installed solar through the retailer’s preferred installer. This means that some households won’t be able to receive as large a credit on their bills for the solar energy they send back to the grid.

Alternatively, if you have a small solar system, a competitive solar plan would barely make a difference on your energy bill if the amount of solar you can export back to the grid is limited. In this case, a plan with more competitive usage and supply rates would help you save more money.

My system is too big for a premium FiT, what should I do?

If you find yourself locked out of higher FiT plans due to the size of your system, then it may be better instead to focus on shifting your energy usage so that you are utilising more self-generated energy in the home, as opposed to sending it back to the grid for a credit.

With this approach, households may benefit most from picking a plan with peak and off-peak times, such as a time of use tariff, or a single rate plan with a lower daily supply or usage charges, instead of one with the highest FiT. This way, the savings can be accumulated through a reduction in grid energy usage, not just from the credits for exporting solar energy.

What’s your solar battery storage situation?

The final element of picking the right solar plan for your home is considering your solar energy storage situation – as in, whether you have a solar battery or hope to install one in the future.

Adding a solar battery to your system can help extend the usage and value of your solar panel system, as it will allow you to store excess solar power for use during the evening hours.

While solar batteries can still be used to export energy to the grid in exchange for a solar FiT, the primary reason to purchase storage should be to facilitate your own energy usage.

Selling the excess can bring in extra revenue, but ideally, a battery should be there to help you reduce reliance on grid energy, which in turn can help to reduce your power bill.

If you are yet to install a battery, you’ll want to weigh up the way you use energy, how much you’re willing to spend upfront, and how it could impact your existing energy plan. There are also federal and state solar battery rebates available that could help to offset some of those upfront installation costs.

This is important if you’re currently earning a higher solar FiT, as modifying your system may make you ineligible for the bigger discount before your official cutoff date.

Can a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) network help me earn more on my solar and battery?

If you have a solar battery, you may also want to consider joining a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) network, which can provide cheaper bills in exchange for allowing a provider to control your battery system.

They can be a great way to earn credits on your power bills for sharing your solar energy with those in your local network, however, it should be cautioned that households may lose a certain level of control when it comes to where their solar energy goes.

The best solar installers in Australia

If you’re thinking about installing solar, our expert installer guides are a great place to start. Here, we discuss how Canstar Blue rates and ranks some of the best solar installers in Australia.

Most Satisfied Customers – solar installers

Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – solar installers award is based on the responses of more than 1,600 households with solar. In 2025, our best-rated solar panel installer was Solargain, which was awarded a full five stars for overall satisfaction, performance of solar system, customer service and advice, durability, installation process and set-up cost.

How do you install solar panels?

In Australia, you’ll need to contact an accredited solar company to install solar panels. Due to government legislation and industry standards, solar installation needs to be carried out by a licensed professional.

There are thousands of accredited solar installers across the country where customers can request a quote specific to their circumstances.

How much does solar cost to install?

The overall cost of installing solar in Australia will vary greatly depending on factors such as household size, products used, type of roof (e.g. flat vs angled) and the installation companies’ costs. On average, however, these costs can range anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000. 

Some states and territories may have lower prices than others, due to the availability of installers and discounts from the Federal Government’s Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) incentive as these are based on climate zones. 

Typically, Western Australians pay the least for their solar installations, whilst those in the Northern Territory tend to fork out the most. 

Solar providers in Australia

Some electricity providers are better known for offering additional services to solar customers, such as higher FiTs, specialty solar plans, VPP networks or even Buy Now Pay Later solar installations.

These retailers may also offer specialty apps or monitoring services to help customers make the most out of their solar investment.

The big players in this space include:

• Origin Energy
• AGL
• EnergyAustralia
• Red Energy
• Lumo Energy
• Powershop
• Engie
• GloBird Energy
• Nectr
• Energy Locals
• Amber Electric

Most Satisfied Customers – solar providers

Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers – solar providers award is based on the responses of more than 2,500 Australian solar customers. In 2025, our best-rated solar retailer was Lumo Energy, which was awarded a full five stars for overall satisfaction, value for money, customer service, bill and cost clarity, solar tariff rate, online tools and advice and ease of sign up.

Outstanding Value solar electricity plans

Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value Awards are based on our unique value rank methodology and highlight the electricity providers that offer superior prices, value and features for consumers in each eligible state or territory.

Our 2024 winners for solar electricity plans included Powershop (NSW), Tango Energy (VIC), Powershop (QLD), Pacific Blue (SA) and Origin Energy (ACT).

Solar energy plans in different states and territories

There is no one-size-fits-all solar energy solution for households and the same goes for each state and territory in Australia. The climate of the state or territory you live in, the installation costs, discounts, solar FiTs, availability of solar products, installers and providers may vary solar energy plans significantly.

Why compare solar plans with Canstar Blue?

About our solar experts

Tara Donnelly, Utilities Editor

Tara Donnelly is Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that focuses on energy, telecommunications and consumer technology. She has spent more than a decade covering these topics in Australia, the US and Canada, and has authored over 500 Canstar Blue articles. Her expertise has seen her appear in national media including 9 News, 7 News, Sunrise, the ABC , The Australian Financial Review, 4BC Radio and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Tara has been nominated for multiple awards for her technology reporting, including Canstar Blue’s highly commended recognition for Best Consumer Technology Coverage in 2024. She has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canberra and is passionate about simplifying complex subjects so consumers aren’t just informed, they’re connected and confident. You can read more of Tara’s published articles and follow Tara on LinkedIn.

Breanna Gream, Data Insights Team Lead

Bachelor of Business (Finance) with Distinction & Bachelor of Mathematics (Applied Computational Modelling) with Distinction, QUT

Breanna Gream is Canstar’s Data Insights Team Lead, responsible for developing the methodology and delivering Canstar Blue’s Value Ranking and determining Outstanding Value award winners for the energy and telecommunications sectors. Breanna completed a double Bachelor’s degree in Business, majoring in Finance, and Mathematics, majoring in Applied Computational Modelling, at the Queensland University of Technology.

Breanna enjoys using her skills to help consumers find more suitable utilities plans by transforming complex calculations into a Value Rank that provides a simpler way to compare different products. She most recently developed Value Ranking methodologies for wireless broadband plans and solar energy plans, to make it easier for households to identify plans that provide good value not just in terms of prices but also the features they offer. Breanna’s work on Value Ranking plays a key part in determining the winners of Canstar Blue’s Outstanding Value awards for electricity, gas, solar, phone and internet brands.

Many of the articles published by Canstar Blue feature calculations also undertaken by Breanna and her team, which converts pricing data into easy-to-understand cost forecasts and average price information for readers.

During her time at Canstar Blue, Breanna has developed an in-depth knowledge of product, market and regulatory changes across the electricity, solar, gas, internet and phone sectors, and particularly likes keeping Canstar Blue’s methodologies up to date and reflective of the ever-changing utilities environment. 

When Breanna’s not crunching data, she’s likely to be somewhere remote – two of her favourite things to do are hiking and mountain climbing.