If you installed solar in Queensland before July 2012, you're one of the lucky ones. The Solar Bonus Scheme locked you in at 44 cents per kilowatt hour for every unit of solar electricity you export to the grid. That's been an incredible deal — some households have earned $2,000-$4,000 a year from it.
But the clock is ticking. On July 1, 2028, the scheme expires permanently. No extension has been announced, and none is expected. When it ends, you'll drop to whatever your electricity retailer offers as a standard feed-in tariff — currently somewhere between 3c and 12c per kWh in Queensland.
That's a drop from 44c to maybe 7c. For a system exporting 15 kWh per day, that's going from earning $6.60/day to $1.05/day. About $2,000 a year wiped off your energy savings.
Key dates you need to know
Don't lose your 44c rate early
This is the bit that catches people out. You can lose the 44c tariff before 2028 if you do any of these things:
Add a battery that can discharge while your solar exports
Immediate loss of 44c tariff
Add extra panels that push array capacity above your inverter's rated kW
Immediate loss of 44c tariff
Close your electricity account or change the account holder
Permanent loss (spouse transfers excepted)
Sell the property or move out
New owner doesn't inherit the tariff
Electricity consumption exceeds 100 MWh per year
Loss of eligibility
Panel replacements: there's a 5% grace
If panels fail under warranty, you can replace them — but the new total array capacity must stay within 5% of the original. If your installer tries to put bigger panels on, make sure the total wattage doesn't exceed your inverter's rated capacity by more than 5%. Otherwise, you'll lose the 44c.
The maths: 44c now vs battery later
This is the question everyone's asking. Should you add a battery now and lose the 44c, or wait until the scheme ends in 2028?
Let's run the numbers for a typical Queensland household exporting 15 kWh/day.
Scenario comparison: 15 kWh daily export
In most cases, keeping the 44c tariff until it expires is the smarter financial move. You're earning more by exporting at 44c than you'd save by self-consuming with a battery.
The exception is if your system is tiny (1.5-2 kW) and you're barely exporting. In that case, the 44c earnings are small and a battery upgrade with a bigger system might make sense now. But for most households with 3-5 kW systems exporting 10-20 kWh/day — ride it out.
Your game plan for July 2028
When the 44c disappears, your economics flip overnight. Exporting at 5-7c becomes almost worthless compared to using that energy yourself. Here's what to plan for:
Get a battery installed around mid-2028
Once the 44c ends, a battery becomes the obvious move. You'll store your daytime solar and use it in the evening instead of exporting it for peanuts. A 10 kWh battery saves a typical QLD household $1,000-$1,500/year at current electricity prices.
Upgrade your panels at the same time
Your original panels are 12-16 years old by 2028. They've degraded, and they're much smaller than modern panels. Upgrading to a larger system means more energy to fill the battery and power your home. You can safely do this once the 44c is gone.
Switch to a time-of-use electricity plan
With a battery, time-of-use pricing works in your favour. Charge the battery with cheap solar during the day, discharge it during expensive peak hours (typically 4-8pm). The spread between off-peak and peak rates is where the real savings are.
Compare feed-in tariff rates
Once you're off the Solar Bonus Scheme, you're free to shop around for the best retailer FIT. Some retailers offer 8-12c in Queensland — that's still useful income on top of your self-consumption savings.
Battery rebates available right now
When you do make the switch to batteries, there's solid government support to bring the cost down. Here's what's available:
Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Around 30% off the upfront cost of a battery system (5-100 kWh). For a 10 kWh battery, that's roughly $3,100 off. Available now through participating installers.
Note: From May 1, 2026, the rebate drops significantly for batteries over 14 kWh. If you're planning a larger system, acting before May 2026 saves more.
QLD Interest-Free Loans
Up to $6,000 interest-free for battery storage, repayable over 10 years. Plus up to $4,500 for solar panels. Available through the Queensland Government's interest-free loan scheme.
STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates)
STCs reduce the cost of both solar panels and batteries at the point of sale. But the value decreases each year until the scheme ends in 2030. Every year you wait, the rebate shrinks.
Check our full rebates guide for the latest state and federal incentives, or take the rebate eligibility quiz to see exactly what you qualify for.
What if you're selling your home?
The 44c tariff doesn't transfer to a new owner. If you sell, the buyer gets the solar system but not the feed-in rate. They'll receive whatever the retailer's standard FIT is at that time.
That said, the solar system still adds value to the property. A functioning solar system on the roof is an asset regardless of the feed-in tariff. But if maximising the value of the 44c rate is important to you, staying put until July 2028 is worth $5,000-$10,000 depending on your system size and export volume.
Quick decision guide
check_circleKeep the 44c — wait until 2028
- •Your system exports 10+ kWh/day
- •You're not planning to sell or move before 2028
- •Your panels and inverter are still working well
- •You can wait to get a battery
swap_horizConsider upgrading now
- •Your system is tiny (1.5-2 kW) and barely exports
- •Your inverter has failed and needs replacing anyway
- •You want blackout protection and it's worth more to you than the 44c income
- •You're selling the property soon
The bottom line
The 44c Solar Bonus Scheme was one of the most generous solar incentives anywhere in the world. It turned early adopters into mini power stations, earning thousands a year from their rooftops. That era is ending.
But the end of the 44c isn't the end of solar savings. It's a shift in strategy. Instead of earning from exports, you'll save by using your own energy. A modern battery system paired with upgraded panels can save you $1,500-$2,500 a year through self-consumption alone. Add a decent feed-in tariff on top, and you're still well ahead.
The smart play: milk every dollar from the 44c until July 2028, then have a battery and panel upgrade ready to go the moment it expires. Start getting quotes 3-6 months beforehand so you're not scrambling with 160,000 other households who all had the same idea on the same day.
Passionate about making solar simple and accessible for every Australian household.