Solar in Invercargill and Southland: Complete Guide for 2026
NZ's most southern region gets the least sun, so we'll be straight: Southland solar pays back slower than the north. Honest Invercargill yield figures, PowerNet's export rules, and who it still makes sense for.
Southland solar: key takeaways
- Southland is NZ's least sunny region: a 6.6kW system generates about 7,500 kWh a year, the lowest of our regions.
- Cool temperatures keep panels efficient, but short winter days mean output drops sharply from May to July.
- At about 31.2c/kWh (among the highest in the country), a typical system saves roughly $1,530 to $1,660 a year and pays back in 8.9 to 9.7 years.
- PowerNet serves Southland and now applies the national 10kW default export limit, though some rural connections may be lower.
- Best for homeowners staying long term who use power during the day; size the system to daytime use rather than maxing out the roof.
Is solar worth it in Southland?
Southland is New Zealand's most southern region and gets the least sun of anywhere we cover, so it is fair to be sceptical about solar down here. We will be straight with you: it pays back slower than the north. Invercargill averages around 1,600 hours of bright sunshine a year, and a well-oriented 6.6kW system generates roughly 7,500 kWh annually, the lowest of our regions. The cool Southland climate does help a little, as panels run more efficiently when they are not baking, but shorter winter days are the bigger story and output drops sharply from May through July. With power prices near 31.2c per kWh (among the highest in the country, despite Manapouri on the doorstep), a typical system saves around $1,530 to $1,660 a year and pays back in roughly 8.9 to 9.7 years. That is a longer wait than sunny Nelson or Marlborough, so solar in Southland suits homeowners who value long-term energy independence and plan to stay put, more than those chasing the fastest return.
Low sun, not the power price, is what stretches out the payback here, so the honest advice is to size the system to what you actually use during the day rather than maxing out the roof. Running the hot water, heat pump and laundry at midday is what makes Southland solar work. For a clear look at the assumptions behind every payback number, our full NZ payback breakdown walks through exactly how the maths is put together.
Want a personalised estimate for your Southland home? Answer a few quick questions and compare quotes from up to 3 Solar Scout-vetted installers.
How much solar will you generate in Southland?
With 3.4 peak sun hours per day and a production factor of 0.85relative to the national baseline, here's what a typical roof-mounted system generates in Southland per year.
Assumes you use 40 to 50% of what you generate and export the rest at 13c/kWh. The daily fixed charge on your bill does not go away with solar, so it is not counted as a saving. The daytime rate used here is 31.2c/kWh. Your actual savings depend on roof orientation, shading, and your daily usage pattern.
For the national picture, see how Southland stacks up against the rest of the country on annual generation per kW installed.
Electricity and buy-back rates
The daytime variable rate in Southland averages 31.2c per kWh across the retail plans available on the local network. Every kilowatt-hour you self-consume from your panels saves you that variable rate. It does not remove the daily fixed charge, which you keep paying whatever your panels produce, so we never count it as a saving. Excess generation flows back to the grid, and your retailer pays you a buy-back rate. Retailers set those rates nationally rather than by region, so the figures below apply in Southland the same as anywhere else. Each card shows the headline rate and the rate you earn outside the peak windows, because for a household without a battery the second number is the one that does most of the work.
Buy-back conditions
Contact Energy
Contact publishes the Good Charge peak window (7am to 9am and 6pm to 10pm weekdays, for battery-and-solar customers) but not the peak rate: it prices by address, so there is no national figure to print, and your export rate is set when you register your solar. Powerswitch's September 2026 table lists Contact's residential buy-back at 8c/kWh on selected residential plans, the lowest here. So the 25c peak quoted all over the internet is a national number for a retailer that does not have one.
Buy-back conditions
Ecotricity
ecoSOLAR pays 21c/kWh peak and 16c/kWh off-peak. The peak WINDOW is not published, and neither is the GST basis on Ecotricity's own page. Powerswitch also lists a flat-rate alternative at 18c/kWh for low users and 17c/kWh for standard users, which pays the same rate all day and can suit a household without a battery better than the peak plan. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Electric Kiwi
Sources disagree and we will not pick one. Electric Kiwi's own solar page advertises a 23c/kWh buy-back and quotes 11.5c/kWh off-peak (incl GST). Powerswitch's September 2026 table says MoveMaster pays 20c/kWh peak (weekdays 7 to 9am and 5 to 9pm) and 10c/kWh off-peak, and that the Everyday and GO250 plans pay 8c/kWh. Ask for the number in writing before you switch.
