Best solar feed-in tariff
QLD 2026
Find out how the solar feed-in tariff in QLD works and which retailer offers the best rate.
Last updated: February 2026
Reading time: 4 minutes
With its famous sunny conditions, it’s no wonder Queensland has one of the highest rates of solar adoption in Australia. For system owners, it’s typical to export a lot of excess solar energy back to the grid. Finding the best solar feed-in tariff in QLD is therefore important for residents that want to maximise their solar returns.
In this guide, we explain how the solar feed-in tariff works in Queensland, the value of securing a high rate and list which retailers provide the best rates.
You can jump straight to the table of the best feed-in tariffs in QLD here.
The solar feed-in tariff in QLD
The solar feed-in tariff (FiT) is a credit offered to solar panel owners by electricity retailers for unused solar electricity that is sent back to the grid.
Sometimes referred to as the solar buy-back scheme, solar owners can send leftover electricity back to the grid to receive a credit on their electricity bill at a predetermined cents per kWh rate.
Solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs) have been available in Queensland since 2008 when they were used as an incentive in a bid to encourage solar adoption.
Feed-in rates vary by region and retailers, the higher the tariff you receive, the greater the savings you will make on your electricity bills.
How the Queensland feed-in tariff works
Feed-in tariffs operate very differently depending on where you live, when you installed solar and who sells you electricity. Residents in the regional Queensland area, serviced by Ergon, receive a fixed minimum feed-in tariff.
For residents in South East Queensland, serviced by Energex, there is no minimum tariff.
Solar owners that installed their system prior to 10th July 2012, receive a premium feed-in tariff.
South East Queensland ‘Energex’ area feed-in tariffs
In the South East Queensland ‘Energex’ area which, includes Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast (as far north as Noosa); solar feed-in tariffs are set by electricity retailers.
There is no obligation for retailers to provide a minimum feed-in tariff, and some don’t. However, many retailers do offer competitive feed-in incentives to attract customers and pay a fair price for receiving their solar energy.
If you live in South East QLD, which accounts for roughly 2/3 of all Queensland residents, it’s really important to compare and find the best feed-in tariff.
Regional Queensland ‘Ergon’ area feed-in tariff
Solar owners in the regional Queensland network area serviced by Ergon, receive a fixed feed-in tariff rate. The Ergon area FiT rate is reviewed each financial year, the current rate is set at 8.66 cents per kilowatt-hour for the 2025-2026 Financial Year. It has decreased significantly from the 2024-25 rate of 12.377c.
The rate still compares very favourably to the Victorian feed-in tariff which has an average minimum rate of around 1.2c.
The Ergon area FiT rate has seen significant price changes in recent years as part of the Queensland Government’s Solar Bonus Scheme which continues to encourage solar adoption through generous incentives.
| Financial year | Ergon minimum rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 / 26 | 8.66c (kWh) | -30% |
| 2024 / 25 | 12.377c (kWh) | -8% |
| 2023 / 24 | 13.4c (kWh) | 44% |
| 2022 / 21 | 9.3c (kWh) | 41% |
| 2021 / 22 | 6.58c (kWh) | N/A |
Premium feed-in tariff for early adopters
The Queensland government launched the 44c/kWh Solar Bonus Scheme (SBS) to eligible solar electricity system owners who successfully applied for scheme between 1 July 2008 and 9 July 2012.
Early solar adopters that applied to install rooftop solar before the 10th of July 2012 are still eligible for the state’s generous solar feed-in tariff bonus of 44c per kilowatt-hour. Similar to other states, the premium feed-in tariff ends in Queensland on the 1st of July 2028.
To remain eligible, those who registered for the Solar Bonus Scheme during this period must maintain the original inverter capacity and continue to use the same account name that was registered prior to the 23rd November 2012.
Retailers that offer the best feed-in tariff in QLD
In regional Queensland, Ergon’s 8.66c feed-in tariff is the best in the state. For South East Queensland, where rates vary, ENGIE, Alinta Energy, AGL and GloBird Energy all offer the best maximum feed-in tariff at 10c / kWh.
The maximum rates are slightly higher than the best feed-in tariff in NSW.
The highest minimum feed-in tariff is provided by CovaU with a rate of 5.5c / kWh. EnergyAustralia has the next best rate at 4.0c, just higher than its SA feed-in tariff.
Best average rates
If we take an average of the maximum and minimum rates, it’s the same retailers that come out on top. Alinta Energy's average rate is the highest at 7.0c. The table below shows the best average rates of the top 5 retailers in QLD:
| Retailer | Best average FiT (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| Alinta Energy | 7 |
| ENGIE | 6.5 |
| Globird Energy | 6.5 |
| AGL | 6.5 |
| EnergyAustralia | 6 |
Comparison of the best feed-in tariffs in QLD
The table below shows all the highest minimum and maximum feed-in tariffs provided by each retailer in Queensland:
| Retailer | Min Solar FiT (c/kWh) | Max Solar FiT (c/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Ergon Energy | 8.66 | 8.66 |
| Alinta Energy | 4 | 10 |
| ENGIE | 3 | 10 |
| AGL | 3 | 10 |
| GloBird Energy | 3 | 10 |
| EnergyAustralia | 4 | 8 |
| CovaU | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Sumo | 0 | 8.8 |
| Origin Energy | 0 | 8.7 |
| Energy Locals | 2 | 5 |
| Red Energy | 1 | 5 |
| Diamond Energy | 0 | 3 |
| Momentum Energy | 0 | 2.9 |
| OVO Energy | 0 | 2.7 |
| Dodo | 1 | 1 |
| 1st Energy | 0.1 | 1 |
| Kogan Energy | 0 | 0.5 |
| Powershop | 0 | 0.5 |
| Amber | 0 | 0.4 |
| Nectr | 0 | 0 |
| Tango Energy | 0 | 0 |
The importance of a high feed-in tariff
The value of the feed-in tariff is a key variable in calculating solar savings. Without a home battery, you’re can be exporting a significant amount of excess solar energy back to the grid. It’s not uncommon to be exporting as much as 60 – 70% to the grid.
To illustrate the importance of a competitive feed-in tariff, let’s compare a high feed-in rate (10c) with a low one (4c) for a solar system in Brisbane, to see the impact it has on savings in Queensland.
For this example, we’ll use the average electricity bill amount in Brisbane of $600 per quarter with an 8kW solar system and assume the export rate is 63%.
The table below shows results from our solar panel calculator for the two different feed-in rates:
| Result | 4c Feed-in tariff | 10c Feed-in tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Annual savings | $1,132 | $1,767 |
| Payback period | 6.8 years | 4.4 years |
| New average bill | $317 | $158 |
The 10c feed-in tariff delivers far superior savings and a lower electricity bill. A difference of 6c in the feed-in rate, translates to over $600 in annual savings and a much faster payback time.
Also compare electricity rates
The example highlights just how important it is to secure the best feed-in tariff in QLD. It’s equally as important to compare the electricity usage rates. If a retailer offers a great feed-in rate, it may be negated by higher electricity costs.
When comparing electricity retailers, you should consider:
- Cost of electricity
- Daily supply charge
- Feed-in tariff rate
- Any limiting conditions
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