How to Find the Best Solar Energy Plans in NSW

 Home solar systems capture sunlight and convert it to electricity that is used in the home or exported to the grid. This helps reduce electricity bills, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Choosing the right energy provider is crucial for homeowners seeking to maximize savings. The best solar power plans nsw offer competitive feed in tariff rates and great customer service.

Origin Energy’s Solar Boost

Having a rooftop solar system is now a common sight in NSW, with one-third of the state’s residents owning this renewable energy source. Solar panel owners are able to generate and consume their own electricity and sell their excess power back to the grid, which reduces the load on the electricity network during peak times.

Energy retailers offer plans that cater to solar customers, with some offering a higher FiT for the electricity exported from your panels to the grid. These plans may also include additional benefits like discounts on shopping or Qantas flights through the Everyday Rewards program.

Most of the energy retailers in the ACT offer solar-specific plans, but there are also several general market offers. This allows consumers to compare solar plans and choose the best deal for them. The retailer’s plan information documents or Energy Price Fact Sheets will provide further details on the solar-specific FIT offered for each of their market offers.

EnergyAustralia’s Solar Max

EnergyAustralia’s Solar Max offers customers with a generous solar FiT and low base rates. It also includes a battery storage offer, which can help you save even more on your electricity bill.

The company has a large customer base and has been rated in one of Canstar’s customer satisfaction surveys. Its website offers the same features as the mobile app including a usage checker, online payment options and bill projection tools.

Solar Max is available on the Essential Energy network in NSW and Victoria. Its solar FiT is 12c/kWh for the first 10 kWh of average daily solar exports per billing period, then standard rate applies.

Solar households should always balance the value of a solar FiT with its plan’s base rates and their solar system size. For example, a large system that regularly exports excess power may be able to justify paying higher base rates for a high FiT. However, for smaller systems that produce little or no excess solar, a lower base rate could be a better choice.

Solar Choice

Solar Choice is a best solar energy plans NSW program that matches all or part of customers’ electricity usage with cleaner energy from independent sources. This eliminates the need for rooftop panels and inverters as customers can manage their participation online, with no contracts or installation. The scheme is offered by Distributed Network Service Providers which own the electricity infrastructure (poles and wires) in different regions across NSW. They set limits on the size of solar systems that can be installed and how much electricity can be exported back to the grid.

While it is tempting to choose an electricity plan with the highest solar FiT, remember that other rates such as usage and supply charges will also have a bearing on your bill. The best way to save money with a solar system is to focus on self-consumption and minimise excess exports. To achieve this, the solar system must be sized to match daytime electricity consumption. This can be achieved by using a power usage monitor or your provider’s app.

Canstar Blue

Canstar Blue is a consumer rating and review site that compares household products, providing information to help consumers make better decisions. Tara Donnelly is Canstar’s Utilities Editor, leading the team that rates and reviews electricity, gas, solar and home phone plans. She has over a decade of experience covering energy, telecommunications and consumer technology in Australia and abroad.

Many of the big energy retailers offer dedicated solar plans with higher solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs). However, it’s important to look beyond the FiT to assess usage and supply charges. Increases in these costs could offset any extra earnings from a high FiT. Canstar’s tools allow you to sort solar plans by their highest FiT, as well as their estimated annual cost. This makes it easy to find a plan that suits your electricity usage and solar system size. However, remember that solar FiTs can change and that base rates can also rise or fall. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your plan annually, particularly after July 1, when default electricity offers change across most states.

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