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 is now reviewing the rate(s) that should apply in 2020-21. The commission released its draft decision on 3 December 2019 and proposes to make energy retailers offer both a time-varying as well as a single rate feed-in tariff from 1 July next year. The commission is seeking feedback on its draft decision until 17 January 2020. The commission's final decision will be made by 28 February 2020.
The renewable energy feed-in tariff explained
How does this affect you?
The minimum feed-in tariff is the minimum amount retailers must pay for electricity that households and small businesses feed into the grid from solar panels and other small renewable generators like wind and hydro.
The commission's draft decision proposes to require all retailers to offer a choice between a time-varying tariff or the single-rate tariff depending on what best suits the customer's circumstances. The proposed rates are:
Proposed single rate minimum feed‑in tariff, 2020–21
Minimum rate to apply (all times) (c/kWh) | 10.0 |
Proposed time-varying minimum feed‑in tariff, 2020–21
Off peak | Shoulder | Peak | ||
Times | Weekdays: 10 pm - 7 am Weekends: 10 pm - 7 am | Weekdays: 7 am – 3 pm, 9 pm – 10 pm Weekends: 7 am – 10 pm | Weekdays: 3–9 pm Weekends: n/a | |
Minimum rates to apply (c/kWh) | 9.0 | 9.7 | 12.3 | |
Have your say
You can have your say on the proposed minimum feed-in tariffs for 2020-21 by reviewing the draft decision and providing feedback on this page by:
- providing general comments,
- uploading a formal submission or
- responding directly to the commission's draft decision stakeholder questions.
Consultation on the commission's draft decision closes on 17 January 2020.
Draft decision questions (refer to draft decision, p. 18)
Questions for retailers and other stakeholders
- What are the costs and implementation issues associated with mandatory introduction of a time-varying feed-in tariff from 1 July 2020?
- What are the costs and implementation issues that would support mandating a time-varying feed-in tariff from 1 July 2021?
- What are the costs and benefits that support delaying mandating a time-varying feed-in tariff to an unspecified future date?
- Retailers, what is your method and timing for notifying customers regarding changes to feed-in tariff?
- Retailers, are the feed-in tariff rates credited and the charges payable by a customer are covered under the customer retail contract, or separate agreements?
Minimum feed-in tariff draft decision documents
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.
