Solar Export Limits in Australia: Every Network, Every State (2026)

Every solar system in Australia has an export limit — the maximum power your inverter can send to the grid at any instant. If your system produces more than your household is using and the surplus exceeds the export limit, the inverter throttles its output. That excess energy is simply not generated. It is wasted.

Understanding your specific network’s export limit, how dynamic exports work, and what the alternatives are when you are being curtailed will determine whether your solar system earns everything it should — or leaves money on the table every sunny day.

For solar system sizing strategy, see our system sizing guide. For battery storage options that capture curtailed energy, see our home batteries hub.

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Export limits by state and network

The standard default across most of Australia is 5 kW per phase. A single-phase home (the majority of residential connections) can export a maximum of 5 kW at any instant. A three-phase home can export up to 15 kW total.

But several networks deviate significantly from this — some higher, some drastically lower.

New South Wales

Network	Area	Default export limit	Notes
Ausgrid	Sydney, Hunter, Central Coast	10 kW per phase	Most generous in Australia. Battery inverters count toward total export limit on that phase. Three-phase homes can export up to 30 kW.
Endeavour Energy	Western Sydney, Blue Mountains	5 kW per phase	Flexible exports planned from FY25 using CSIP-AUS. Battery inverters generally do not count toward the phase limit.
Essential Energy	Regional NSW	5 kW per phase	Highest average export capacity per customer in the state at 7.7 kVA. Some rural areas may have lower limits.

Victoria

Network	Area	Default export limit	Dynamic export status
CitiPower	Melbourne CBD, inner suburbs	5 kW per phase	Flexible exports planned 2026-2031
Jemena	North-west Melbourne	5 kW per phase	Implementing flexible exports from 2026
Powercor	Western VIC, Geelong, Ballarat	5 kW per phase	Flexible exports planned 2026-2031
United Energy	South-east Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula	5 kW per phase	Flexible exports planned 2026-2031
AusNet Services	Eastern VIC, Yarra Ranges	5 kW per phase	Trialling flexible exports; constrained customers may have lower limits

Victorian requirement: All inverters installed from 1 October 2024 must maintain an active communication link with the network. CSIP-AUS compliance is mandatory.

Queensland

Network	Area	Default export limit	Dynamic connection
Energex	South-east QLD, Brisbane, Gold Coast	5 kW per phase	Available: up to 10 kW per phase with a dynamic connection. Network communicates with the system every 5 minutes.
Ergon Energy	Regional QLD	5 kW per phase (reducing to 3 kW in some saturated areas)	Available: up to 10 kW per phase. Fee of $120 for systems up to 30 kVA from 1 July 2025.

South Australia

Network	Default fixed export	Flexible export option
SA Power Networks	1.5 kW (or 0 kW in some areas)	Up to 10 kW per phase with Flexible Exports. Mandatory for all new exporting systems since 1 July 2023.

SA has the strictest fixed limits in Australia — just 1.5 kW without flexible exports. But SA was also the first state to roll out flexible exports statewide (since 2021), meaning compliant systems can export far more during uncongested periods.

Western Australia

Network	Default export limit	From 1 May 2026
Western Power (Perth metro, south-west WA)	5 kW per phase	New two-pathway model: (a) full export access with remote disconnection capability, or (b) fixed 1.5 kW cap without remote disconnection. CSIP-AUS mandatory.
Horizon Power (Remote WA)	Varies — often lower than 5 kW	Small isolated grids with limited capacity

Tasmania

Network	Default export limit
TasNetworks	5 kW per phase statewide

ACT

Network	Default export limit
EvoEnergy	10 kVA total across all phases (updated February 2025). Customers wanting more can apply for a network assessment.

Northern Territory

Network	Default export limit
Power and Water Corporation	Varies — often lower than 5 kW due to small grid capacity

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What actually happens when you hit the export limit

This is widely misunderstood. When your solar system reaches the export limit:

1. The inverter throttles — it does not shut down. The inverter is programmed with the maximum export allowed. If panels are producing 8 kW and you are using 2 kW, the inverter ramps output down so net export equals exactly 5 kW.

2. Excess potential generation is wasted. The energy that could have been produced is simply not generated. The panels still receive sunlight but the inverter does not convert it. It dissipates as heat.

3. Your household loads are served first. The export limit only constrains what goes to the grid. If you are running appliances that consume 7 kW and your panels produce 8 kW, only 1 kW is exported and no curtailment occurs.

4. You lose feed-in credits. Any energy that is curtailed earns nothing, reducing the financial return of the system.

5. The system does not trip. Export limiting is a controlled, smooth throttle — not a sudden disconnection. (Tripping is a separate issue caused by overvoltage — see below.)

How much are you actually losing? For a typical 6.6 kW system on a 5 kW inverter with moderate self-consumption, midday curtailment typically wastes less than 5% of annual generation. For an oversized system (10 kW of panels on a 5 kW inverter), losses can reach 10-15% of annual yield — still often worth it because of the extra morning and afternoon generation.

