How To Compare Electricity Plans When You Have Solar But No Battery

Quick answer: solar electricity plan no battery

Choosing a **solar electricity plan no battery** households can rely on means comparing the whole bill, not just the feed-in tariff. Without a battery, your panels help most when your home uses solar as it is generated. Any excess is exported, usually for a feed-in tariff that is lower than the rate you pay to import electricity later.

That is why a plan with the highest export rate is not automatically the right plan.

Why no-battery solar is different

A rooftop solar system can do four things with electricity it generates. It can power your home immediately, export to the grid, be curtailed if export is limited, or charge a battery if one is installed.

If you do not have a battery, the main value is daytime self-consumption and export credits. You may still import a lot of electricity before sunrise, after sunset and during cloudy high-use periods.

Energy.gov.au explains that self-consuming solar can reduce bills because it avoids buying electricity from the grid. It also notes that feed-in tariffs are typically lower than the retail rates households pay for imported electricity.

Feed-in tariff is not the whole answer

The feed-in tariff is the cents per kWh your retailer credits for exported solar. It matters, but it is only one line on the bill.

Also compare:

• general usage rate;
• time-of-use peak and off-peak rates;
• daily supply charge;
• controlled-load rates;
• export limits;
• whether feed-in credits are capped;
• benefit period and conditions;
• payment method or billing fees.

A plan with a lower feed-in tariff may still be cheaper if the import rates are meaningfully lower and your household imports heavily at night.

Work out your solar pattern

Look at two recent bills. Find:

• total electricity imported from the grid;
• total solar exported to the grid;
• feed-in credit;
• daily supply charge;
• whether the bill uses single rate, time-of-use or demand pricing.

If you have a smart meter, your retailer portal may show interval data. This is more useful than a bill total because it shows when imports happen. Evening imports are especially important because many solar households generate well during the day but buy power back during peak evening periods.

Self-consumption usually matters most

For no-battery solar homes, the practical goal is often to use more solar at home during the day. This may include running the dishwasher, washing machine, pool pump, hot water booster or EV charging during solar generation hours.

Do this safely and sensibly. Do not run appliances unattended if the manufacturer or household setup makes that unsuitable. The point is to shift flexible usage, not force every activity into the solar window.

Time-of-use can help or hurt

Some solar households like time-of-use plans because cheaper daytime or overnight rates match their routine. Others are worse off because they import heavily in peak evening periods.

Ask these questions:

• Are the evening peak rates higher than your current plan?
• Do you use air conditioning after sunset?
• Is cooking mostly electric and during peak times?
• Does your solar generation already cover daytime use?
• Is there a demand charge?

If the answer points to high evening imports, compare a flat-rate plan as well.

Watch export limits and curtailment

Some networks limit how much solar can be exported. Some inverters or connection agreements may cap export. During periods of high rooftop solar generation, exports may also be constrained.

If your plan relies on a high feed-in tariff but your exports are limited, the advertised rate may not translate into a large bill credit.

A simple comparison method

Use last year's bill data if you have it. Estimate annual cost under each plan:

1. Import kWh multiplied by the relevant usage rates.
2. Add daily supply charges.
3. Add controlled-load or demand charges if applicable.
4. Subtract solar feed-in credits.
5. Compare conditions and benefit periods.

If you cannot calculate every tariff precisely, at least compare your current bill against one or two alternative offers at `/electricity`.

Internal next steps

Compare electricity plans at `/electricity`, read feed-in tariff guidance at `/guides/best-solar-feed-in-tariffs-by-state-and-territory`, and estimate appliance usage at `/calculators/electricity-cost`.

Sources

• Energy.gov.au: How solar pays itself back and batteries reduce bills, https://www.energy.gov.au/solar/financial-benefits-solar/how-solar-pays-itself-and-batteries-reduce-bills
• Energy.gov.au: Reduce energy bills, https://www.energy.gov.au/households/household-guides/reduce-energy-bills
• AER: Consumer rights and smart meters, https://www.aer.gov.au/consumers/smart-meter-rollout/consumer-rights-and-smart-meters

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