Buy-back conditions
Frank Energy
Flat 12.5c/kWh, and Frank's own FAQ says the credit is shown before GST. If you are not GST-registered you are not making a taxable supply, so 12.5c is what lands on the bill: the 15% is added only for GST-registered customers, via a buyer-created tax invoice. Systems up to 50kW, and you need an export-capable meter. Frank does not appear on Powerswitch's solar table, so this was confirmed on Frank's own FAQ (page updated 19 May 2026).
Buy-back conditions
Genesis Energy
Two shapes on the HomeGen plan. Time-varying pays 15c/kWh peak (7 to 9am and 5 to 9pm) and 12.5c/kWh off-peak (9am to 5pm and 9pm to 7am). Anytime pays a flat 12.5c/kWh with no window to chase, the same rate as its Frank brand. Genesis states its export rates exclude GST. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Mercury
The Flex plan is seasonal AND time-of-use, so it has four rates, not two. Winter (1 May to 30 Sep): 20.38c/kWh peak and 15.75c/kWh off-peak. Summer (1 Oct to 30 Apr, the seven months a roof exports most): 10.44c/kWh peak and 9.17c/kWh off-peak. Peak is 7 to 11am and 5 to 9.30pm in both seasons. The ranges above span the year because no customer is ever paid a winter peak and a summer off-peak at the same time. Mercury's flat plan pays 11.1c/kWh instead. Rates exclude GST. A further 6.9c/kWh for two years is available if you install through one particular installer: that is an installer arrangement, not a plan rate, and it is deliberately not folded into the rate above. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Meridian Energy
15c/kWh year-round on the open-term Freedom and Night Saver plans, lifting to 24c/kWh in the winter peak windows only (7 to 10am and 5 to 9pm, July to September). Exports bill at 15c and the extra 9c arrives as a separate credit; you need a communicating smart meter to get it. Other residential plans, including the EV plan, get a flat 12c. Meridian's page says rates do not include GST. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table.
Buy-back conditions
Nova
A flat 10c/kWh all day, with no peak window to chase and no seasonal split. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST; Nova's own page does not state a basis.
Buy-back conditions
Octopus Energy
The Peaker plan (systems 20kW or less) pays 23c/kWh peak and 10c/kWh off-peak, peak being 7 to 11am and 5 to 9pm on weekdays. Octopus says on its own page that you are unlikely to make the most of the peak rate without a battery. The standard Flexi plan (10kW or less) pays 19c peak and 14c off-peak, and Free Lunch pays 17c peak and 8c off-peak. ⚠ All of these are lower on the Northpower and Top Energy networks, so Northland is not on the national numbers: Peaker is 21c/8c and Flexi 17c/12c there. Confirmed against Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which now agrees with Octopus's own page.
Buy-back conditions
Power Edge
⚠ Read the condition. Powerswitch's September 2026 table lists 17.39c/kWh with a 3-year contract, and 12.5c/kWh without one, so the headline rate costs you three years of switching freedom. Power Edge's own pages advertise different figures again (17c year-round and up to 27c in a winter peak on its homepage, 14.37c on its join page, and a 20c 'Power Shield' rate that is the same 17.39c with GST added). Ask which number applies to you, in writing, before you sign. Powerswitch publishes excluding GST.
Buy-back conditions
Powershop
13c/kWh for most of the year, lifting to 23c/kWh in the winter peak only: 7 to 11am and 5 to 9pm, Monday to Friday, during July, August and September. That is three months of weekday mornings and evenings, so a roof without a battery earns the 13c rate for the overwhelming majority of what it exports. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST.
Buy-back conditions
Pulse Energy
A flat 12c/kWh, but Powerswitch notes it varies depending on location, so confirm the figure for your address before you switch. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST.
Buy-back conditions
Toast Electric
A flat 12.5c/kWh all day, but Toast only serves four networks: Wellington Electricity, Electra, Powerco Wairarapa and Orion. If your address is outside those, this rate is not available to you at all. Sourced from Powerswitch's September 2026 table, which publishes rates excluding GST.
