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Once the scheme ends in 2024, retailers are no longer obliged to pass on these credits.

The scheme offered eligible households, businesses and community organisations with small-scale solar systems of five kilowatts or less a credit of at least 60 cents per kilowatt hour for excess electricity fed back into the grid.

More than 88,000 Victorian households, small businesses and community groups benefit from the PFIT.

Existing customers

Eligible properties with an effective PFIT contract will continue to receive this rate until 2024, provided they do not add extra solar panels to their system.

Switching electricity companies

You can switch electricity companies or contracts and continue to receive the PFIT once you have established your eligibility. Before switching, check if there are any exit fees under your existing contract.

Adding extra solar panels

You will become ineligible to continue receiving the premium rate if you add additional solar panels, boosting your generating capacity after scheme closure, even if the overall system size remains 5 kilowatts or under. This ensures the cost of the scheme for all Victorians does not increase.

If you have an oversized inverter (for example a four kilowatt inverter with 1.5 kilowatts of solar panels) you will still forfeit your access to the premium rate if you upgrade your existing generation capacity after scheme closure. The existing generating capacity is based on the total nameplate capacity of the panels as measured under standard conditions by the manufacturer.

Suppose you would like to install additional panels or another form of renewable energy system and forfeit your premium rate. In that case, you may instead be eligible to apply for the minimum feed-in tariff.

Replacing damaged panels

You can replace existing panels for maintenance reasons, for example, due to storm or fire damage, without losing the PFIT. You just need to make sure the replacement panels do not exceed the original generating capacity of your system. Net metering must continue.

Renovation or demolition of your house

You can remove your solar panels due to renovations or the demolition of a house without forfeiting the PFIT. Under the PFIT, as long as the capacity of your solar panels post-renovation or demolition is equal to, or less than, the capacity before the renovation/demolition, you can maintain your eligibility.

Additionally, the solar PV system must continue to be net-metered after the work has been completed. 'Net-metered' means that the electricity generated by the solar PV system at the property is offset by the electricity consumed at the property. For residential properties, the newly renovated or constructed house will still need to be your primary place of residence

There may be a requirement for you or your installer to re-lodge the Certificate of Electrical Safety with the distribution business after the panels have been reinstalled. There may also be a requirement for other paperwork to be re-lodged including the solar connection form and the Electrical Works Request. We advise that you check with the relevant distribution business regarding this.

Moving house

The PFIT is linked to the property where the solar panels are installed, so when moving house you cannot take the PFIT with you. But any house which is signed up to the premium scheme will remain eligible until 2024, even if the house is sold and new residents move in.

Adding battery storage

Solar customers that install small-scale batteries as part of their current PV system will continue to be eligible to receive feed-in tariffs for the electricity generated and exported by their system to their retailer.

This also means that you can install a battery and still receive the PFIT as long as you maintain your eligibility requirements as outlined in your contract.

Page last updated: 25/11/22