Get rewarded for the solar power you export - all year round.
We’ve got a solar offering for all our plans so you can earn from what you export. Our open-term plans give you two buy-back rates for the energy you export. Earn 15c/kWh most of the year and 24c/kWh during winter peak periods, all with no fixed contracts.*
On a fixed term plan? We’ve got you covered with a 12c/kWh buy-back rate.*
When your panels generate more energy than your home is using, that extra power flows back to into the national grid. Our solar plan rewards you for sharing that energy, giving you the flexibility of an open-term agreement with no fixed contracts.
During our winter months you’ll get a buy-back rate of 24c/kWh when you export during peak times.* Only available on our open-term plans.
You’ll get a year round buy-back rate of 15c/kWh across our open term plans.* We also provide buyer-created tax invoices, a real time-saving benefit for GST registered customers.
We offer a standard 12c/kWh solar buy-back rate on our fixed-term EV and Bach plans so you can keep earning from your export no matter the plan you’re on.*
* Ts&Cs and eligibility criteria apply – The buy-back rate is variable and may change, in accordance with our Plan Terms.
We offer two straightforward rates for the power that you export on our open-term plans, designed to reward you most when the grid is working its hardest:
Standard rate (15c/kWh):
For most of the year, you’ll earn a flat rate of 15 cents for every kilowatt-hour of solar energy you send back to the grid.
Winter Peak rate (24c/kWh):
During the morning (7am-10am) and evening (5pm-9pm) peaks from July to September, we pay a premium 24c/kWh for power exported. On your bill, you’ll be paid for your exported electricity at the standard rate. If you have exported during the winter peak hours, you’ll receive a top up of an additional 9c/kWh to achieve your winter peak rate as a credit, which will be applied to your account by the 10th business day of the following month.
* For ALL our plans and offers, Ts&Cs and eligibility criteria apply
** The buy-back rate is variable and may change on notice, in accordance with our Plan Terms.
To be eligible to receive our buy-back rates, you must meet our eligibility criteria - see our Standard Terms. Rates do not include GST. If you’re GST registered find our more on Solar for home.
^ On a Fixed Plan, your usage and network-based rates are fixed for the term of your plan, except in the circumstances set out in our Plan Terms.
Check out our help section below for quick and easy info.
When your solar panels generate more power than your home needs, any extra flows back into the grid.
We reward that with two simple rates on our Freedom and Night Saver plans:
15c/kWh most of the year, and
24c/kWh during winter peak times (7–10 am and 5–9 pm, July–September)
So, your export will always earn a strong everyday rate, with a bit extra during winter peak times.
Meridian’s export requirements and eligibility criteria are set out in our Standard Terms and Conditions.
Please note our fixed plans have different buyback rates.
Power is typically used most during winter mornings and evenings.
Our winter peak export rate reflects that, rewarding customers who can export during those expected busier times, while keeping a simple everyday rate for everything else.
On our open term plans you’ll get the 24c/kWh for any export to the grid between 7–10 am and 5–9 pm during July, August and September. Otherwise, you’ll receive 15c/kWh for all export. To receive the winter peak rate, you’ll need a communicating smart meter that tracks when you export energy.
You don’t need a battery to be eligible to receive the winter peak export rate.
A battery can help you make more of the peak rate, as you can control your export so that it occurs during the winter peak times (7–10 am and 5–9 pm, July–September).
Peak credits are applied separately from your usual bill.
Your bill will show all exported energy at the standard 15c/kWh rate for the billing period. If you exported energy during eligible winter peak times, we’ll apply an additional 9c/kWh credit for that portion separately — bringing those exports to a total of 24c/kWh. You’ll typically see this credit added to your account by the 10th business day of the following month.
Yes - you’ll need a communicating smart meter to receive the winter peak rate.
This allows us to see when your solar energy is exported, so we can apply the higher rate during peak times.
If you don’t have a communicating smart meter, your exports will still earn 15c/kWh year-round.
You’ll also need to continue meeting our standard export requirements; you can find more details in our Standard Terms and Conditions.
Sign up with us (if you haven’t already). You’ll also need an import/export meter which – if you're connected to the electricity grid – would have been installed when you had your solar installed. An import/export meter has two registers – one to record the energy you use and the other to track the electricity you export back to the national grid. If you don’t yet have solar or you’re getting grid connected, we’ll work alongside you, your solar provider; or we’ll help you organise a meter installer to ensure you have the right meter. An import/export meter costs around $150.
You can submit your request to have one installed here.
We recommend reaching out to local solar installers in your area and getting multiple quotes. Check product warranties and get your questions answered. Installers should look at your yearly power consumption and size the solar system to maximise self-consumption (this is the energy you use that comes from your own solar system).
GST usually does not apply to the electricity you generate and export back to us, unless you are GST registered and using business assets for generation. In that case, GST applies to the exported electricity.
If you are not registered for GST, your solar generation will not be subject to GST.
If you’re GST registered and your solar power generation is part of your business activities required to be reported on for GST purposes, please provide us with your GST number we’ll update your Meridian account.
Once your GST number is linked, we will apply a GST credit equal to 15% of your GST exclusive export credit amount on your buyer created tax invoice (BCTI), which appears at the bottom of your monthly statement.
A Buyer-Created Tax Invoice is an invoice we create on your behalf. Think of it as an invoice from you, charging us for your exported solar power. If you are GST registered and created the invoice to send to us yourself, you would need to include the GST amount and your GST number on your invoice. Providing us with your GST number allows us to do this for you.
Keeping your GST information accurate is important as it directly affects how your exported electricity is taxed. If you think your GST status may be incorrect or has recently changed, please let us know.
Simply fill out the form below, and our team will review your information. We’ll either update your account or get in touch if we need more details.