Solar Incentives & Feed-in Tariffs

Federal Incentives

Since 1st January 2011 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are called Small-scale Technology Certificates or STCs.

Your solar, wind or hydro system is entitled to a number of STCs. Rainbow Power will offer you an up-front discount when you assign your STCs to us. Most people take this option.

Alternatively, you could create the STCs yourself once your system is installed and sell and transfer them via the REC Registry or through the STC Clearing House. In this case you will not receive a financial benefit for STCs from us.

STCs will be phased out over 15 years, starting in 2017. The value of STCs also fluctuates. Please visit the Clean Energy Regulator website for more information.

Solar Credits

Solar Credits were a mechanism that increased the number of STCs able to be created for eligible small-scale electricity systems (solar PV, wind and hydro) through the use of a multiplier.

The incentive program was closed prematurely on 1 January 2013.

Feed-in Tariff

Unfortunately, Australia does not have a national Feed-in Tariff (FiT).

If you want to compare electricity prices we recommend the Energy Made Easy website from the Australian Energy Regulator.

NSW Incentives & Feed-in Tariffs

The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme (SBS) was discontinued by the O'Farrell Government in April 2011. Since then, feed-in tariffs are voluntary and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) recommends a fair and reasonable feed-in tariff for NSW (using net-metering). By now, most energy retailers offer at least one plan with feed-in tariffs starting at 5¢ per kWh.

QLD Incentives & Feed-in Tariffs

South-East and metropolitan Queensland also only has a "market regulated" NET feed-in tariff. You have to shop around for the best deal; customers in regional Queensland can access the regional feed-in tariff. The property must be connected to the Ergon Energy distribution network or the Essential Energy network (in South West Queensland) to be eligible. Read more about the feed-in tariff for regional customers.

NET feed-in tariff means you are paid for any excess energy you produce.