Flat Rate vs Time-of-Use vs Demand Tariffs: The Best Electricity Plan After Solar in Australia
Compare flat rate, time-of-use and demand tariffs after solar in Australia. Learn which plan suits your usage, export rate and battery goals.
Randy Osifo-DoeThe best electricity plan for solar Australia** is usually the plan with the lowest total annual cost, not the biggest feed-in tariff. Compare import rates, export credits, daily supply charges, tariff times and demand charges using your own meter data.
Quick answer: which electricity plan is best after solar?
Best for most solar-only homes
A flat rate or simple time-of-use plan with a low daily supply charge and a fair feed-in tariff is often the safest starting point.
Best for households that can shift usage
Time-of-use can work well if you can run pool pumps, dishwashers, washing machines, heat pump hot water or EV charging during solar hours or cheap off-peak times. See our guide to shifting household loads into the middle of the day.
Best for battery owners
A battery-friendly time-of-use plan can help you store solar or cheap off-peak power for evening peak periods. Use a Battery Calculator before assuming the battery will pay for itself.
Plans to treat carefully
Demand tariffs need care. One short evening spike from ducted air conditioning, cooking or EV charging can add a monthly demand charge.
Why your electricity plan matters more after installing solar
Solar changes when you buy from the grid. Before solar, most homes mainly compare cents per kWh and discounts. After solar, you also need to compare when you import, when you export and how much the retailer pays for exports.
Self-consumption is usually worth more than exporting. If your grid import rate is 32c/kWh and your feed-in tariff is 5c/kWh, using 1 kWh of your own solar avoids 32c. Exporting it earns only 5c.
Feed-in tariffs have fallen in many markets as rooftop solar grows. The Clean Energy Regulator reported more than 3.7 million small-scale rooftop solar systems in Australia by the end of 2023. AEMO has also noted that rooftop solar is pushing daytime grid demand lower, especially in mild sunny periods.
Daily supply charges matter too. A low-usage solar home can lose savings if it pays a high fixed daily charge.
The three main tariff types explained
| Tariff type | How it works | Solar fit | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat rate | One usage rate for grid power | Simple and predictable | May miss cheap off-peak savings |
| Time-of-use | Different peak, shoulder and off-peak rates | Good if you shift load | Evening peak rates can be high |
| Demand tariff | Usage rates plus a charge for highest demand window | Can suit steady users | Short spikes can be expensive |
Flat rate tariffs after solar
How flat rate billing works
You pay one import rate for grid electricity, such as 30c/kWh, no matter when you use it. Solar exports are credited at the feed-in tariff.
Who it suits
Flat rate plans suit households that cannot easily control usage times: young families, renters with limited appliance timers, and people who want bill certainty.
The main benefit is simplicity. The downside is that you may miss savings if your retailer offers cheap daytime or overnight rates that suit your usage.
Time-of-use tariffs after solar
How peak, shoulder and off-peak pricing works
Time-of-use tariffs charge different rates at different times. Peak is often late afternoon and evening. Off-peak may be overnight. Some plans also have cheap daytime windows to soak up solar.
This can work well after solar because your system reduces daytime grid imports. But it does not always reduce evening imports, when solar output is low and households cook, cool or heat the home.
The best appliances to shift are pool pumps, hot water, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, EV chargers and some air conditioning. Tariff windows vary by distributor and state, so check the exact times.
Demand tariffs after solar
What a demand charge is
A demand tariff adds a charge based on your highest power draw during a set window, often measured in kW. It is different from total energy use in kWh.
For example, if your demand charge is $15/kW/month and your highest measured demand is 5 kW, that part of the bill is $75 for the month.
Solar does not always reduce this. If the demand window is in the evening, your panels may be producing little. Ducted air conditioning, an oven, kettle and EV charger running together can create one costly spike.
Families, homes with large air conditioners and EV owners should check demand tariffs carefully.
How batteries change the best electricity plan
A battery can make time-of-use plans more attractive. It can charge from solar during the day and discharge during the evening peak.
