Tasmanian Power Prices Rise From July 1, But Solar Feed-in Tariffs Also Get a Boost

HOBART, 14 July 2026 – Tasmanian households are now paying more for electricity, but those with solar panels will see a better return for the power they export, following key changes that took effect at the start of the new financial year. The developments come as the national energy market operator reinforces the central role of home solar and batteries in Australia’s future grid.

On June 25, the Tasmanian Economic Regulator, Joe Dimasi, announced the approved regulated electricity prices for 2026-27, which became effective on July 1. For customers of Aurora Energy on standing offers, this means an average price increase of 4.23 per cent. The Regulator stated this would add approximately $108 to the annual bill for a typical residential customer. The primary reason cited for the price hike was an increase in network charges, which are the costs associated with TasNetworks maintaining the state’s poles and wires.

However, in a positive development for solar owners, the Regulator also announced a 5.6 per cent increase to the minimum solar feed-in tariff (FiT). This is the rate paid to households for surplus electricity they export to the grid. The new rate has risen from 8.782 cents to 9.276 cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh). The Regulator attributed this increase to higher wholesale electricity costs and other market participation costs.

For a Tasmanian homeowner, this dual change has a clear practical meaning: the value of generating and using your own solar power has increased. Every kilowatt-hour of solar energy used at home now avoids a higher-priced purchase from the grid. Simultaneously, the financial reward for exporting excess power, while still modest, has improved.

On the national front, the market is still adapting to recent changes in the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. While the major rule changes took effect on May 1, 2026, market data released on July 13 by energy analysts SunWiz shows the practical impact on consumer behaviour. The federal program, which provides an upfront discount on new batteries, was altered to provide a tiered level of support, with the highest incentive applied to the first 14kWh of battery capacity. SunWiz’s analysis shows that after a surge in installations of very large systems in April to beat the deadline, the market in June began a “healthy reset”. Demand is now shifting towards mid-sized batteries (in the 20-30kWh range) as homeowners look to “right-size” their systems to maximise the value of the tiered rebate. This trend is directly relevant for Tasmanians currently considering a battery purchase.

Reinforcing the long-term value of home energy systems, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) released its landmark 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP) in late June. The report, which maps out the future of the national grid, confirmed that consumers are leading the energy transition through their investment in rooftop solar and batteries. AEMO’s CEO, Daniel Westerman, noted that these household investments benefit all consumers by reducing the need for more expensive grid-scale investment. The plan forecasts explosive growth, predicting that by 2050, Australia will have 87GW of rooftop solar and that two-thirds of homes with solar will also have a battery.

There have been no significant recent changes to the primary federal rebate for solar panels, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). This program continues its planned, gradual phase-down, which reduces the value of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) on January 1 each year.

These recent changes to local tariffs, federal battery incentives, and the national energy roadmap shape the financial landscape for Tasmanians considering solar energy and battery storage.

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Published by Solar Generation Tasmania. General information current as at publication — rebates, tariffs and prices change, so confirm current figures before deciding.