Still on 44c? Plan your switch before 1 July 2028.
Solar Bonus Scheme guide
Your 44c Feed-in Tariff Ends 1 July 2028: What To Do Now
If you installed solar before July 2012, there’s a good chance you’re still earning a generous 44 cents for every kilowatt-hour your system sends back to the grid, roughly five to ten times what new solar owners get today. Here’s how to keep every cent until it ends, and be ready for what comes next.
What’s changing
The 44c era is ending. Here’s what it means for you
That rate has a hard end date. Under the Queensland Government’s rules, the 44c feed-in tariff expires on 1 July 2028. After that, your exports will earn a standard retail feed-in tariff, and for many households the credits that have kept power bills low for 15+ years will shrink to a fraction of what they are now.
The good news: you have time to plan. With the right timing, you can keep every cent of the 44c you’re entitled to and still have a modern solar and battery system ready to protect your bills from day one.
That means getting your system checked now so it keeps earning until the deadline, and designing your next system around using your own solar rather than exporting it. It also means booking your installation early, so your new system is ready to switch on as soon as 44c ends.
The 44c Solar Bonus Scheme at a glance
- Rate: 44c per kWh exported (net metered)
- Who’s on it: Households that applied before 10 July 2012 and have kept their eligibility
- End date: 1 July 2028. No extensions have been announced
- After that: Your retailer’s standard feed-in tariff, typically a few cents per kWh in South East Queensland
- Can it be lost early? Yes. Moving house, upsizing your inverter or changing the account holder can all end it
Do the maths
How much will you lose when 44c ends?
Your 44c credit depends on how much solar you export, not how much you generate. Here’s how the drop looks at a few typical export levels, comparing 44c with an example market rate of 5c per kWh.
Examples only. Your actual export figure is on your electricity bill, and market feed-in rates vary by retailer and plan.
Many 44c households have also built their habits around exporting: running appliances at night and letting the daytime solar flow to the grid.
After 1 July 2028, that approach flips. Every kWh you use yourself will be worth far more than every kWh you export, which is why self-consumption and battery storage become the key to keeping bills low.
Protect your tariff
Don’t lose your 44c before 2028
Once you lose the Solar Bonus Scheme, you can’t get it back. Before you change anything about your system, your account or your home, check it against the rules.
You can lose 44c early if you:
- Move house, or sell or rent out the property and a new person becomes the account holder. The tariff doesn’t move with you
- Change the account holder to anyone other than your spouse, or change the account name when switching retailers
- Upsize your inverter, or replace it with a larger one
- Add panels beyond your inverter’s rated capacity
- Run a battery or second system at the same time as your solar on the same connection, unless it’s set up to comply
- Close your account or get disconnected, for example for unpaid bills
Tip: Name changes and retailer switches have removed some customers from the scheme by mistake. Check your bill after any account change. If 44c has disappeared in error, Energex can review it and backdate the credit.
What you CAN do and keep 44c
- Replace a failed inverter with one the same size or smaller
- Replace damaged panels like-for-like
- Add panels, as long as the total stays within your inverter’s approved rating and you check with Energex first
- Transfer the account to your spouse
- Change retailers, keeping the same account name
- Add a battery that only discharges when your solar isn’t operating, with distributor approval
Not sure? Talk to us before you touch your system. We’ll tell you exactly what’s safe.
Choose the path that fits your system and budget
Your 3 options before 1 July 2028
2026 to 2028
Your 44c countdown: a step-by-step action plan
Step 1
Now (late 2026)
- Find your last 4 bills and note how many kWh you export each quarter and what 44c is paying you
- Check your system is still performing. An ageing inverter that’s underperforming or showing faults is costing you 44c credit every day
- Confirm your account details are correct so you aren’t removed from the scheme by mistake
Step 2
2027: design and compare
- Get a custom assessment that compares keeping 44c against upgrading early
- Size your new system for self-consumption, not exports: daytime loads, a battery, heat pump hot water and EV charging
- Watch the federal battery rebate. It steps down every six months, so waiting can cost more than it saves
Step 3
Early 2028: lock in your install
- Thousands of Queensland households hit the same deadline on the same day. Installer calendars will fill up, so book your install date early
- Arrange network approvals in advance so your new system can go live as soon as 44c ends
Step 4
From 1 July 2028: switch and save
- Move to a plan that suits solar and batteries, such as a time-of-use tariff
- Compare retailer feed-in tariffs and consider a virtual power plant (VPP) for extra battery income
- Shift big loads into daylight hours and let your battery handle the evening peak
Built for 2028 and beyond
What your post-44c system should look like
A system designed in 2010 was built to export. A system designed for 2028 and beyond is built to keep your solar at home. Here’s what that looks like:
- Bigger, more efficient panels: Today’s premium panels from REC and Trina produce far more per square metre than 2010-era modules, backed by 25-year warranties.