But do not choose a plan with very high peak rates unless the battery can reliably cover that peak usage. Also check whether the retailer allows off-peak grid charging, whether exports are capped, and whether joining a virtual power plant affects control of your battery.
Battery cycling, warranty limits and export rules matter. For deeper modelling, compare scenarios with a Solar Savings Calculator, not just a single monthly bill.
What to compare on a solar electricity plan
Check these items before switching:
- Import rate in cents per kWh
- Solar feed-in tariff in cents per kWh
- Daily supply charge in cents per day
- Peak, shoulder and off-peak windows
- Demand charge rate and measurement period
- Export limits and feed-in tariff caps
- Controlled load rates for hot water
- Smart meter requirements
- Discount conditions and price change rules
You can compare current feed-in offers using our Feed-in Tariffs by State. For official comparisons, use Energy Made Easy in NSW, South Australia, South East Queensland, ACT and Tasmania. In Victoria, use Victorian Energy Compare.
Simple worked example: the same solar home on three tariffs
Assume a solar home imports 3,000 kWh/year, exports 4,000 kWh/year and pays about 110c/day supply charge. Prices below are examples only.
| Plan | Example pricing | Annual result |
|---|---|---|
| Flat rate | 32c import, 5c feed-in | $1,162 |
| Time-of-use | 1,200 kWh peak at 45c, 1,800 kWh off-peak/shoulder at 22c, 4c feed-in | $1,178 |
| Demand tariff | 27c average import, 5c feed-in, $15/kW/month at 4 kW | $1,696 |
In this example, the flat rate wins narrowly. But if the household shifts 500 kWh from evening peak to cheaper periods, the time-of-use plan improves. If a battery covers evening imports, the time-of-use plan may become better again.
How to choose the best electricity plan for your solar system
Step 1: download your interval meter data
Smart meter data shows half-hourly or 5-minute usage. It is better than guessing. Our Smart Meters in Australia 2026 guide explains what to ask for.
Step 2: check your load shape
Look for when you import, export and hit your biggest spikes.
Step 3: estimate annual cost
Compare at least three plans using your real usage, not average household usage.
Step 4: review after summer or winter
Air conditioning and heating can change the winner.
Step 5: change behaviour before buying more hardware
Timers, hot water scheduling and EV charging settings can improve savings before adding panels or a battery.
State-by-state notes for solar plan comparison
NSW, South Australia, South East Queensland, ACT and Tasmania customers can use Energy Made Easy.
Victorian customers should use Victorian Energy Compare.
WA, regional Queensland and the Northern Territory have different retail market rules or regulated offers, so plan choice may be more limited.
Distributor tariff structures can also limit what retailers offer in your area.
Final recommendation: match the plan to your load shape
If you use most power at night, focus on peak rates and battery options.
If someone is home during the day, maximise solar self-consumption.
If you export heavily, compare feed-in tariff caps and export limits.
If you have high short bursts of load, treat demand charges carefully.
The best electricity plan after installing solar is the one that matches your real usage pattern, not the one with the loudest headline rate.
FAQ
What is the best electricity plan for solar in Australia?
There is no single best plan. Compare total annual cost across import rates, feed-in tariff, daily supply charge and tariff timing.
Is a higher solar feed-in tariff always better?
No. A high feed-in tariff can be outweighed by high import rates or daily supply charges.
Are time-of-use tariffs good for solar owners?
They can be good if you shift appliances, hot water, pool pumps or EV charging into solar or off-peak periods.
Should solar households avoid demand tariffs?
Not always, but they need caution. Short spikes from air conditioning, cooking or EV charging can add large demand charges.
Does a battery change which plan is best?
Yes. A battery can make time-of-use plans more attractive, but the result depends on battery size, usage and retailer rules.
Randy Osifo-Doe
Randy is the founder and the lead writer behind Aussie Solar Guide, an independent resource helping Australian homeowners navigate solar, batteries, and home energy without the sales pitch. His background is in finance, banking and renewable energy. He thinks in household budgets and real-world trade-offs, not kilowatts and spec sheets. He writes from Brisbane, covering the Australian energy market as it actually is in 2026, not how installers pitch it.