Solar guide
Solar savings calculator
Estimate annual bill savings, export earnings and long-term financial benefit from solar panels.
Solar savings depend on two separate values: the electricity you use directly from your panels and the electricity you export back to the grid. Self-used solar normally gives the highest saving because it avoids buying electricity at the retail rate. For the calculation logic, see the methodology page.
Quick savings estimate
Use this compact estimator for the savings calculation. For full payback, panel count and ROI, use the main calculator.
Your estimated savings
This separates bill savings from export earnings so the result is easier to understand.
Annual benefit = (self-used solar kWh × electricity price) + (exported solar kWh × export tariff)Example savings scenarios
The same solar system can produce very different financial results depending on electricity prices and how much solar electricity is used directly in the home.
Best for homes that use electricity during the day or have a battery. More solar offsets retail electricity.
If export rates are low, increasing self-consumption usually matters more than maximizing exported electricity.
The higher your retail electricity price, the more each self-used solar kWh is worth.
What affects your solar savings?
- Electricity price: the amount you pay per kWh has a major impact on avoided bill cost.
- Self-consumption: using solar power directly is usually more valuable than exporting it.
- Export tariff: this controls how much surplus solar electricity is worth.
- System output: roof orientation, pitch, shading, inverter losses and local sunlight all affect production.
- Battery use: a battery may increase self-consumption, but its purchase price must be included in ROI.
When are solar savings highest?
Solar savings are usually highest when the household has high daytime electricity use, high electricity prices, a good roof with limited shading, and a meaningful gap between the retail electricity price and the export tariff.
Key assumptions to check
- Your average electricity price per kWh.
- Your local feed-in or export tariff.
- Average peak sun hours for your region.
- Roof orientation, pitch and shading.
- Installed cost after incentives or grants.
Solar savings FAQ
How are solar savings calculated?
Multiply the solar electricity used in the home by the retail electricity price, then add exported electricity multiplied by the export tariff.
Is self-consumption better than exporting?
Usually yes. In many markets, the retail electricity price is higher than the export tariff, so using solar directly often saves more money.
Does a battery always improve savings?
No. A battery can increase self-consumption, but the extra savings must be compared with the battery cost, lifespan and replacement risk.
Should I size solar for my full annual usage?
Not always. Oversizing can increase exports, but exported power may be worth less than self-used electricity.