Feed-in tariffs (FiTs) pay you for exported solar — but in 2026 they are usually the garnish, not the meal. Retailer rates commonly sit around 2–11c/kWh depending on state and plan, while imports can exceed 30c/kWh. This guide explains how FiTs work on the NEM and in WA/NT contexts, why self-consumption wins, and how to avoid plan traps before you buy solar through MrSolar’s CEC-accredited installer network.
Tell us about your home. We'll match you with 3 local installers.
Indicative 2026 pricing: a typical 6.6kW system often quotes around $5,000–$8,000 after the STC discount (metro installs often $5,000–$7,500; premium/regional can run higher). See our solar cost guide.
Free for homeowners. Participating installers pay MrSolar a lead fee when matched — that does not buy a higher ranking in our guides or reviews. See how we match quotes and is MrSolar legit?
When your panels generate more than the home uses, surplus kWh can export through a bi-directional meter. Your retailer credits those exports at the FiT. DNSPs move the electrons; retailers set most residential FiT offers outside legacy legacy schemes. A high FiT paired with a punitive daily supply charge can still lose on the whole bill — always compare total plan cost on Energy Made Easy or your state comparator. Model bill outcomes with a conservative FiT (often 3–5c/kWh stress-test) and your real weekday daytime load — exported energy rarely beats displacing retail imports in 2026. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Save PDFs of every plan, approval and datasheet — warranty claims years later depend on that trail.
As planning ranges used across MrSolar pages: NSW ~2–8c, VIC ~4–10c, QLD ~6–10c, SA ~5–10c, WA ~7–10c, TAS ~4–8c, ACT ~7–11c, with NT/Jacana context often cited near 8.3c for eligible arrangements. These are not guarantees — retailers change products. Export limits can make the FiT rate irrelevant if you cannot export freely on your street. Keep decisions grounded in your interval data, roof constraints and written DNSP settings rather than national averages or salesperson screenshots. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Photograph your switchboard and roof planes before quoting day to cut variation risk.
Offsetting a 35c/kWh import is worth more than earning 5c export on the same electron. Shift hot water, laundry, pool pumps and EV charging into solar hours. Batteries help when loads arrive after sunset; the Cheaper Home Batteries Program (~$372/kWh usable since 1 July 2025) improves that pathway. Design solar for your tariff structure, not for a salesperson’s FiT headline from 2012. Model bill outcomes with a conservative FiT (often 3–5c/kWh stress-test) and your real weekday daytime load — exported energy rarely beats displacing retail imports in 2026. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Save PDFs of every plan, approval and datasheet — warranty claims years later depend on that trail.
Some plans vary import prices by time band; a few products vary export value too. Wholesale-exposed plans can reward flexible homes and punish set-and-forget households. If you do not watch apps, pick simpler structures. Ask installers to model self-consumption on your actual plan, not a generic 10c FiT fantasy. Keep decisions grounded in your interval data, roof constraints and written DNSP settings rather than national averages or salesperson screenshots. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Photograph your switchboard and roof planes before quoting day to cut variation risk. Keep decisions grounded in your interval data, roof constraints and written DNSP settings rather than national averages or salesperson screenshots. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Save PDFs of every plan, approval and datasheet — warranty claims years later depend on that trail.
Credits require correct bi-directional metering and retailer configuration after energisation. Delays between install and FiT start are common — track export kWh on the inverter versus bill credits. If your DNSP limits export to a few kilowatts, upgrading panels alone may not raise FiT income. Fix the constraint or add storage instead of blaming the retailer first. Do not pay a large deposit until the quote names the DNSP, proposed inverter capacity, expected export limit and who lodges the micro-EG application. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Save PDFs of every plan, approval and datasheet — warranty claims years later depend on that trail.
When comparing CEC-accredited quotes via MrSolar, insist each proposal states the assumed FiT and export limit. Stress-test payback at 3c/kWh export. Systems that only work at optimistic FiTs are fragile. Systems that win on self-consumption survive plan changes. Model bill outcomes with a conservative FiT (often 3–5c/kWh stress-test) and your real weekday daytime load — exported energy rarely beats displacing retail imports in 2026. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Photograph your switchboard and roof planes before quoting day to cut variation risk. Model bill outcomes with a conservative FiT (often 3–5c/kWh stress-test) and your real weekday daytime load — exported energy rarely beats displacing retail imports in 2026. Whole-of-bill plan choice usually outweighs chasing a 0.5c FiT bump. Save PDFs of every plan, approval and datasheet — warranty claims years later depend on that trail.
Model solar on your real tariff — get CEC-accredited quotes through MrSolar with honest export assumptions.
Written and reviewed by Daniel (Marketplace lead, Epic Unicorn Pty Ltd). We build pages from Australian solar datasets and regulatory references, then map you to CEC-accredited installers only.
Join over 230,000 Australian homeowners who've used MrSolar to find their installer. No obligation, no spam — just competitive quotes from CEC-accredited professionals.
Get My Free Quotes →Takes 2 minutes. Free forever. CEC-accredited installers only.