- A hybrid or battery-ready inverter: So you can add storage now or later without starting again.
- Battery storage: A Fronius Reserva, BYD or Sungrow battery stores cheap daytime solar for the expensive evening peak, with optional blackout backup.
- Smart monitoring: See generation, usage and battery charge in real time on your phone.
- Room to grow: Switchboard and wiring ready for EV charging, heat pumps and full home electrification.
With over 500 battery systems installed across the region, SolarWide is the Sunshine Coast’s leading battery specialist, and we’ve been helping 44c customers since the scheme began.
The SolarWide Difference
Why 44c customers choose SolarWide
Dozens of solar companies have come and gone on the Sunshine Coast since the 44c scheme closed. SolarWide is still here. We installed solar during the Solar Bonus Scheme era, we know its rules inside out, and we’ll still be here long after 2028.
SAA-accredited installers
What will your power bill look like after 44c ends?
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FAQs
Your 44c questions, answered
When exactly does the 44c feed-in tariff end in Queensland?
The Solar Bonus Scheme 44c feed-in tariff expires on 1 July 2028. Eligible customers keep receiving 44c per kWh for exported solar until then, as long as they don’t do anything that makes them ineligible earlier. The Queensland Government has not announced any extension.
What feed-in tariff will I get after 1 July 2028?
You’ll move to your retailer’s standard feed-in tariff. In South East Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast, these market rates are set by retailers and are typically just a few cents per kWh, well below 44c. Because exports will be worth so little, using your own solar and storing it in a battery becomes far more valuable.
How do I know if I’m still on the 44c Solar Bonus Scheme?
Check your electricity bill. Solar Bonus Scheme customers will see a feed-in credit at 44c per kWh. If you’ve recently changed retailer, moved names on the account or had work done on your system and the 44c credit has disappeared, contact Energex. If you were removed in error, the tariff can be restored and backdated.
Can I replace my inverter without losing 44c?
Yes, as long as the new inverter is the same size or smaller than your approved inverter capacity. Replacing it with a larger inverter will end your 44c tariff. Many 44c systems are now 14 to 18 years old, so inverter failures are common. A like-for-like replacement keeps your credits flowing until 2028.
Can I add a battery and keep my 44c feed-in tariff?
Possibly. A battery is allowed only if it doesn’t discharge while your solar system is operating, for example if it only runs at night or during blackouts, and you need approval from your distributor first. A battery that discharges alongside your solar can cost you the 44c rate, so it must be designed and configured by a specialist.
Can I add more solar panels while on the 44c scheme?
You can add panels only up to your inverter’s approved capacity, and you should check with Energex before doing so. Oversizing the array beyond the inverter rating, or installing a second solar system on the same connection, will end your 44c tariff.
Should I upgrade my solar now or wait until 2028?
It depends on how much 44c is still earning you. If your system is healthy and still exporting plenty of solar, it often pays to keep collecting 44c and plan a new system to go live when it ends. If your system is small, ageing or failing and your credits have dropped, upgrading early can save you more. SolarWide can compare both options using your real bills.
What happens to my 44c tariff if I sell or move house?
The 44c tariff doesn’t transfer to a new property or a new owner. If you move, sell or rent out your home and someone other than your spouse becomes the account holder, the tariff ends. The new occupant will need to arrange a standard feed-in tariff with their retailer.
Are there government rebates to help me upgrade?
Yes. Federal Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) reduce the upfront cost of new solar panels and eligible home batteries, and SolarWide applies them as an instant discount on your quote. The federal battery rebate steps down every six months, so getting your system designed and booked early can help you get a better rebate.
