Solar Buy-Back Rates NZ: 13 Retailers Compared (2026)

How to pick, without a league table

There is no single best retailer here, and a ranked list is the wrong tool for this decision. The right answer depends on your import rate, when your roof actually exports, and whether you have a battery. Work it in this order.

Start with what you pay, not what you earn. A generous buy-back paired with expensive power almost always loses to the reverse, because a typical solar household still buys more electricity than it sells. Compare the whole plan: import rate, daily charge and export rate together.

Then read the off-peak number, not the headline. Without a battery your roof exports hardest in the middle of the day, which falls outside every peak window on this page. A flat plan in the mid-teens can beat a headline peak rate that pays single digits for the hours you are actually exporting.

Then check what the rate is conditional on. Caps per billing cycle, fixed terms, a required installer, a battery requirement, or a rate quoted excluding GST all change what lands on your bill. Every condition we hold is on the cards above, with the date we last checked it.

Then run it on Powerswitch with your own usage before you switch. It is free, it is run by Consumer NZ, and it prices your address rather than an average one.

The import rate matters more

A typical NZ household with solar still imports 40 to 60% of their electricity from the grid (evenings, cloudy days, winter). If you switch to a retailer paying 23c/kWh for exports but charging 38c for imports, you could end up paying more overall than staying with a retailer offering 12c exports and 28c imports.

Let’s run the numbers for a typical 6.6kW system:

• Annual generation: about 9,000kWh
• Self-consumption (60%): 5,400kWh
• Exports: 3,600kWh
• Grid imports: 3,500kWh

With a 23c export / 38c import retailer, your export credit is $828, but your import bill is $1,330. Net cost: $502.

With a 12c export / 28c import retailer, your export credit is $432, but your import bill is $980. Net cost: $548.

The difference is only $46 in this example. But change the self-consumption ratio (say you’re out all day and only self-consume 40%), and the cheaper import rate wins easily. Always compare the full plan, not just the export number.

Daily fixed charges add up

Every NZ power plan includes a daily fixed charge (typically $1.30 to $2.20/day). Some retailers with high buy-back rates make up the margin with higher daily charges. Over a year, that’s $475 to $800 before you use a single kWh. Always factor this in.

Contract terms and conditions

Mercury’s 18c rate is capped at 500kWh per billing cycle. If your system exports more than that (most 6kW+ systems will in summer), anything above the cap drops to their standard 11.1c. And Meridian’s headline 24c only applies in the winter peak windows (Jul-Sep); outside those it’s 15c. Always check what the top rate is actually conditional on.

Smart habits that boost self-consumption

You don’t need a battery to increase self-consumption. These changes are free:

• Run your dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer during the middle of the day when panels are producing
• Set your hot water cylinder to heat during solar hours (your electrician can install a timer, or your installer may configure this)
• Charge devices and run the vacuum during daylight hours
• If you have an EV, charge it during the day whenever possible
• Use delay-start timers on appliances so they run while you’re at work

Batteries: the self-consumption multiplier

A home battery stores your daytime solar surplus and releases it in the evening when you’d otherwise buy from the grid. This can push self-consumption from 60% to 80 or even 90%. At current battery prices ($9,000 to $24,000 installed), the payback on a battery alone is still long (8 to 15 years). But when you factor in time-of-use savings and backup power value, it’s getting closer to worthwhile for many households.

Read our full guide: Solar Battery Storage NZ: Costs, Brands, and Is It Worth It?

1. Step 1: Check your current plan

Log into your current retailer’s app or website. Note down your import rate (cents per kWh), export/buy-back rate, and daily fixed charge. If you can’t find these, call them and ask.

2. Step 2: Compare on Powerswitch

Go to Powerswitch.org.nz (a free government-backed comparison tool run by Consumer NZ). Enter your address and usage details. It will show you estimated annual costs across all available retailers in your area.

Important: Powerswitch doesn’t always show buy-back rates prominently. You may need to click into plan details or contact the retailer directly to confirm the export rate.

3. Step 3: Compare both import AND export

Don’t just look at the buy-back rate. Calculate your total annual cost including imports, exports, and daily charges. The cheapest overall plan may not have the highest buy-back rate.

4. Step 4: Check meter compatibility

Some retailers and plans require a smart meter. Most NZ homes already have one, but if yours hasn’t been upgraded, your new retailer will arrange it (usually free). A few time-of-use plans need a meter that records half-hourly data. Check with the new retailer before signing up.

5. Step 5: Sign up online

Most switches happen entirely online. Your new retailer handles the transfer with your old one. You won’t lose power during the switch. Your old retailer will send a final bill, and the new one starts billing from the switch date.

TOU works best if you can shift usage

The catch with TOU pricing is that your import rate is also higher during peak hours. If you’re cooking dinner, running the heat pump, and charging your EV between 5 and 9pm, those expensive peak import rates can eat into any export gains.

TOU plans are best suited to households that:

• Have a battery that can discharge during peak hours (avoiding expensive peak imports)
• Are disciplined about running appliances off-peak (delayed-start dishwashers, overnight EV charging)
• Have a north-facing roof that still produces well into the late afternoon

When flat-rate plans win

If your household’s usage pattern is hard to shift (young kids, working from home, high evening usage), a flat-rate plan is simpler and often just as cost-effective, because you earn the same cents whenever the sun happens to be out. Several retailers on the table above pay one rate all day, from 10c/kWh up to the high teens, and the higher ones are competitive with a peak plan once you account for exporting in the middle of the day. Check the conditions on each: the best flat rates tend to carry a contract term or a network restriction.

