The IPART feed-in tariff benchmark
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal publishes a benchmark range each year to show what it thinks exported solar is worth to a retailer. For 2026-27 the all-day benchmark, which assumes a single flat rate, is 3.4 to 6.5c/kWh. It applies from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
It is a guide, not a minimum. A retailer can offer you more or less. IPART found that around half of retailers offered rates within or above its range, so there is real money in comparing.
Why it fell
The benchmark dropped from 4.8 to 7.3c the year before. IPART pointed to lower expected wholesale prices in solar export hours, driven by more rooftop and grid-scale renewable generation.
Time-of-day benchmarks for each NSW network
IPART also benchmarks feed-in rates for plans that pay different amounts at different times. Each network has its own windows, lined up with its network export tariff times.
Peak marks the highest-value export window, shoulder the middle band. All other hours carry the lowest benchmark.
| Export window | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| 10am to 3pm | 3.9-4c/kWh |
| 3pm to 4pm | 4.8-8.5c/kWh |
| 4pm to 9pm | 17.2-18.7c/kWh |
| 9pm to 10am | 3.2-4.9c/kWh |
| Export window | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| 10am to 2pm | 3.1-3.2c/kWh |
| 2pm to 4pm | 5.2-7.5c/kWh |
| 4pm to 8pm | 16.9-19.9c/kWh |
| 8pm to 10am | 3.2-4.8c/kWh |
| Export window | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| 10am to 3pm | 3.3-4.4c/kWh |
| 3pm to 5pm | 6-10c/kWh |
| 5pm to 8pm | 26.6-33.3c/kWh |
| 8pm to 10am | 3.3-5.3c/kWh |
Essential Energy stands out. Its 5pm to 8pm benchmark of 26.6 to 33.3c is close to what regional households pay to buy power, which makes a battery that exports in the early evening far more valuable on its network.
What your solar is really worth
| What you do with it | Worth |
|---|---|
| Use it in your home | about 33.1c |
| Export it in the evening peak | 17.2-18.7c |
| Export it on a flat rate | 3.4-6.5c |
| Export it at midday on a time-varying plan | 3.9-4c |
That table is the case for running the dishwasher, washing machine and pool pump during the day, and for looking at a battery. Our NSW electricity rates page shows the usage rates on each network.
Choosing a NSW solar plan
- No battery, north-facing panels: look for a good flat feed-in rate and a low usage rate. Use more power during the day.
- Battery or west-facing panels: a time-varying feed-in tariff can pay off, because you can export when rates are high.
- Home during the day: compare a Solar Sharer plan, with free power from 11am to 2pm, against your current plan.
Compare plans on Energy Made Easy with your own usage and export figures, not the headline feed-in rate.
Questions about NSW feed-in tariffs
NSW has no mandatory feed-in tariff. IPART publishes a benchmark instead, and for 2026-27 the all-day benchmark is 3.4 to 6.5c/kWh. Retailers set their own rates and do not have to stay inside that range. IPART found around half of retailers offered rates within or above its range.
IPART lowered it from 4.8 to 7.3c in 2025-26 to 3.4 to 6.5c in 2026-27 because it expects lower wholesale prices during the hours when solar exports. More rooftop and grid-scale solar means more power at midday and lower prices at that time.
Anything at or above 6.5c for all-day exports is at the top of IPART's range. On a time-varying plan, evening rates near IPART's 4pm to 9pm benchmark, 17.2 to 18.7c in the Ausgrid area, are good. Always check the usage rate on the same plan, because generous feed-in rates often come with higher charges.
Only if you can export in the evening, which usually means a battery or panels facing west. Most solar exports at midday, when time-varying plans pay as little as 3 to 4c in IPART's benchmarks. Without a battery, a good flat rate is usually worth more.
Most of the value comes from using your own power. Every kWh you use yourself avoids buying it at up to 33.14c on the Ausgrid reference price, while exporting it earns 3.4 to 6.5c on IPART's benchmark. Shifting usage into daylight hours lifts your savings more than chasing a higher feed-in rate.
It can. Solar Sharer plans give free grid power from 11am to 2pm, up to 24 kWh a day, but the feed-in rate and other prices on those plans can differ from your current plan. If you export a lot at midday, compare the total cost of both plans before switching.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.