Solar feed-in tariffs
With over a million rooftop solar systems across the state, plenty of Queenslanders are using the sun to lower their bills and take control of their energy costs.
Solar feed-in tariff for regional Queensland
If you’ve got an eligible solar power system, you can access the regional feed-in tariff for electricity you export back to the grid.
The feed-in tariff for regional Queensland is set each year by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA).
To learn about how to get the most value from your solar system, see our solar web page.
| From 1 July 2025 - Current Rate | RATE |
|---|---|
| All exports per kWh | $0.08660/kWh |
| From 1 July 2024 - Previous Rate | RATE |
|---|---|
| All exports per kWh | $0.12377/kWh |
The QCA sets the regional feed in tariff by estimating a fair and reasonable price for the solar energy you export back to the grid. To learn more, visit the Queensland Competition Authority website.
You can also learn more about how the regional feed in tariff works on the Queensland Government’s website.
To receive a feed-in tariff, your solar system needs to be approved by the network business first. It's all about making sure everything's safe, connected properly and ready to send power back to the grid. In most cases, you'll need a solar-capable meter installed before your inverter can be switched on. If the inverter gets turned on too early, your bills will be based on estimated reads using historical data and won't include any solar export. You can final all the details on connection requirements on Ergon Energy Network's solar connections webpage.
Automatic solar refunds via EFT
If your solar system often creates more energy than you use, nice work! That means you’re likely building up a credit.
Any excess solar credits are refunded automatically at the 12 month anniversary of your solar meter installation, then every 12 months after that.
From 1 July 2026, cheque refunds will no longer be available. If you receive a solar refund from us, now’s the time to switch to EFT and have your solar refunds paid straight into your bank account. It’s quick, secure and saves you the hassle.
You can make the switch anytime in My Account. Just head to Billing & Payments and select solar refunds.
The Solar Bonus Scheme
The Queensland Government’s Solar Bonus Scheme pays eligible customers a feed-in tariff for the solar power they export back into the grid.
If you signed up for the Solar Bonus Scheme before 10 July 2012 and have kept meeting the eligibility rules, you can continue receiving payments under this tariff.
| From 1 July 2008 - Current Rate | RATE |
|---|---|
| All exports per kWh | $0.44000/kWh |
The Solar Bonus Scheme is closed to new solar customers and is legislated to expire on 1 July 2028.
Full details are available from the Department of Energy and Public works website.
Changes to account holders may affect Solar Bonus Scheme eligibility
If you’re part of the Solar Bonus Scheme, it’s important to know that changing the names on your electricity account can affect your eligibility.
Customers stop being eligible for the Solar Bonus Scheme if they’re no longer the account holder, or if new names are added to the account. The only exception is for spouses - you can transfer the account to your spouse, or add your spouse to the account, without losing eligibility.
If you have multiple people on the account and one or more of them are removed, your system remains eligible - as long as at least one original account holder remains and no new names are added.
*GST may apply where customers supply energy to the grid in the course of a GST registered business or enterprise. All Feed in Tariffs payable by Ergon Energy are fixed amounts prescribed by law or statutory instrument without any regard for GST. Prescribed amounts don't increase for particular business customers that may be liable to the ATO for GST. Generally speaking, GST isn't applicable to feed-in tariff amounts payable to private or domestic customers that don't carry on an enterprise. However, Ergon Energy isn't able to provide specific tax or financial advice to individual customers and it recommends affected customers seek their own professional advice or contact the ATO.
The Australian Government's Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme
The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) gives you a financial boost when you install eligible renewable systems like solar panels, small scale wind or hydro, solar hot water systems or heat pumps. You get this benefit through Small scale Technology Certificates, or STCs.
What is a Small-scale Technology Certificate or STC?
A STC is a tradable certificate you receive after installing an eligible renewable energy system. You can claim a set number of STCs based on how much electricity your system is expected to generate or replace over its lifetime.
Here’s how it works:
- Solar panels, wind or hydro systems - STCs are based on the amount of electricity they’ll generate over their lifetime up to 14 years.
- Solar water heaters and heat pumps - STCs are based on the amount of electricity they’ll save over their lifetime up to 10 years.
The number of certificates you get depends on things like:
- Where you live
- The type of system you install
- Whether your system qualifies for Solar Credits
- The size and capacity of your setup.
How do I get money for STCs?
STCs must be created within 12 months of installing your system. Most people choose to assign their certificates to a registered agent - usually a retailer or installer. In return, you’ll get a financial benefit, often as an upfront discount on your invoice.
Many solar suppliers take care of this for you, buying your STCs and taking the admin off your hands so you see the savings straight away.
If you want all the nitty gritty details, you can visit the Australian Government's Clean Energy Regulator website.