Premium Feed-in Tariff
The Premium Feed-in Tariff started in late 2009 and has now closed to new applicants.
The scheme offered eligible households, businesses and community organisations with small-scale solar systems of five kilowatts or less a credit of at least 60 cents per kilowatt hour for excess electricity fed back into the grid.
More than 80,000 Victorian households, small businesses and community groups are now benefiting from the Premium Feed-in Tariff.
If you are installing solar and interested in gaining a feed-in tariff for your excess electricity you may be eligible to apply for the new Transitional Feed-in Tariff or the Standard Feed-in Tariff.
Existing customers
Eligible properties with an effective Premium Feed-in Tariff contract will continue to receive this rate until 2024, provided they do not add extra solar panels to their system.
Adding extra solar panels
You will become ineligible to continue receiving the premium rate if you add additional solar panels, boosting your generating capacity. This is because the premium scheme was designed with a cap on the total installed capacity of solar panels across the state. This cap is now fully subscribed.
If you have an oversized inverter (for example a four kilowatt inverter with 1.5 kilowatts of solar panels) you will still be unable to upgrade your existing generation capacity without becoming ineligible for the premium rate.
You can replace existing panels for maintenance reasons, for example, due to storm damage, without losing the Premium Feed-in Tariff. You just need to make sure the replacement does not exceed the original generating capacity of your system.
If you would like to install additional panels and forfeit your premium rate you may instead be eligible to apply for the new Transitional Feed-in Tariff.
Switching electricity companies
You are able to switch electricity companies or contracts and continue to receive the Premium Feed-in Tariff once you have established your eligibility. Before switching, check if there are any exit fees under your existing contract.
Moving house
The Premium Feed-in Tariff is linked to the property where the solar panels are installed, so when moving house you cannot take the Premium Feed-in Tariff with you. But any house which is signed up to the premium scheme will remain eligible until 2024, even if the house is sold and new residents move in.
Frequently Asked Questions
- About the closure
- Adding solar panels to an existing system
- Switching energy retailers or moving home
- Choosing a retailer and credits
- About meters
- About the scheme