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Dynamic exports — the solution that is rolling out

Dynamic (or “flexible”) exports are the most significant change to residential solar grid connection in a decade. Instead of a fixed cap that applies 24/7 regardless of grid conditions, your inverter communicates with the network in real time and adjusts its export limit based on actual grid capacity.

How it works technically

Your inverter connects to your network’s server via the internet using the CSIP-AUS protocol (Common Smart Inverter Profile Australia, based on IEEE 2030.5). The process:

1. The network sends export-limiting commands to your inverter every 5 minutes
2. When the local grid has spare capacity (cloudy day, evening, low solar on your feeder), the limit is raised — potentially well above 5 kW
3. When the grid is congested (sunny midday, high solar penetration on your feeder), the limit is reduced
4. Your inverter sends telemetry data back so the network can verify compliance

The fallback: If your internet drops, the inverter falls back to a static default limit (1.5 kW in SA) until reconnection. Reliable internet — ideally hardwired ethernet rather than Wi-Fi — is important for dynamic export systems.

Where dynamic exports are available

Network	Status	Maximum dynamic export
SA Power Networks	Live statewide since 2021. Mandatory for all new exporting systems from July 2023.	Up to 10 kW per phase
Energex / Ergon (QLD)	Available now as “Dynamic Connections”	Up to 10 kW per phase
Western Power (WA)	From 1 May 2026 via “Smarter Solar”	Full export access with remote disconnection
Victorian networks	CSIP-AUS mandatory from late 2024. Flexible export rollouts during 2026-2031.	To be confirmed
Ausgrid (NSW)	Trialling	Not yet generally available
Endeavour Energy (NSW)	Planned from FY25	Not yet generally available

Is dynamic export worth it?

For most homes with a standard 6.6 kW system and moderate self-consumption, the benefit is modest — you may gain an extra 500-1,500 kWh per year of exported generation.

For homes with large systems (10+ kW), batteries, or in SA where the fixed limit is just 1.5 kW, dynamic exports are a significant upgrade. In SA, the difference between exporting 1.5 kW fixed and up to 10 kW dynamically is the difference between wasting most of your surplus generation and using almost all of it.

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Feed-in tariffs — what your exports are actually worth

Feed-in tariffs have declined steadily as daytime wholesale electricity prices have dropped with increasing solar penetration. In 2010, some states offered 40-60 cents per kWh. In 2026, you are looking at 2-10 cents.

State	Benchmark / minimum FiT	Typical retailer range	Notes
NSW	IPART benchmark: 4.8-7.3 c/kWh (advisory, not mandatory)	0-10 c/kWh	Ausgrid implementing two-way tariffs from July 2025 including a 1.2 c/kWh export charge during some hours
VIC	ESC minimum: effectively 0 c/kWh flat. Time-varying minimum: 6.6 c/kWh evening peak, 0 c/kWh daytime	Varies	From July 2025, ESC no longer sets minimum flat rates
QLD	No regulated minimum	6-8 c/kWh typical	Ergon regional: ~12.4 c/kWh. Legacy 44 c/kWh scheme closed to new applicants 2012
SA	No mandated minimum	5-8 c/kWh typical	Was 44 c/kWh initially — now fully retailer-set
WA	DEBS (Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme)	10 c/kWh peak (3-9 PM), 2.5 c/kWh off-peak	Time-of-use structure incentivises battery storage for peak export
TAS	OTTER minimum: 8.8 c/kWh (2025-26)	~8.8 c/kWh+	Highest regulated minimum in Australia
ACT	No regulated minimum	4-10 c/kWh	Legacy 47.5 c/kWh rates for early adopters until 2031

The strategic implication: At 5-8 cents per kWh for exports versus 30-40 cents per kWh for grid electricity, every kWh you self-consume is worth 4-8 times more than one you export. This makes batteries, load shifting, and EV charging during solar hours far more valuable than simply maximising export volume. See our solar battery guide for the storage economics.

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Oversizing panels vs inverter — the most common strategy

The most popular residential solar configuration in Australia is a 6.6 kW panel array on a 5 kW inverter — and there is a good reason for this.

Why it works

The Clean Energy Council permits a DC-to-AC ratio of up to 1.33 (133%). So a 5 kW inverter can legally support up to 6.65 kW of panels.

This works because:

• Solar panels rarely produce at 100% rated capacity. Temperature, cloud, angle, and soiling all reduce output. A 6.6 kW array typically produces 5 kW or less for most of the day.
• More energy in morning and afternoon. The oversized array reaches useful output earlier in the morning and maintains it later in the afternoon — exactly when self-consumption is highest.
• Clipping losses are minimal. For a typical 1.33 loading ratio, the midday period when panels could produce more than the inverter allows wastes less than 2% of annual energy yield.
• Lower cost. A 5 kW inverter is cheaper than a 6.6 kW inverter, but you get the benefit of extra panels at the margins of the day.
• Stays within export limits. A 5 kW inverter physically cannot export more than 5 kW, automatically complying with the standard single-phase export limit.

When to go further

Some homeowners install 8-10 kW of panels on a 5 kW inverter. Clipping losses increase (5-15% of annual yield depending on orientation and location), but the extra morning and afternoon generation can still be worth it — particularly if you have a battery to capture the midday excess or high daytime loads (pool pump, hot water, EV charging).

