If you’ve already got solar — or are thinking about getting it — there’s a major change coming you need to know about.
Since July 2, 2025, most Australian households with solar panels but no battery may start getting charged for exporting excess energy to the grid during the day. It’s called an “export tariff”, but most people are calling it what it feels like: a sun tax.
Here’s what it means, how it could affect your bills, and how to avoid paying it altogether.
What Is the Sun Tax?
The so-called sun tax is a new rule introduced by the Australian Energy Regulator that allows network providers to charge households for sending solar power back to the grid during certain times of day — mainly when there’s already too much solar in the system.
It applies to solar customers in most states under the National Electricity Market (NEM), including NSW, SA, VIC, QLD, and TAS.
This new rule kicks in from July 2, 2025, with major providers like SA Power Networks, Ausgrid, and Energex already getting approval to start applying the fees.
Why Are Solar Households Being Charged?
For years, solar owners were paid a small credit (a feed-in tariff) for exporting excess power to the grid.
But now that millions of Aussie homes have solar, the grid is being flooded with energy during the middle of the day — especially on sunny days when household usage is low.
This oversupply puts pressure on the grid, and network operators say the cost of managing this needs to be shared. Their solution? Charge solar owners for exporting energy when it’s not needed.
How Much Will It Cost?
While charges vary by network, here’s what’s been approved so far:
- SA Power Networks: Up to 2.71 cents per kWh exported between 10am–3pm.
- Ausgrid (NSW): Up to 1.2 cents per kWh exported during the same timeframe.
- Energex (QLD): Proposed up to 1.3 cents per kWh — with more to follow.
That may not sound like much, but if your system exports 15–20 kWh per day, it could cost you $100–$200+ per year in new charges — all while you’re giving your clean energy away for free or for just a few cents.
Solar Without a Battery Just Got a Lot Less Appealing
If you’ve been on the fence about getting a battery, this is your wake-up call.
Without a battery:
- You’re forced to send excess power to the grid during the day.
- Feed-in tariffs are already tiny — $0.03–$0.06 per kWh in many areas.
- Now you’ll pay to export — or get nothing at all for it.
With a battery:
- You store your excess solar power instead of sending it to the grid.
- You can use that power at night — when electricity rates are highest.
- You can earn up to $1.00 per kWh through Clean Power Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP) by sharing a small amount at peak times.
It’s the difference between getting charged for your solar… and getting paid for it.
Don’t Let the Grid Profit Off Your Panels
Here’s the kicker: even if you don’t get paid for your exported energy, the grid still sells it to your neighbours — often at 10x the price.
So:
- You buy power at $0.30–$0.50/kWh.
- You sell your excess solar at $0.03–$0.06/kWh (or now get charged for it).
- The grid pockets the difference.
This setup was already unfair — and now it’s getting worse. Unless you take control of your energy by storing it yourself.
Beat the Sun Tax With a Battery
Adding a battery to your solar system:
✅ Stops you from exporting during the day
✅ Lets you use your own power at night
✅ Protects you from rising electricity prices
✅ Qualifies you for up to $6,500 in rebates
✅ Enables VPP earnings that can offset daily supply charges
Best of all, you won’t be caught off guard by export fees that chip away at your investment year after year.