Self-consumption is the bigger saving: every kWh you use yourself is worth 2 to 3 times more than every kWh you export. For the full national retailer comparison, see our buy-back rates guide.
PowerNet export rules
PowerNet manages the lines network across Southland, including Invercargill, Gore, Winton, Te Anau and the wider Southland District. Like the rest of the country, Southland now sits under the national 10kW default export limit for residential solar that took effect in 2026, up from the old 5kW cap, so most homes can export a larger system without special approval. Parts of the rural network can still be export-constrained, so PowerNet may apply a lower limit at some addresses; your installer confirms the limit for your specific connection before applying. An AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 compliant inverter and a distributed generation application are required, both handled by your installer.
For the full step-by-step from accepting a quote to switch-on, see our NZ solar installation process guide.
Typical system economics
Below is what a typical 6.6kW system looks like in Southland from a financial perspective. Real numbers will vary with installer, brand, and roof complexity. For the full national pricing context, our NZ solar installed-cost guide shows what 6.6kW jobs typically include and how to spot a fair quote.
What you can expect in Southland
System size
6.6kW
Installed cost
$14,800
Annual generation
7,500 kWh
Annual savings
$1,530-$1,660
Payback period
8.9-9.7 yrs
After this point, the power is yours.
Assumes you use 40 to 50% of what you generate and export the rest at 13c/kWh. The daily fixed charge on your bill does not go away with solar, so it is not counted as a saving. Estimates also use the regional production factor and the local daytime variable rate. Your actual savings will vary with your roof, usage pattern, and retailer.
Sunshine by month in Southland
Solar generation tracks closely with sunshine hours. Here's how Southland's monthly sunshine hours look across the year (NIWA data).
How Southland compares month-to-month
How Southland compares with nearby regions
Here's how Southland's solar numbers stack up against its neighbouring regions, on annual sunshine, typical output from a 6.6kW system, local power price, and payback period.
Choosing a solar installer in Invercargill and Southland
Invercargill and Gore are serviced by local electrical firms and installers travelling from Dunedin, so ask where the crew is based and how warranty callouts are handled. The standard filters apply: SEANZ membership, EWRB-registered electricians, a written workmanship warranty of five years or more, and references from Southland jobs.
The Southland checks: sizing discipline matters more this far south, so favour an installer who models your actual usage rather than quoting the biggest system that fits the roof, and ask whether the mounting specification covers snow loading inland. Your installer files the PowerNet distributed generation application behind the 10kW export limit.
Our guide to choosing a solar power installer covers SEANZ membership, the questions to ask, and the red flags to avoid, wherever in the country you are.
Solar Scout-vetted solar installers serving Southland
Every installer in the Solar Scout network is independently vetted. We connect you with up to 3 operating in your area so you can compare quotes on price and fit, never an open auction.
- EWRB registration: Licensed to do electrical work in New Zealand
- Positive customer experiences and real references: Read and checked before they can quote you
- SEANZ or Master Electricians: Backed by an industry body
- 5 years of solar: Solar-specific experience, not just general sparky work
Southland solar FAQs
Does solar actually work in Southland?
Yes, but at the lowest yield of any region we cover, so it pays back slower. Invercargill averages around 1,600 hours of bright sunshine a year, and a well-oriented 6.6kW system generates roughly 7,500 kWh annually. The cool climate keeps panels efficient, but short winter days are the limiting factor. Solar still stacks up here, it just needs realistic expectations and a system sized to your daytime use.
How much will a 6.6kW system generate in Invercargill?
Around 7,500 kWh a year for a well-oriented, unshaded array, the lowest of our regions but still enough to cover a good chunk of a typical home's daytime power. Output is strongly seasonal: summer months do most of the work, while June and July can drop to a fraction of the December figure. A north-facing roof with minimal shading matters more here than almost anywhere, so a proper site assessment is worth it.
How long until solar pays for itself in Southland?
A typical 6.6kW system (around $14,800 installed) saves roughly $1,530 to $1,660 a year and pays back in about 8.9 to 9.7 years. That is slower than the sunnier north, held back by one thing above all: less sun. Grid power here is not cheap, at 31.2c per kWh. Using more of your own solar during the day, rather than exporting it, is the single biggest lever on shortening that payback.
