AGL is one of Australia’s biggest electricity retailers, and this AGL solar and battery review covers what it pays solar and battery homes in New South Wales, south-east Queensland and Victoria as at November 2026. Its AGL VPP (“bring your own battery”) is the add-on for battery owners. Plan rates are good on paper but the feed-in tariff is thin: 3c per kWh on Smart Saver, 8c on the first 8 kWh a day on Solar Savers, and 0c on a standard retail contract. ProductReview.com.au rates AGL 1.4 stars from 2,744 reviews. This is independent desk research; AGL did not pay for it and was not contacted.
Source: ProductReview.com.au; AER Energy Made Easy product data (Consumer Data Right), read 14 November 2026.
Key facts
- AGL’s Residential Solar Savers plan pays a feed-in tariff of 8c per kWh on the first 8 kWh exported each day and 3c per kWh after that in New South Wales and south-east Queensland, according to Australian Energy Regulator plan data read on 14 November 2026.
- AGL’s Residential Smart Saver plan pays 3c per kWh for solar exports, and AGL’s standing offers pay 0c per kWh, in the same Australian Energy Regulator plan data.
- AGL’s Three for Free plan gives up to 24 kWh of free electricity a day from 11am to 2pm for smart meter customers, and pays 15c per kWh for exports from 5pm to 9pm, in the Australian Energy Regulator plan data.
- AGL’s Solar Savers usage and supply rates are set at the regulated Default Market Offer cap in New South Wales and south-east Queensland, so its feed-in tariff is the only discount.
- AGL’s bring your own battery VPP pays a $200 welcome credit and about $80 a year in NSW, QLD and VIC ($180 in SA), plus $1 per kWh for event energy capped at 250 kWh a year, as reported by SolarQuotes in August 2026.
- ProductReview.com.au shows AGL Energy at 1.4 stars from 2,744 reviews, with customer service at 1.4 and rates and fees at 1.6, as read on 14 November 2026.
How AGL works as a retailer
AGL sells fixed-rate electricity with a daily supply charge, a usage rate and a separate feed-in tariff. Rates change each July, with at least ten business days’ notice, according to the variation clause in AGL’s plan data. There is no wholesale pass-through, unlike Amber Electric.
How we read the rates: AGL’s own website blocks automated access, so every plan rate here comes from the Australian Energy Regulator’s public Energy Made Easy product data (Consumer Data Right), read on 14 November 2026. That data lists rates before GST, so we multiplied by 1.1 to show bill-style figures. As a check, AGL’s Ausgrid standing offer usage rate of 30.1247c before GST becomes 33.137c, which is the Default Market Offer cap in the AER’s 2026-27 determination. Plans in the data cover Ausgrid, Endeavour, Essential Energy, Energex, SA Power Networks and all five Victorian networks.
| AGL plan (residential) | What it is | Feed-in tariff (c/kWh) | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Saver | Market plan, rates about 5% to 10% below the Default Market Offer (NSW and SEQ) | 3 | None stated |
| Solar Savers | Market plan priced at the Default Market Offer cap | 8 for the first 8 kWh a day, then 3 (NSW, SEQ) or 1 (SA) | Inverter 10 kW or under, no government feed-in scheme |
| Three for Free | Free 11am to 2pm usage, up to 24 kWh a day | 15 from 5pm to 9pm, 0 at other times | Smart meter |
| Standing offer | Default plan | 0 | Standard retail contract |
| Seniors, Netflix | Bundles | Not compared here | Seniors Card; Netflix sign-up |
Sources: AER plan data read 14 November 2026. The SA Solar Savers figure is from our South Australian feed-in guide; we did not re-pull SA rates.
AGL for solar owners: rates against the regulated benchmark
AGL Smart Saver undercuts the regulated cap in NSW and Queensland; Solar Savers matches it. The chart compares flat-rate usage charges, including GST, with the AER’s Default Market Offer caps.
- DMO cap
- AGL Smart Saver
- AGL Solar Savers
Source: AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination; AER Energy Made Easy plan data read 14 November 2026. Solar Cobber calculation: AGL rates before GST multiplied by 1.1.
View the data as a table
| DMO cap | AGL Smart Saver | AGL Solar Savers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | 33.14c | 29.82c | 33.13c |
| Endeavour | 33.73c | 30.35c | 33.73c |
| Energex | 27.97c | 26.57c | 27.97c |
| Essential | 35.01c | 32.90c | 35.00c |
AGL Smart Saver is 10% under the cap in Ausgrid and Endeavour, 6% in Essential Energy and 5% in Energex (Solar Cobber calculation on the annual cost at the AER’s assumed usage).
