Short answer: In Brisbane and the rest of South East Queensland, there is no minimum solar feed-in tariff. Each retailer sets its own. The average single-rate offer was 3.4 cents per kWh in 2024-25, with offers ranging from 1 to 8 cents. Some plans pay 10 to 12 cents, but only for the first few kWh you export each day.
This guide explains why feed-in tariffs are so low, what retailers are offering in 2026, the new free-power window called the Solar Sharer, and how Brisbane homes can get more value from their solar.
South East Queensland vs regional Queensland
Queensland has two different systems for solar feed-in tariffs:
- South East Queensland (the Energex network, including Brisbane): the market has been deregulated since 2016. Retailers choose their own feed-in tariffs, and there is no legal minimum.
- Regional Queensland (the Ergon network): the Queensland Competition Authority sets one regulated rate. For 2026-27 it is 6.006 cents per kWh, down 31% from the year before.
So if you live in Brisbane, the feed-in tariff you get depends entirely on which retailer and plan you choose.
What retailers pay in 2026
The Queensland Competition Authority's latest report on South East Queensland found:
- The average residential single-rate feed-in tariff fell from 3.9 to 3.4 cents per kWh in 2024-25.
- Offers ranged from 1 cent to 8 cents per kWh.
- The best two-part offers paid 12 cents per kWh, but only for the first 8 to 15 kWh exported each day.
Some examples of current offers in October 2026:
- Origin Solar Partner Plus: 3 to 12 cents, depending on how much you export
- GloBird and Alinta: 10 cents for the first 8 kWh a day (basic meters only)
- EnergyAustralia Solar Max: 4 to 8 cents
Retailers change these rates often, and a high feed-in tariff can come with higher prices for the power you buy. Always compare the whole plan, not just the solar rate.
Why feed-in tariffs keep falling
On a sunny Brisbane day, hundreds of thousands of rooftop systems all send power to the grid at the same time. In the middle of the day there is more solar than the grid needs, so that power is worth very little.
You can see this in the network tariffs. Energex's standard residential time-of-use network tariff is cheapest from 11am to 4pm and most expensive from 4pm to 9pm. Power is cheap when the sun is out and dear in the evening, when solar stops.
That gap is exactly why it pays more to use your solar yourself, or store it, than to export it.
New in 2026: the Solar Sharer free-power window
From 1 July 2026, retailers with more than 1,000 customers must offer a plan called the Solar Sharer Offer. In South East Queensland it gives you three free hours of grid power every day, from 11am to 2pm.
- It is opt-in, so you need to choose a plan that includes it.
- You need a smart meter.
- A "reasonable usage" charge applies if you use more than 24 kWh in the free window.
For homes without solar, or with a small system, this can be a good time to run the dishwasher, pool pump or EV charger.
Solar export limits and dynamic connections
Energex also limits how much solar you can send to the grid. On a basic connection, you can export up to 5 kW per phase.
A newer option is a dynamic connection. It lets you export up to 10 kW per phase when the grid has room, and as little as 1.5 kW when it is busy. You need a compatible inverter and an internet connection. If the inverter goes offline for more than a day, exports drop back to about 1.5 kW until it reconnects.
When we design a new system, we check which connection suits your home.
How to get more value from your solar in Brisbane
- Use power in the middle of the day. Run the dishwasher, washing machine and pool pump between about 10am and 3pm.
- Heat water with solar. A heat pump hot water system on a timer can use your own solar instead of grid power.
- Charge your car on sunshine. A smart EV charger can follow your solar output.
- Store it for the evening. A solar battery moves cheap daytime solar into the expensive evening peak. Read our guide to the federal battery rebate to see what it costs in 2026.
- Compare plans once a year. Feed-in tariffs, Solar Sharer offers and evening rates all change.
Need help making the most of your solar?
Renewlec is a Brisbane solar and electrical company based in Herston. We design solar systems for homes and businesses, add batteries to existing systems, and help you set up your home to use more of the power you make.
Contact us or call 07 3154 0632 to talk it through.