Why is Southland's payback longer than other regions?
Two reasons, and they compound. First, Southland gets the least sun in the country, so each panel generates less. Second, and despite the Manapouri hydro scheme nearby, Southland power is not cheap at 31.2c per kWh, so the value of each unit you displace is fine. It is the volume that is missing, which is what makes solar take longer to pay for itself. We would rather tell you that up front.
What are the export rules for PowerNet?
Southland now sits under the national 10kW default export limit for residential solar that came in during 2026, up from the previous 5kW cap. Most Southland homes can export a decent-sized system without special approval. Some rural parts of the PowerNet network can still be export-constrained, so a lower limit may apply at particular addresses. Your installer checks the limit for your exact connection and lodges the distributed generation application before switch-on.
Who does solar in Southland actually make sense for?
Homeowners who plan to stay in their place for the long haul and want protection from future power price rises, more than those chasing the quickest return. If you use a fair bit of power during daylight hours (people working from home, heat pumps running, hot water on a timer), the numbers improve noticeably. If your home sits empty all day and fills up at night, the case is weaker, and we will tell you so.
Is the cold or frost a problem for the panels?
Not at all. Panels are sealed and rated well beyond anything a Southland winter throws at them, and the cold actually improves their efficiency. Frost and light snow clear off pitched panels quickly. What matters is a quality install: proper flashing, sealing and wind-rated mounting for Southland's exposed, gusty sites, which is exactly what Solar Scout vetting checks for.
How long does a solar install take in Southland?
Usually 4 to 8 weeks from accepting a quote to switch-on, with 1 to 2 days of on-roof work. Allow a little extra for Fiordland, the Catlins and remote Southland District addresses, where travel and scheduling can add time. Your installer handles the PowerNet connection approval and any meter change as part of the job.
How much does solar cost in Invercargill?
A typical 6.6kW system in Southland costs around $14,800 fully installed, covering panels, inverter, mounting, wiring and the connection paperwork. That sits above the national midpoint for three reasons: freight and travel to the bottom of the South Island, a smaller local installer pool, and the wind-rated mounting Southland's exposed sites call for. Fiordland, the Catlins and remote Southland District addresses can carry a travel surcharge on top. At around 31.2c per kWh for grid power, that system saves roughly $1,530 to $1,660 a year and pays back in about 8.9 to 9.7 years. Get three quotes and confirm exactly what each includes, especially the site assessment and the PowerNet distributed generation application.
How bad is Southland solar in the middle of winter?
Honestly, it is the weakest stretch of any region we cover. Invercargill averages about 73 hours of bright sunshine in June against about 189 in January, so midwinter delivers well under half the sunshine of midsummer, and that is exactly when a Southland home wants the most power. Annual output from a 6.6kW system is around 7,500 kWh, but very little of it lands in June and July. Plan around it: solar in Southland cuts the summer and shoulder-season bills hard and barely touches the deepest winter ones. Sizing the array to cover a June power bill would leave you with a large, expensive system idling for the rest of the year.
How do I apply for solar approval with PowerNet in Southland?
Your installer lodges the distributed generation application with PowerNet before switch-on, and confirms the export limit that applies at your exact connection as part of it. That check matters more here than in most regions: Southland sits under the national 10kW default export limit, but parts of the rural PowerNet network can still be export-constrained, so a lower limit may apply at some addresses. The application needs your address and ICP number (printed on your power bill), the system size and an AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 compliant inverter model. Allow 4 to 8 weeks from accepting a quote to switch-on, with 1 to 2 days on the roof, and a little extra for Fiordland, the Catlins and remote Southland District addresses.
Who installs solar panels in Invercargill and Southland?
Invercargill and Gore installs are handled by local electrical firms plus installers travelling from Dunedin, so ask where the crew is based before comparing prices. Use the standard filters: SEANZ membership, EWRB-registered electricians, and a written workmanship warranty of five years or more. This far south, favour the installer who sizes from your actual usage rather than the biggest roof-fit system, ask whether the mounting covers snow loading inland, and confirm they file the PowerNet distributed generation application, the approval that lets you export at the 10kW limit.
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