IPART's voluntary all-day benchmark for 2026-27 is 3.4–6.5 c/kWh, down again year on year. Evening exports are worth far more: IPART's time-of-use benchmarks run 16.9–19.9 c/kWh on Ausgrid and Endeavour networks and up to 33.3 c/kWh on Essential Energy (5–8pm). Ausgrid, Endeavour and Essential also apply a ~1.2 c/kWh export charge at peak solar times (the 'sun tax'). Exporting at noon is nearly worthless; storing for the evening is where the money is.
NSW retailer feed-in rates
| Retailer | Headline FIT | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| IPART all-day benchmark | 3.4–6.5c/kWh | Uncapped |
| Ausgrid evening benchmark | 17.2–18.7c/kWh | 4–9pm |
| Endeavour evening benchmark | 16.9–19.9c/kWh | 4–8pm |
| Essential evening benchmark | 26.6–33.3c/kWh | 5–8pm |
Rates verified against retailers' published plans for NSW customers in 2026. Rates change frequently. Always compare via the AER's Energy Made Easy comparison tool before switching.
What the daily cap actually means
Most NSW FIT plans apply the headline rate only for the first X kWh of export per day. After the cap, the rate drops (often to 1–3 c/kWh). The cap is usually 5, 10, or 14 kWh per day.
For an average 6.6 kW system in NSW, daily summer export is typically 12–18 kWh and winter export is 4–8 kWh. A 5 kWh cap means you'll be capped out by 10am most summer days. A 14 kWh cap covers most days year-round.
Rule of thumb: if your daily export averages 8 kWh, a plan with a 14 c/kWh rate capped at 5 kWh/day pays you the same total as a flat 8 c/kWh uncapped plan. The uncapped plan wins on bigger systems and longer summer days.
How feed-in tariffs interact with solar payback
FIT rates are the second-biggest driver of solar economics, after the upfront rebate. For most NSW households on a typical 6.6 kW system, the FIT contribution is $200–$500 per year of the total savings. That's not nothing, it's roughly one year of payback acceleration.
But it's also not the main driver. Self-consumption (using solar power yourself rather than exporting it) is usually worth 3–5× more, kWh-for-kWh, because import rates are 3–10× higher than export rates. The biggest single thing you can do to maximise solar economics is run your dishwasher, washing machine, hot water, and pool pump during the day.
Switching retailers for a better FIT
- Compare plans with Energy Made Easy (the AER's free tool). Filter for "solar customers" and your network area.
- Calculate the total annual difference (FIT credit + supply charge + import rate × your usage). Don't just pick the highest FIT.
- Switch in 5 minutes online. There's no exit fee and no service interruption, your existing solar install keeps producing through the switchover.
- Most retailers honour the new FIT from the date you switch, billed on your next quarterly meter read.
The future of feed-in tariffs in NSW
NSW feed-in tariffs are likely to stay range-bound around current levels in 2026. The trend over 3–5 years is gradual decline as solar penetration grows; battery storage and time-of-use plans offset this for households that can use the shift.
Common questions
What is the best solar feed-in tariff in New South Wales?
In NSW, top published feed-in rates currently reach about 6.5 c/kWh, typically with a daily export cap. IPART's voluntary all-day benchmark for 2026-27 is 3.4–6.5 c/kWh, down again year on year. Evening exports are worth far more: IPART's time-of-use benchmarks run 16.9–19.9 c/kWh on Ausgrid and Endeavour networks and up to 33.3 c/kWh on Essential Energy (5–8pm). Ausgrid, Endeavour and Essential also apply a ~1.2 c/kWh export charge at peak solar times (the 'sun tax'). Exporting at noon is nearly worthless; storing for the evening is where the money is. Compare both the headline rate AND the cap before switching, a 13c/kWh rate capped at 5 kWh/day is worth less than a 9c/kWh uncapped rate for most households.
Is there a minimum feed-in tariff in New South Wales?
No regulated minimum in NSW. Retailers set their own voluntary rates. Use the AER's Energy Made Easy comparison tool for the current live picture.
Should I pick the retailer with the highest feed-in tariff?
Not always. The headline FIT rate is just one factor. Check the daily cap (the rate after the cap is usually much lower), the daily supply charge, and the import (peak/off-peak) rates. A high FIT plan with a high daily supply charge and high import rates can be worse overall than a moderate FIT plan with competitive imports. Run it through the AER's Energy Made Easy comparison to compare like-for-like.
Will my feed-in tariff change over time?
Yes. Retailers can change their voluntary FIT rates at any time (with notice). In states with high solar penetration like NSW, daytime export rates have been trending down as wholesale market prices fall during peak solar hours. Battery storage offsets this by shifting your export to higher-value evening hours.