Generation and consumption monitoring
Generation only
Standard- Included with almost every inverter
- Shows daily and lifetime output
- Cannot tell you how much solar you use yourself
- Hard to size a battery from
Consumption monitoring
Add-on- Shows usage, solar use and exports by time of day
- Essential for battery sizing and shifting loads
- Needs an extra meter or sensor in the switchboard
- Small extra cost
If you are getting solar now, ask for consumption monitoring to be included. It is cheap to add during installation and makes every later decision easier, especially on a battery size.
What normal output looks like
| Zone | Example places | Per kW a day | 6.6 kW system a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Alice Springs | 4.4 kWh | 29.3 kWh |
| Zone 2 | Darwin | 4.2 kWh | 27.8 kWh |
| Zone 3 | Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra | 3.8 kWh | 25.0 kWh |
| Zone 4 | Melbourne, Hobart | 3.2 kWh | 21.4 kWh |
Compare like with like: a sunny day this month against a sunny day last year. One cloudy day means nothing; a string of sunny days well below normal does.
Signs of a problem
- Zero output on a sunny day: check the inverter display and the solar isolators and circuit breaker.
- Output well down on sunny days: a failed string, a faulty panel, new shade or heavy soiling.
- Error codes on the inverter: note the code and contact your installer.
- Exports on your bill falling while generation looks normal: your usage may have changed, or the meter may be misreading.
Leave the wiring to an electrician
Solar panels make DC power whenever light hits them, even with the inverter off. Never open the inverter or touch the DC cabling. You can safely check isolator positions and reset a tripped breaker following the shutdown procedure on your switchboard.
Using your smart meter data
Your retailer must give you your meter data. It shows what you exported and bought in each half hour, which is a good check on your inverter app. See reading smart meter data.
Common questions
Check your inverter app or display on a sunny day. A 6.6 kW system in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth averages about 25 kWh a day across the year on Clean Energy Regulator figures, more in summer and less in winter.
It is optional, but it shows how much solar you use yourself and when, which you need to choose a battery or shift appliances to the daytime.
Cloud, shorter winter days, dust, new shade or a fault. If output is well down for several sunny days in a row, ask your installer to check it.
Sources
Rules and program details come from government sources. Prices are industry averages, named and dated where used. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.