Best solar feed-in tariff in South Australia
Verified 2 November 2026
A feed-in tariff is what your retailer pays you for solar power you send to the grid. South Australia has the dearest power to buy of the states we cover, so every kWh you keep at home counts. As at 1 November 2026, the typical all-day rate is 1c a kWh and the highest is 3.1c. Some plans pay far more, but only in the evening. A battery changes which of those rates matter.
What South Australia plans pay
What South Australia plans pay for your solar, per kWh
- All day. 3 plans pay 3.1c on every kWh. The middle plan pays 1c.
- First few kWh. 22 plans pay more on the first few kWh you send each day. The best is 12c on the first 8 kWh, then the rate drops. We count the lower rate in the all-day figures.
- Evenings only. The best pays 27c from 5pm to 9pm and 2c at other times. Solar panels make little by then, so you'd mostly be selling power from a battery.
- Nothing. 37 plans pay nothing for the solar you send out.
We left out plans with strings attached, such as a virtual power plant (VPP) or an electric car, and plans that follow wholesale prices. Those can pay more, but you have to meet the conditions.
Why the highest rate can be the wrong pick
For most of the day, power costs far more to buy than it earns when you sell it. A typical single-rate South Australia plan charges 41.9c a kWh, so at the typical all-day rate you'd need to sell about 42 kWh to pay for one you buy.
A battery keeps more of your solar at home, so less goes out to the grid and your feed-in credit usually shrinks. Each kWh a battery sends out in the evening is also one you can't use at home that night. A plan with a high feed-in rate can charge more for usage or supply, so compare those too.
Older government schemes
Some South Australia plans also list a government scheme at a much higher rate. The plan data doesn't say who qualifies, so those rates aren't in the numbers here. If your bill shows one, ask your retailer whether you'd keep it after a switch before you move.
How to check your own bill
Find your feed-in line
Your bill shows the kWh you sent to the grid and the rate you were paid.
Work out what a better rate is worth
Multiply those kWh by the extra cents a new plan pays.
Compare the whole plan
Put the usage rates, the daily supply charge and the feed-in rate together. Rates that change by the hour need your half-hourly readings, because a bill can't show when you sent power out. Those are in your meter data file (NEM12).
Check your own plan
You could be paying less on a different plan, or yours may already suit your home. To check, start with your bill. PowerLens compares your whole bill against the plans on offer where you live. No saving is guaranteed. You can also read whether to switch plans after getting a battery.