If you’re weighing up whether solar is worth the investment, the short answer is yes. For most Australian households, a well-sized solar system pays for itself within 3 to 5 years and keeps delivering savings for another 20 years after that.
But the actual dollar figure depends on where you live, how much power you use, and the system you install. Here’s a practical breakdown so you can work out what solar savings look like for your home on the Mid North Coast.
What Does a Solar System Cost in 2026?
Solar panel prices have dropped significantly over the past decade. A quality 6.6kW system, which suits most three to four-person households, typically costs between $4,500 and $7,500 after the federal STC rebate.
Larger systems (10kW to 13kW) run between $7,000 and $12,000 after rebates. If you add a battery expect to pay an additional $8,000 to $16,000 depending on capacity.
| System Size | Typical Cost (After Rebate) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6kW | $4,500 , $7,500 | 2–4 person household |
| 10kW | $7,000 , $9,500 | Larger homes, pool, AC |
| 13kW | $9,000 , $12,000 | High usage, EV charging |
| Battery add-on (10–15kWh) | $8,000 , $16,000 | Evening self-consumption |
Tip: The federal STC rebate drops each year, and a significant reduction kicks in from January 2027. Locking in your system sooner means a larger discount.
How Much Will You Actually Save?
Your savings depend on three things: how much power you use, how much of it you use during the day while panels are generating, and your feed-in tariff rate for any excess you export.
- Self-consumed solar: Every kWh you use from your panels instead of the grid saves you 30 to 40 cents (the retail electricity rate).
- Exported solar: Power you send back to the grid earns a feed-in tariff of 3 to 12 cents per kWh, depending on your retailer.
- The gap matters: Self-consumption is worth 3 to 10 times more than exporting. The more power you use during daylight, the more you save.
For a typical 6.6kW system on the Mid North Coast, here’s what annual savings look like at different self-consumption rates:
| Self-Consumption Rate | Annual Savings | Payback Period |
|---|---|---|
| 30% (common without battery) | $1,200 , $1,500 | 4 , 5 years |
| 50% (good daytime usage) | $1,600 , $2,000 | 3 , 4 years |
| 70%+ (with battery) | $2,200 , $2,800 | 2 , 3 years (solar only) |
What Affects Your Return on Investment?
No two households get the same result from solar. Here are the main factors that shift your savings up or down.
- Electricity usage: Higher bills mean more potential savings. If you’re spending $500+ per quarter, solar makes a significant dent.
- When you use power: Running the dishwasher, washing machine, and pool pump during the day maximises free solar power.
- Roof orientation: North-facing panels produce the most energy across the day. East-west splits work well too, spreading generation across morning and afternoon.
- Shading: Trees, neighbouring buildings, or roof features that shade panels reduce output. A good installer will assess this before quoting.
- System quality: Cheaper panels degrade faster. Quality panels from brands like Trina, Jinko or LONGi hold their output better over 25 years.
- Electricity price rises: Grid power has increased by roughly 5 to 8 percent per year over the past decade. As prices climb, your solar savings grow.
Solar Savings on the Mid North Coast
The Port Macquarie region gets an average of 5.2 peak sun hours per day, which is excellent for solar generation. That means a 6.6kW system produces roughly 25 to 30kWh per day across the year.
Combined with NSW electricity rates (among the highest in the country), Mid North Coast homes are well positioned to get a strong return. Most of our customers see their system paid off within 3 to 4 years.
- Average daily production (6.6kW): 25 , 30kWh
- Average daily production (10kW): 38 , 45kWh
- NSW average electricity rate: 33 , 38c/kWh
- Typical feed-in tariff: 5 , 8c/kWh
Do Batteries Change the Equation?
A solar battery stores excess daytime generation so you can use it at night instead of buying from the grid. This shifts your self-consumption rate from 30 to 40 percent up to 70 to 90 percent.
The trade-off is the upfront cost. A 10kWh battery adds $8,000 to $12,000 to your system. At current electricity prices, the battery payback sits around 7 to 10 years on its own.