For a detailed look at system sizing, see our solar system sizing guide. For current panel pricing, see the solar panel cost guide.

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Batteries as an export limit solution

When your inverter curtails because of the export limit, a battery captures what would otherwise be wasted.

Instead of losing 2-3 kW of generation at midday, that energy goes into storage and is used in the evening when panels are not producing. For homes with oversized systems relative to their export limit, a battery can be the difference between wasting a significant portion of generation and actually using it.

The economics

A 10 kWh battery (e.g. Tesla Powerwall 3, BYD HVS) costs $10,000-$15,000 installed. If it captures 1,500-2,500 kWh per year of otherwise curtailed energy (worth $450-$1,000 at avoided grid electricity rates), the payback from curtailment avoidance alone is 10-25 years.

Batteries make better economic sense when you also value:

• Evening self-consumption (avoiding 30-40 c/kWh grid power)
• Backup power during outages
• Time-of-use arbitrage (charge cheap, discharge expensive)
• VPP (Virtual Power Plant) participation income

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program (federal, from 1 July 2025) provides up to $372 per kWh of battery storage — reducing a 10 kWh battery cost by up to $3,720. See our solar battery rebate guide for eligibility details.

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Load shifting — the free alternative

Before spending $10,000+ on a battery, consider whether you can shift existing loads to solar hours:

Load	Typical consumption	Strategy
Hot water system (resistive)	3-5 kWh/day	Timer or solar diverter to heat during midday
Pool pump	1-2 kW for 6-8 hours	Run 10am-4pm instead of overnight
EV charging	2-7 kW	Charge during solar hours if home during the day, or use a smart charger with solar tracking
Dishwasher / washing machine	1-2 kWh per cycle	Delay start to midday

Shifting 5-10 kWh of daily load into solar hours effectively eliminates curtailment for most 6.6 kW systems — and costs nothing.

For EV charging specifically, see our best electricity plans for EV owners.

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Common problems and what to do

Inverter tripping on high voltage

This is different from export limiting. If the average AC voltage at your meter exceeds 255V over any 10-minute period, your inverter must disconnect entirely (AS/NZS 4777.1). This happens when many homes on your street export simultaneously, pushing local voltage above safe limits.

What to do:

• Ask your installer to enable Volt-Var mode on the inverter — this helps stabilise voltage
• Upgrade to a three-phase connection (splits voltage rise across three phases)
• Report it to your network. They have a legal obligation to maintain voltage within the Australian Standard. They may need to upgrade the transformer or adjust tap settings.

System producing less than expected

If your system is producing significantly less than its rated capacity even on clear days, check:

• Is the inverter export limiting? (Check the inverter display or monitoring app for curtailment indicators)
• Is the inverter in Volt-Watt response mode? (Reduces output as voltage rises — a softer version of tripping)
• Are panels dirty, shaded, or degraded?

Network rejected my connection application

If your network rejects or severely limits your solar connection, you can:

• Apply for a dynamic connection (where available) — this often unlocks higher limits
• Accept a lower fixed export limit with a battery to capture the surplus
• Install a zero-export system and maximise self-consumption
• Challenge the decision through the relevant energy ombudsman

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Grid connection — how to get connected

The process

1. Your installer lodges the application with the network (DNSP) before installation. You need your NMI (National Meter Identifier), single/three-phase confirmation, and account holder details.
2. Network assessment. For standard residential systems (up to 10 kW single-phase / 30 kW three-phase), approval typically takes 3-10 business days.
3. Installation proceeds after approval. The installer provides a Certificate of Compliance.
4. Meter changeover. Processed through your electricity retailer. The retailer assigns a Metering Coordinator to install a bidirectional meter.
5. Activation. Contact your retailer the day after meter installation to confirm your solar plan and feed-in tariff are active.

Costs

Most standard residential connections have no network application fee. Exceptions:

• Ausgrid preliminary enquiry: $285 (FY 2025-26)
• Ergon dynamic connection: $120 for systems up to 30 kVA
• Oversized or non-standard systems may require a paid network study ($300-$1,500)

The main cost is the meter changeover, which is typically handled by your retailer at no direct cost to you (built into your plan).

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The bottom line

Your solar export limit determines how much of your system’s generation actually gets used versus wasted. For most Australian homes on a standard 6.6 kW system with a 5 kW inverter, curtailment losses are modest — under 5% of annual yield. But for larger systems, homes in SA with a 1.5 kW fixed limit, or areas with high solar penetration and network congestion, the losses can be significant.

The solutions, in order of cost:

1. Load shifting (free) — run heavy loads during solar hours
2. Dynamic exports (low cost, where available) — let your inverter export more when the grid can handle it
3. Oversizing panels (modest cost) — more generation in morning and afternoon when curtailment is unlikely
4. Battery storage ($10,000-$15,000) — capture everything the grid will not take

Check your network’s specific limits in the table above, then decide which combination makes sense for your situation.

For solar panel options, see our solar panels hub. For battery storage, see our home batteries hub. For the financial case for solar, see our solar panel cost guide.