VIC Feed In Tariff Information

Last Updated: 13th Nov 2024

Victoria has a minimum solar feed-in tariff.  Electricity retailers must offer at least the minimum if they have over 5,000 customers.  They can offer more, and some do. There are two types of solar feed-in tariffs available – single and time-varying. Retailers can choose to offer one or both.

Single/Flat Rate

This applies to electricity exported at any time of the day and is the most common type available.

On February 27, 2023, the ESC published its final decision on the minimum feed-in tariff rates for the 2023-24 financial year.  The single rate minimum in 2023–24 was 4.9 cents per kilowatt- hour.

In the 2024-25 financial year the single rate minimum will be 3.3 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The decrease is because wholesale electricity prices during the day are expected to be lower.

Higher Available Feed-in Tariffs

Some retail electricity plans available in August 2024 with electricity rates higher than the 3.3c minimum are:

• Energy Australia Solar Max  10c for 1st 12kWh of exports per day then drops to 3.3c
• Diamond Energy Everyday Renewable Saver  5.2c
• Lumo Energy Lumo Plus  4.9c
• Sumo Switch  4.9c

While the retailers currently offer these plans, they may not offer them in all locations.  So if there’s one above you want, be prepared for potential disappointment.

Time Varying Rates

A “time-varying” payment option can also be offered by Victorian electricity retailers.  The feed-in tariff paid depends on what time of day solar electricity is exported.

The following table indicates the *minimum* time-varying rates for 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years under the two different available options:

2023/24 – Option 1

2023/24 – Option 2

2024/25 – Option 1

2024/25 – Option 2

… of course, it would have to be a pretty special solar power system that exports electricity at some of the late hours noted!

So which is the better option in Victoria – the single rate or time varying? Learn more here, but note that VIC electricity retailers aren’t obliged to offer the time varying rates – and most choose to only offer the single rate.

It’s important to understand power retailer plans with higher feed-in tariffs won’t necessarily reduce electricity bills if their other charges are higher than the plan you’re on. It’s very important to shop around – and our comparison tool is a great way to research plans.

The minimum VIC FiT may be mandatory, but retailers offer different packages and terms and conditions – so be sure to check the fine print.

Trivia: From the 1st of July 2018, a component reflecting the network benefits provided by rooftop solar of 2.5 cents was included. Victoria was the first state to explicitly include a portion of the environmental and network benefits of rooftop solar in its feed-in tariff.

Find Feed-In Tariffs & Compare Electricity Retailers

To find current solar feed-in tariffs in Victoria offered by retailers in your specific area, you can enter your postcode into our handy retailer comparison tool:

Victoria’s Older & Higher Feed-In Tariffs

Victorians who applied to install rooftop solar power systems from late 2009 to the end of 2011 could lock in a high feed-in tariff of 60 cents a kilowatt-hour until the 1st of November 2024.  This is called the “Premium Feed-in Tariff”.

Households and businesses in Victoria that applied to install solar panels in 2012 received a transitional feed-in tariff of 25 cents; which ended on the 31st of December 2016.

From 1 January 2017, customers who came off the VIC Transitional and Premium Feed-in Tariff schemes have been able to access the same feed-in tariffs available to other solar customers.

Keeping The Premium Feed-In Tariff

Those in Victoria with the Premium high feed-in tariff are allowed to replace solar inverters and panels provided they do not increase the capacity of either by doing so. If the home is renovated or demolished, the high FiT can be kept, provided the capacity of the inverter and panels, whether it is the old system or a new one, does not increase.

You cannot take the Premium VIC solar feed-in tariff with you when you move. It stays with the house when sold and transfers to the new owner.

For more information you go to the Victorian Government’s Premium Feed-in Tariff page.

Most systems receiving the Premium high feed-in tariff are only 1.5kW and tiny by today’s standards.  As the high tariff will soon be gone, now is a good time to consider upgrading to a large new solar system.