However, the federal battery rebate and NSW VPP incentive can bring that cost down by $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the system. Combined with rising electricity prices, battery payback periods are getting shorter each year.
Worth knowing: The federal battery rebate deeming factor drops on 1 May 2026 (from 8.4 to 6.8) and size tapering kicks in. If you’re considering a battery, acting before May means a bigger rebate.
Government Rebates and Incentives
Australian households can access several incentives that reduce the upfront cost of going solar:
- Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs): Applied as an upfront discount by your installer. Worth $2,500 to $4,000 depending on system size and location.
- Federal battery rebate: Available for eligible battery installations. Combined with STCs, this can reduce total system cost significantly.
- NSW VPP incentive: Additional rebate for battery systems enrolled in a Virtual Power Plant program.
- Feed-in tariffs: Ongoing payment for excess solar exported to the grid. Rates vary by retailer.
How to Work Out Your Savings
You don’t need a calculator to get a ballpark figure. Here’s a simple method:
- Check your quarterly bill. Find your average daily kWh usage and what you’re paying per kWh.
- Size the system. A 6.6kW system covers most homes using 15 to 25kWh per day. Larger homes or those with pools, EVs, or ducted AC may need 10kW or more.
- Estimate self-consumption. If someone’s home during the day (working from home, retirees), aim for 40 to 50 percent. If the house is empty until evening, 25 to 35 percent without a battery.
- Do the maths. Multiply daily solar production by your self-consumption rate, then by your electricity rate. Add feed-in income for the exported portion. That’s your daily saving.
Or, skip the maths and get in touch with SolaXs for a personalised quote. With 25+ years of experience installing solar across the Mid North Coast, we’ll assess your roof, usage, and budget to recommend the right system.
Is Solar Worth It currently?
With electricity prices continuing to climb and system costs lower than ever, solar remains one of the best investments an Australian homeowner can make. A typical 6.6kW system saves $1,500 to $2,000 per year, pays for itself in under 5 years, and keeps generating free power for another 20 years.
Add a battery and you can cut your grid dependence to almost nothing. Factor in government rebates that are shrinking each year, and the case for going solar now is stronger than it’s been.
What Size System Do You Need?
Getting the system size right is the single biggest factor in your savings. Too small and you’re still buying most of your power from the grid. Too large and you’re exporting cheap solar instead of using it.
- 1-2 person household (10-15kWh/day): A 5kW to 6.6kW system covers most of your daytime usage with some export.
- 3-4 person household (15-25kWh/day): A 6.6kW system is the sweet spot. It’s the most popular size in Australia for good reason.
- Large household or pool (25-35kWh/day): A 10kW system handles high usage. If you run a pool pump, ducted air conditioning, or multiple appliances during the day, this size makes a real difference.
- EV owners or future-proofing (30-50kWh/day): A 13kW system gives you headroom for an EV charger and a battery down the track.
Keep in mind that the 6.6kW system paired with a 5kW inverter is the most cost-effective option in Australia right now. The extra 1.6kW of panels costs very little but boosts production during morning and afternoon hours when the sun isn’t directly overhead.
Real Examples from the Mid North Coast
Every home is different, but here are some typical outcomes we see from our installations in the Port Macquarie area:
A retired couple with a 6.6kW system and moderate daytime usage typically saves $1,400 to $1,700 per year. They’re home during the day, so self-consumption sits around 45 to 55 percent. Their system paid for itself in just over 3 years.
A working family of four with a 10kW system and a pool pump saves $1,800 to $2,200 per year. They run the pool pump and washing machine on timers during solar hours, pushing self-consumption to 40 to 50 percent even though nobody’s home during the day.
A household with a 13kW system, battery, and EV charger is saving $3,000 to $3,500 per year. The battery captures daytime excess for evening use, and the EV charges from solar on weekends. Their grid bill dropped from $600 per quarter to under $80.
SolaXs is a local, CEC-accredited solar installer based in Port Macquarie. We’ve been helping Mid North Coast families switch to solar for over 25 years. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your home.
For more information, see the Clean Energy Council buying solar guide and the Australian Government Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.