Battery Costs, Rebates and 2026 Rules
Feed-in tariffs, Solar Sharer and free midday power: how they change the value of a home battery
Why a battery's saving is the gap between your import rate and feed-in tariff, how falling feed-in rates, the Solar Sharer Offer and Midday Power Saver change that gap, with examples.
A home battery saves money by storing solar energy you would otherwise export and using it later instead of importing power. So each stored kWh is worth roughly your import rate minus your feed-in tariff, less battery losses. When feed-in tariffs fall — as they have in most states — the case for a battery improves; when cheap or free daytime power is available from the grid, a battery can also be charged from the grid at midday and used in the evening. Since 1 July 2026 retailers in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia must offer the Solar Sharer Offer with three free hours of electricity each day, and in Victoria the Midday Power Saver has been available since 1 October 2026. These offers change the maths for battery owners, both for and against.
This guide focuses on the battery angle. For general plan comparison, use Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare. For the incentives, see the 2026 rebate overview.
The value of a stored kWh
| Where the stored energy came from | Value of using it in the evening |
|---|---|
| Your own solar, which would have been exported | Import rate avoided − feed-in tariff given up |
| The grid at a free midday window | Import rate avoided − 0 (but supply charge and plan rates matter) |
| The grid at an off-peak rate | Import rate avoided − off-peak rate paid |
Battery round-trip losses mean you get back somewhat less energy than you put in. Many batteries specify a round-trip efficiency around 90%; check the spec sheet for yours.
Worked example (illustrative rates)
A household stores 9 kWh of solar a day.
- Peak/evening import rate: 38 c/kWh
- Feed-in tariff: 5 c/kWh
- Value per stored kWh: (0.38 − 0.05) × 0.9 = 29.7 c
- Daily saving: 9 × $0.297 = $2.67; yearly ≈ $975
If the feed-in tariff were 12 c/kWh instead, the value per kWh is (0.38 − 0.12) × 0.9 = 23.4 c, and the yearly saving falls to about $769. A lower feed-in tariff makes a battery more valuable, not less.
Feed-in tariffs in 2026
Feed-in rules differ by state:
| State or region | Feed-in arrangement (as checked in 2026) |
|---|---|
| Victoria | No regulated minimum feed-in tariff from 1 July 2025 (Essential Services Commission); retailers set their own |
| Regional Queensland | Regulated feed-in tariff of 6.006 c/kWh for 2026–27, set by the Queensland Competition Authority |
| NSW | Retailers set feed-in tariffs; IPART publishes a benchmark range for guidance |
| Other regions | Set by retailers or by local regulated arrangements; check your state regulator |
Many retailers also offer time-varying feed-in tariffs that pay less in the middle of the day and more in the early evening. A battery can help you export in the higher-paying window, if your plan rewards it.
Solar Sharer Offer and Midday Power Saver
Key features from Energy Made Easy and the Victorian Essential Services Commission:
| Feature | Solar Sharer Offer | Midday Power Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Where | NSW, South East Queensland, South Australia | Victoria |
| From | 1 July 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Free window | 11 am–2 pm (NSW, SE Qld); 12 pm–3 pm (SA) | 11 am–2 pm |
| Other times | Time-of-use rates | Off-peak, solar soak, peak periods |
| Eligibility | Residential, smart meter, opt-in | Most residential smart-meter customers, opt-in |
For a battery owner, a free midday window means the battery can fill from the grid on cloudy days, or top up when solar alone would not fill it. The catch is that these are time-of-use plans: peak rates may be higher than on other plans, and the feed-in tariff offered with them may be low.
Worked example: battery on a free-midday plan (illustrative)
A 13.5 kWh battery and a 6.6 kW solar system in winter. Solar fills only 6 kWh of the battery on a typical day.
- Without free midday power: battery covers 6 kWh of evening use. At a 40 c peak rate, that saves 6 × $0.40 × 0.9 = $2.16 a day.
- With free midday power: the battery fills to about 12 kWh (solar plus free grid energy). Evening saving: 12 × $0.40 × 0.9 = $4.32 a day, but only if the plan's other rates and supply charge are not much higher than your current plan's.
If the free-midday plan's supply charge is 20 c a day higher, the net extra benefit is about $1.96 a day in this example. In summer, when solar already fills the battery, the extra benefit is smaller.
Export limits and battery sizing
Some networks limit how much a home can export, sometimes to a fixed kW figure or dynamically. If your solar is often curtailed, a battery captures energy that would otherwise be wasted, raising its value. Ask your installer what export limit applies to your connection, and see the sizing guide for how to size around it.
Decision points
- Find your current rates. Peak, shoulder, off-peak, supply charge and feed-in tariff from your bill.
- Estimate stored kWh per day. The lower of usable capacity, spare solar and evening use.
- Calculate the gap. Import rate minus feed-in tariff, times 0.9 for losses.
- Test a free-midday plan. Recalculate with grid top-up, including the plan's supply charge.
- Run payback. Use the payback calculator and the worked example.
- Consider a VPP. See virtual power plants explained.
FAQ
Should I wait for feed-in tariffs to fall further before buying a battery?
Lower feed-in tariffs make batteries more valuable, but the federal discount also falls every six months. Compare the net price now against the expected saving rather than trying to time both.
Can I charge my battery from the grid on the Solar Sharer Offer?
The offer gives free usage during the window; whether your battery can charge from the grid depends on its settings and your installer's configuration. Ask before you switch plans.
Do I lose my feed-in tariff if I get a battery?
No. You still export surplus solar once the battery is full. The retailer may change the plan offered, so compare plans after installation.
Sources
- Energy Made Easy — Solar Sharer Offer and plan comparison
- Essential Services Commission (Victoria) — minimum feed-in tariff decision and Midday Power Saver
- Queensland Competition Authority — regional Queensland feed-in tariff 2026–27
- IPART — NSW solar feed-in tariff benchmarks
- Victorian Energy Compare — compare Victorian plans
