Choosing an electricity plan for a solar or battery home

Once you have solar (and especially a battery or EV), the right electricity plan can be worth as much as the hardware. In Tasmania there are broadly three approaches, from simplest to most hands-on. The best one depends on whether you have a battery, an EV, and how much you want to actively manage things.

1. Aurora Energy — the standard option

Aurora Energy is Tasmania’s main (state-owned) retailer and the default for most homes.

• Tariff 31 (Light & Power): one flat rate, 24/7.
• Tariff 41 (Heating & Hot Water): a lower flat rate for dedicated controlled-load circuits.
• Tariff 93 (Time-of-Use): aimed at solar and battery owners — a higher peak rate (broadly 7–10am and 4–9pm weekdays) and a cheaper off-peak rate the rest of the time. Needs a smart meter.

Tariff 93 rewards shifting usage out of the peak, but its “off-peak” is not a true super off-peak rate — so the overnight battery-charging bargain is smaller than the plans below.

2. Solstice Energy — a super off-peak rate for batteries & EVs

If you have a battery or EV, Solstice Energy offers a Tasmanian plan built around Consumer Energy Resources (the TAS97 tariff) with a genuine super off-peak window:

• Super off-peak rate: 9.24 c/kWh (incl. GST)
• Window: 12:00am – 4:00am
• For homes with consumer energy resources — i.e. a home battery and/or EV

The play is simple: fill your battery (or charge the car) on cheap overnight power, then run the house off it through the expensive evening peak. Combined with daytime solar, you can sidestep most peak-priced grid power.

3. LocalVolts — wholesale pricing for the hands-on

LocalVolts is an open electricity marketplace available to Tasmanian households. Instead of fixed rates, you’re exposed to the 5-minute wholesale spot price for both buying and selling (or you set your own buy/sell prices in its peer-to-peer market).

• Charge the battery when prices are low (even negative); sell or self-use when prices spike.
• No joining or setup fees; a daily service fee from about $1.10/day.
• Standard network charges still apply, passed through at cost.
• You stay in control of your battery (it’s not handed to a retailer’s VPP).

LocalVolts rewards good automation — to capture the spikes you really want a battery driven by software, not by hand. ⚠️ Note: from July 2025 Tasmanian network companies can apply export tariffs to small generators and batteries, which can affect the maths. Treat wholesale exposure as higher-reward, higher-effort.

Which should you choose?

If you…	Consider	Why
Have solar only, want it simple	Aurora T31, or T93 if you can shift load	No management; modest savings
Have a battery and/or EV	Solstice super off-peak (TAS97)	Cheap, predictable overnight charging at 9.24 c/kWh
Have a battery + like to optimise	LocalVolts wholesale	Highest upside if automated; needs effort

Rates and tariff rules change and depend on your meter and setup. These are 2026 figures (sources: Solstice Energy, LocalVolts, Aurora Energy, Tasmanian Economic Regulator) — confirm the current plan details with each retailer before switching.

The right tariff also shapes the right system and battery size. If you’d like a hand matching a system and a plan to how your household actually uses power, that’s exactly what a good local installer can map out for you.