Overview
The Essential Services Commission sets the minimum feed-in tariffs, or rates, that energy companies pay customers who feed energy back into the grid through sources such as solar panels.
The commission reviewed the rates that should apply in 2020-21 from December 2019 to February 2020. The commission's final decision was released on 25 February 2020.
The renewable energy feed-in tariff explained
Key facts from our final decision
The minimum single rate feed-in tariff to apply from 1 July 2020 is 10.2 cents per kilowatt hour
The single rate feed-in tariff applies regardless of the time of day or day of the week
The minimum time-varying feed-in tariff rate to apply from 1 July 2020 is between 9.1 cents and 12.5 cents per kilowatt hour
Under the time-varying feed-in tariff, customers will be credited between 9.1 cents and 12.5 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity exported, depending on the time of day and day of week
The table below shows how the time-varying feed-in tariff rate changes by time of the day and day of the week.
| Period | Weekday | Weekend | Rate: cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh) |
| Off peak | 10pm to 7am | 10pm to 7am | 9.1 c/kWh |
| Shoulder | 7am to 3pm, 9pm to 10pm | 7am to 10pm | 9.8 c/kWh |
| Peak | 3pm to 9pm | n/a | 12.5 c/kWh |
How we engaged
The commission released its draft decision on 3 December 2019 and proposed to make energy retailers offer both a time-varying as well as a single rate feed-in tariff from 1 July 2020 depending on what best suits the customer's circumstances.
The commission sought feedback on its draft decision until 17 January 2020 through Engage Victoria.
The commission's final decision was released on 25 February 2020.
What we did with your feedback
We received 99 submissions to the draft decision. The commission has kept time-varying tariffs optional after new research following feedback received during the consultation period showed that making them mandatory at this time would have limited benefits.
Consultation on this project has now closed.
Useful links
Provide us with general comments
General comments
Privacy statement
As part of making a submission, we need you to provide personal information, such as your name, email address, and postcode. We will use this information to send you updates about this review.
It is our policy to publish all submissions to reviews on the Essential Services Commission website. You can request anonymity by selecting the relevant tickbox.
When we publish a submission, we also include some details about the submitter (your name, not your address). We treat all submissions as public information unless the submitter has asked us to.
We may also collect personal information when you email us with a query. Aside from any exceptions in relevant privacy legislation, we will not use or disclose the information you provide for any purpose other than to progress and respond to your query.
You have the right to access personal information we hold about you. We may ask you to pay a small fee for this. You can also request that we correct your personal information in our records at no charge.
Read more information about our submissions policy.
About us
The Essential Services Commission is an independent regulator that promotes the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. The commission regulates certain Victorian energy businesses (including electricity generators, transmission companies, distributors and retailers) through a combination of legislation, licences, and codes and guidelines. View more on how we regulate.
Upload a submission
Upload a submission
Privacy statement
As part of making a submission, we need you to provide personal information, such as your name, email address, and postcode. We will use this information to send you updates about this review.
It is our policy to publish all submissions to reviews on the Essential Services Commission website. You can request anonymity by selecting the relevant tickbox.
When we publish a submission, we also include some details about the submitter (your name, not your address). We treat all submissions as public information unless the submitter has asked us to.
We may also collect personal information when you email us with a query. Aside from any exceptions in relevant privacy legislation, we will not use or disclose the information you provide for any purpose other than to progress and respond to your query.
You have the right to access personal information we hold about you. We may ask you to pay a small fee for this. You can also request that we correct your personal information in our records at no charge.
Read more information about our submissions policy.
About us
The Essential Services Commission is an independent regulator that promotes the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. The commission regulates certain Victorian energy businesses (including electricity generators, transmission companies, distributors and retailers) through a combination of legislation, licences, and codes and guidelines. View more on how we regulate.
Draft decision questions
Questions for retailers and other stakeholders
Privacy statement
As part of making a submission, we need you to provide personal information, such as your name, email address, and postcode. We will use this information to send you updates about this review.
It is our policy to publish all submissions to reviews on the Essential Services Commission website. You can request anonymity by selecting the relevant tickbox.
When we publish a submission, we also include some details about the submitter (your name, not your address). We treat all submissions as public information unless the submitter has asked us to.
We may also collect personal information when you email us with a query. Aside from any exceptions in relevant privacy legislation, we will not use or disclose the information you provide for any purpose other than to progress and respond to your query.
You have the right to access personal information we hold about you. We may ask you to pay a small fee for this. You can also request that we correct your personal information in our records at no charge.
Read more information about our submissions policy.
About us
The Essential Services Commission is an independent regulator that promotes the long-term interests of Victorian consumers with respect to the price, quality and reliability of essential services. The commission regulates certain Victorian energy businesses (including electricity generators, transmission companies, distributors and retailers) through a combination of legislation, licences, and codes and guidelines. View more on how we regulate.