Choose the right retailer for your usage pattern

If you export most during the middle of the day (typical for households where everyone’s at work), a flat-rate plan with a strong buy-back rate makes sense. If you have a battery and can time your exports for peak hours, a TOU plan like Octopus Peaker will earn you more.

Size your system appropriately

Oversizing your system sounds appealing, but if most of the extra generation goes to export at 12c/kWh, the return on those extra panels is much lower. A well-sized system that matches your usage pattern (with a modest buffer for future needs like an EV) is usually the sweet spot.

Monitor your generation and export patterns

Most modern inverters come with monitoring apps (Enphase, Fronius, SolarEdge, Huawei). Check your daily export patterns. If you’re exporting heavily between 10am and 2pm, that’s power you could be using yourself with simple habit changes.

Review your plan annually

Buy-back rates change. New plans launch. What was the best deal last year might not be this year. Set a calendar reminder to review your plan every 12 months. Use Powerswitch to check if a better option is available.

Consider a battery for export arbitrage

On a TOU plan, you can store cheap daytime solar in a battery and export it during peak hours for a higher rate. This is sometimes called “export arbitrage.” It’s not the primary reason to get a battery, but it’s a nice bonus if you’re already considering one.

Next steps for your solar journey

• Start your free solar survey to get a personalised savings estimate
• Read our cost guide to understand what you'll pay for a system
• Explore battery storage if you want to maximise self-consumption

What is the highest solar buy-back rate in NZ right now?

The highest rate any retailer actually publishes is Meridian’s 24c/kWh, and it applies only in the winter peak windows (7 to 10am and 5 to 9pm on weekdays, July to September). The rest of the year that plan pays 15c/kWh. Octopus Energy’s Peaker plan pays 23c/kWh at peak, and Electric Kiwi advertises 23c/kWh on its own solar page, though its Powerswitch profile puts MoveMaster at 20c/kWh, so get that one in writing. Contact’s Good Charge is quoted all over the internet at 25c/kWh, but Contact publishes no export rate at all: it prices by address, and the only Contact figure on the record is the 8c/kWh Powerswitch lists for its home buy-back. Every one of these top rates applies only during limited peak hours, so the rate you earn across a full year is much closer to the off-peak number.

Do I have to pay tax on solar buy-back income?

For residential solar systems used primarily for your own home, the IRD does not treat buy-back credits as taxable income. If you’re generating at a commercial scale or running a business, different rules may apply. Check with your accountant if you’re unsure.

Can my retailer change my buy-back rate?

Yes. Unless you’re on a fixed-term plan, your retailer can adjust your buy-back rate with notice. Most give 30 days’ notice, and you can switch to another retailer if the new rate doesn’t work for you.

What happens to my exported power at night?

Solar panels don’t generate at night, so there’s nothing to export. Any electricity you use at night comes from the grid at your standard import rate. This is where batteries come in: they store daytime solar for evening use, reducing how much you buy from the grid after dark.

Is there a minimum system size to get a buy-back rate?

No minimum size is required. Even a small 2kW system will export surplus power and earn buy-back credits. However, very small systems may not export enough to make the rate a significant factor in your savings. For most NZ homes, a 5kW or larger system is the practical starting point.

Do the 2026 export rules guarantee a minimum buy-back rate?

No. The Electricity Authority has set no minimum rate. Since 1 July 2026, large retailers (5% or more of the market) must offer at least one time-varying export plan that rewards peak exports, but they still choose the actual cents-per-kWh. Separately, since 1 April 2026 lines companies must pay a peak-export rebate. Neither guarantees a minimum buy-back rate, so compare the plan you are actually offered rather than assuming the rules lifted it.

Should I wait for better buy-back rates before going solar?

We wouldn’t recommend waiting. The financial case for solar already works at current rates because most of your savings come from self-consumption, not exports. Any improvement in buy-back rates under the 2026 export rules is a bonus. Every month you wait is a month of savings you miss out on.

How do I find my current buy-back rate?

Check your latest power bill. Look for a line item showing export credits (sometimes called “solar buy-back” or “generation credit”). It will show both the kWh exported and the rate per kWh. If you can’t find it, log into your retailer’s app or call their customer service line.

What are typical solar power buy back rates in NZ?

Published solar power buy back rates in NZ currently run from 8c/kWh at the bottom of the market to 24c/kWh at the very top, and the top rates apply only during limited peak windows. Most households earn nearer the off-peak figures across a year, because most exporting happens in the middle of sunny days, not at peak. Each retailer’s peak and off-peak pair is in the comparison grid at the top of this guide, with the date we last checked it, and the pair is what matters: a single headline number tells you very little about what you will actually earn.

How do I get the best solar buy-back rates for my house?

Match the rate structure to your export pattern rather than chasing the biggest headline number. If you export mostly in the middle of the day, a strong flat or off-peak rate beats a spectacular peak rate you rarely hit; if you have a battery that can export into evening peaks, the peak-window plans change the maths entirely. Then check the whole plan, because a high buy-back rate paired with expensive import rates can cost more than it pays. The comparison grid above shows each retailer’s peak and off-peak pair to run that check against.

Which is the best power company for solar in NZ?

There is no single best power company for solar in NZ, because the answer depends on when your household exports and when it consumes. The right way to choose: take your last few power bills, note how much you import at peak versus off-peak, then compare each retailer’s full plan, buy-back pair plus import rates plus daily charge, against that pattern. A retailer with a headline-grabbing export rate can still be the more expensive plan overall for your usage. The comparison grid at the top of this guide lists each retailer’s peak and off-peak buy-back pair, with the date we last checked it, and Powerswitch will compare the import side for your address.