Big Aus
Updated 27 April 2026

Solar feed-in tariffs in Victoria

What VIC households get paid for surplus solar exported back to the grid in 2026. Market structure, typical rates, time-of-use bands, and the grandfathered schemes still in effect.

Market structure
Deregulated with regulated minimum
Typical 2026 rate
Minimum tracks ~3 c/kWh single-rate; retailer offers 4–7 c/kWh (2025–26)

How VIC's feed-in tariff market works

Victoria has a regulated minimum feed-in tariff set annually by the Essential Services Commission (ESC). Retailers must offer at least the minimum but can pay more if they choose.

Regulated minimum

ESC sets both a single-rate minimum and a time-varying minimum each financial year. The single-rate minimum has trended downwards as wholesale solar export prices have fallen.

Time-of-use feed-in tariffs

ESC publishes a time-varying minimum FiT alongside the single-rate minimum. Some retailers offer their own time-varying FiTs above the regulated floor.

Legacy scheme: Premium Feed-in Tariff

Headline rate: 60 c/kWh. Closed to new connections on 29 December 2011. The scheme ended for all eligible customers in November 2024 — no Victorian household receives the Premium FiT in 2026.

What's actually worth chasing

VIC's minimum is genuinely low because wholesale solar prices crash during sunny middays. If you have battery storage, prioritise self-consumption (avoid grid imports) over chasing FiT rates — every kWh you don't import is worth ~30 c saved versus ~3 c earned exporting.

Authoritative sources

Rates change annually. For current numbers, go directly to the source.

Considering a battery for VIC?

Battery economics depend heavily on your FiT — the lower your export rate, the more valuable a battery becomes. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebate steps down 19% on 1 May 2026.

VIC solar battery rebate breakdown

Get FiT updates when rates change

Most state regulators publish new annual benchmarks in May–June. We'll email you when there's a real update — no filler.