Why your account is in credit
| Reason | What happened |
|---|---|
| Solar exports | Feed-in credits in sunny months were larger than the cost of your usage and supply. |
| Bill smoothing | Regular payments were based on an estimate higher than your actual use. |
| Estimated bills corrected | Estimated bills were too high, and an actual read reduced what you owed. |
| Rebates and concessions | A government rebate or concession was credited to the account. |
| Overcharging fixed | The retailer found and corrected an error in your favour. |
What you can do with a credit
Leave it to carry forward
Common for solar homes, where summer credits offset winter bills.
Ask for a refund
Contact your retailer and ask to have the credit paid into your bank account. Retailers may require the balance to be over a set amount.
Adjust bill smoothing
If smoothing payments built up the credit, ask for them to be reviewed and lowered. See billing periods.
Close the account properly
When you switch or move, check the final bill and request any credit as a refund.
Solar homes
A large credit in summer is often needed in winter, when panels produce less and heating use rises. Before asking for a refund, look at last winter's bills. See our bills with solar guide.
If your retailer will not refund a credit
Ask in writing and keep a record. If the retailer refuses or delays without a good reason, raise a complaint and, if it is not resolved, contact your energy ombudsman. Check your final bills when switching retailers, because credits can be overlooked during a transfer.
Questions about bills in credit
You have paid more than you owe so far, usually from solar credits, smoothing payments, corrected estimated bills or a rebate. The credit comes off future bills.
Yes, you can ask your retailer to refund it. Some retailers have a minimum balance for refunds. When you close an account, ask for any credit to be paid back.
It stays with your old retailer. Check your final bill and ask for the credit to be refunded.
Your regular payments are set from an estimate of your yearly cost. If you use less than expected, the account builds a credit. Ask your retailer to review and lower the payment.
You should ask for any credit on your final bill to be refunded. If a retailer will not return it, make a complaint and, if needed, contact your energy ombudsman.
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.