Energy News
NSW Sets Solar Feed-in Tariff Benchmarks for 2025-26
Learn everything you need to know about the new solar feed-in tariff benchmarks.
- What Answers You’ll Get On This Page
Important Points
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In New South Wales (NSW), the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has set a flat-rate solar feed-in tariff benchmark range between 4.8 and 7.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh) for the 2025-26 period.
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In Victoria (VIC), the Essential Services Commission (ESC) will no longer set minimum feed-in tariffs effective 1 July 2025, due to changes to the Electricity Industry Act 2000. The current 2024-25 rates will stay in place until 30 June 2025.
To help guide solar system owners, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) publishes annual benchmark ranges that outline what households might expect to earn for the excess solar energy they export to the grid. These benchmarks aren’t mandated, but they do provide a useful reference point for comparing plans. Read below, as we cover all of the feed-in tariff ranges, how this could affect you, and how you can find a better solar plan.
What Are the New Benchmarks for 2025-26?
For the 2025-26 period, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has set the flat-rate solar feed-in tariff benchmark range between 4.8 and 7.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh).
“We have just published our solar feed-in tariff benchmark ranges for 2025-26, and the flat-rate tariff is slightly higher than last year because we’re forecasting wholesale electricity prices to increase,” IPART member Jonathan Coppel said.
“We also benchmark the value of solar exports at different times of the day. The amount of solar exported to the grid drops off in the late afternoon and early evening and the benchmarks have much higher values at these times, often more than 20c/kWh, as the supply from solar falls and electricity demand increases.”
Expert Tip
According to Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) member Jonathan Coppel, the plan with the highest feed-in tariff may not be the best deal overall.
IPART’s benchmarks are there to help, but electricity retailers don’t have to stick to them; some might offer lower feed-in tariffs. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look at your electricity plan. Don’t just focus on the feed-in tariff; also check the daily supply charges, usage rates, and how the plan matches your household’s energy use. Understanding how much electricity you use and how much you send back to the grid can help you find a plan that gives you better value overall.
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What Are the Latest Time-of-Day Benchmarks for NSW?
IPART has also set time-of-day benchmark ranges for each electricity distribution network in NSW for the 2025-26 period. While your energy retailer may offer a feed-in tariff within these ranges, they’re not obligated to follow them and might use different time periods than the ones listed below. In most cases, time-of-day tariffs pay less during daylight hours, when solar exports are highest, and offer higher rates in the evening when demand increases and solar supply drops.
It is important to note that many retailers don’t offer time-of-day benchmarks – most offer flat-rate feed-in tariffs.
Network Time Window (Ausgrid) | 2025-26 Benchmark Range (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
|
10am to 3pm |
4.8 to 5.6 |
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3pm to 4pm |
9.2 to 12.6 |
|
4pm to 9pm |
15.4 to 20.4 |
|
9pm to 10am |
4.9 to 6.2 |
Network Time Window (Endeavor) | 2025-26 Benchmark Range (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
|
10am to 2pm |
3.1 to 5.5 |
|
2pm to 4pm |
9.2 to 12.6 |
|
4pm to 8pm |
16.8 to 22 |
|
8pm to 10 am |
4.6 to 6.4 |
Network Time Window (Essential) | 2025-26 Benchmark Range (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
|
10am to 3pm |
4.6 to 5.2 |
|
3pm to 5pm |
10 to 11.9 |
|
5pm to 8pm |
27.1 to 37.6 |
|
8pm to 10am |
5.6 to 6.1 |
ESC No Longer Sets the Minimum Feed-in Tariff for VIC
While IPART has its benchmark guidelines set for NSW, Victorians are set to see some big changes. The Essential Services Commission, which previously set the minimum feed-in tariff for Victoria, will no longer set the minimum rates as of 1 July 2025, following an amendment to the Electricity Industry Act 2000.
The 2024-25 minimum feed-in tariffs will still apply until 30 June 2025, but after this date, electricity retailers may set their own feed-in tariffs. However, these cannot be below zero ($0.00) cents per kWh.
This change is designed to reduce regulatory barriers and give solar households more choice when it comes to feed-in tariff offers. It follows a steady decline in the regulated minimum FIT set by the Essential Services Commission (ESC), which recently dropped to just 0.04 c/kWh for 2025-26 before the amendments were passed. With the removal of the mandated minimum, electricity retailers will have more flexibility to set their own rates.
Additionally, this change brings Victoria in line with most other parts of Australia, such as New South Wales, South-East Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT, where feed-in tariffs are already deregulated.
3What is a Feed-in Tariff?
A solar feed-in tariff (FiT) is a credit you receive from your electricity retailer when your solar panels produce more energy than your home uses. That extra electricity doesn’t go to waste however, it’s sent back to the grid, and you get paid for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) you export.
This credit shows up on your electricity bill and can help bring your overall costs down.
In most parts of Australia, this works on a ‘net’ basis. That means you only get paid for the solar energy you don’t use yourself. For example, if your system generates 20 kWh in a day and your household uses 15 kWh, you’ll get a feed-in tariff for the extra 5 kWh sent to the grid.
Solar feed-in tariffs can differ quite a bit depending on where you live, so it’s important to understand the differences across each state to find the best option in your area.
Be cautious of offers that sound too good to be true. Some retailers promote high feed-in tariffs to attract solar customers, but they often offset this with higher electricity usage rates. That’s why it’s best to look at the overall plan, not just the feed-in tariff. Always compare usage rates, daily supply charges, and any other variables before deciding on a plan.
Author
Benjamin TomBenjamin is a utility specialist passionate about creating informative content about the energy, internet, and solar markets. With extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, Benjamin drives our unique blog posts, articles, and reviews. He is focused on breaking down the technical jargon so our readers can better understand the telco market and industry. Whether he is comparing the latest internet deals or creating unique guides, Benjamin takes great pride in creating helpful, easy-to-read content.
Sources:
¹Australian Bureau of Statistics, Monthly Household Spending Indicator – March 2025. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/monthly-household-spending-indicator/mar-2025
²Retail energy market performance update for Quarter 2, 2024–25, Australian Energy Regulator (AER),
³https://www.aer.gov.au/publications/reports/performance/retail-energy-market-performance-update-quarter-2-2024-25
