Why your bill is still high with solar
| Reason | What is going on |
|---|---|
| Evening and night use | Panels produce nothing after dark, so cooking, heating, TV and hot water at night come from the grid at full price. |
| The supply charge | You stay connected, so the daily supply charge applies every day. In winter it can be most of the bill. |
| Lower feed-in rates | Feed-in tariffs have fallen as more homes export at midday. A credit that used to offset most of the bill now covers less. |
| Winter | Shorter days and lower sun mean less generation just when heating use is highest. |
| A system fault | A tripped inverter or failed panel can stop generation for weeks without anyone noticing. |
| A tariff change | A move to time of use, or a plan change, can shift what each kWh costs. |
Use it or export it: the numbers
Take 10 kWh of solar. Used at home in place of grid power on the Ausgrid reference price, it saves about $3. Exported at 5c, a rate within IPART's 2026-27 benchmark, it earns $1. That is why shifting the dishwasher, washing machine, pool pump and EV charging into daylight hours matters more than chasing a slightly higher feed-in rate.
| What happens to it | Value |
|---|---|
| Used at home instead of buying | $3 |
| Exported to the grid | $1 |
Our feed-in tariffs by state page lists the rates and benchmarks for every state.
Checking a solar bill
Check the inverter
Look for a green status light or check the app. Any error code means the system may not be producing.
Compare exported kWh
The solar credit line shows kWh exported. A sudden drop compared with the same season last year points to a fault or shading.
Check the feed-in rate
Retailers can change feed-in rates. Compare yours with the state benchmark or minimum.
Look at when you use power
Smart meter data shows how much you still buy in the evening. See reading smart meter data.
Free midday power and solar
Plans with free midday power, such as the Solar Sharer Offer, add little for homes that already cover midday use with solar. Compare the evening rates and feed-in rate on the whole plan before switching.
Questions about solar electricity bills
Usually evening and night use, which solar cannot cover, plus the daily supply charge and lower feed-in rates. A system fault or a tariff change can also push a bill up.
Use it. In NSW, a kWh used at home saves about 33.14c on the Ausgrid reference price, while IPART's 2026-27 benchmark values an exported kWh at 3.4c to 6.5c.
Panels generate less on shorter, lower-sun days, while heating and lighting use goes up. Most solar homes buy more from the grid in winter.
Check the inverter display or app for errors and compare the kWh exported on your bill with the same season last year. A sharp drop points to a problem.
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.