Victoria works the same way. AGL’s Solar Savers single rate equals the Essential Services Commission’s Victorian Default Offer in every zone once GST is added, for example CitiPower 25.96c per kWh and AusNet 31.98c, so the plan’s only difference is its 0.5c feed-in tariff as listed in the data. Victoria has no regulated minimum feed-in tariff in 2026-27 (ESC). Our Victorian feed-in guide lists rivals, and the default offer explainer covers the benchmarks.
Time-of-use rates: Energex example
On Energex’s network Smart Saver time of use charges 45.39c per kWh from 4pm to 9pm, 24.02c from 9pm to 11am and 6.63c from 11am to 4pm, against caps of 47.79c, 25.30c and 6.98c (AER plan data and determination, GST included). The cheap 11am to 4pm window suits dishwashers, pool pumps and EV charging, as explained in our peak and off-peak guide.
AGL solar feed-in tariff compared
AGL’s feed-in tariffs are modest except in the evening. The chart puts each AGL plan next to the IPART benchmark range for NSW (3.4 to 6.5c per kWh for 2026-27).
View the data as a table
| Feed-in tariff | |
|---|---|
| Battery Rewards, NSW evening (Finder) | 28.0c |
| Three for Free, 5pm to 9pm | 15.0c |
| Solar Savers, first 8 kWh a day | 8.0c |
| Smart Saver, any time | 3.0c |
| Solar Savers, Victoria | 0.5c |
| Standing offer | 0.0c |
The highest AGL rates need a battery, because the 15c and 28c rates apply only from 5pm to 9pm. AGL says on its own help page, as quoted in our feed-in tariff tracker, that standard retail contract customers get no feed-in tariff from 1 July 2026, which the plan data agrees with.
Worked annual bill for a solar home (Solar Cobber calculation)
Assumptions: Energex flat rate, 3,500 kWh a year imported, 5,000 kWh a year exported (13.7 kWh a day, no battery), supply and usage including GST, feed-in credits as listed. Working: supply charge times 365, plus usage times 3,500, less export credit.
| Plan | Supply | Usage | Export credit | Net annual bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Saver | $665.81 | $929.78 | $150 (5,000 kWh at 3c) | $1,446 |
| Solar Savers | $700.82 | $979.06 | $296 (8 kWh at 8c plus 5.7 kWh at 3c, each day) | $1,384 |
| Standing offer | $700.86 | $979.10 | $0 | $1,680 |
Source: AER Energy Made Easy plan data read 14 November 2026; Solar Cobber calculation.
View the data as a table
| Net annual bill | |
|---|---|
| Standing offer | A$1,680 |
| Smart Saver | A$1,446 |
| Solar Savers | A$1,384 |
Solar Savers wins by about A$62 a year over Smart Saver here, and Smart Saver beats the standing offer by about A$234. Solar Savers’ higher charges cost A$84 more a year than Smart Saver, so it comes out ahead only when you export more than about 4.6 kWh a day on average. A home that exports little, or uses most of its solar, does better on Smart Saver.
AGL for battery owners: Battery Rewards, Three for Free and the AGL VPP
AGL has three routes for a battery home: a plan that pays well for evening exports, a free midday block for charging, and a VPP.
Three for Free. AGL’s Three for Free is its version of the regulated Solar Sharer Offer: its rate above the 24 kWh daily allowance matches the Solar Sharer cap in each network (Ausgrid 27.56c, Endeavour 14.19c, Energex 8.10c). Unlike the Solar Sharer Offer, which pays 0c, Three for Free adds a 15c evening feed-in tariff. Supply charges still apply. The free block is worth most where midday power is dear:
Source: AER Energy Made Easy plan data read 14 November 2026; Solar Cobber calculation.
View the data as a table
| Annual value | |
|---|---|
| Essential Energy | A$2,417 |
| Ausgrid | A$2,414 |
| Endeavour | A$1,243 |
| Energex | A$710 |
The free block is worth up to about A$2,400 a year in Ausgrid and Essential Energy areas and about A$710 in Energex’s, if you can actually use 24 kWh in those three hours (Solar Cobber calculation: 24 kWh times the rate above the allowance times 365).
Battery Rewards. According to Finder (10 November 2026), AGL’s Battery Rewards plan pays 28c per kWh in NSW, 27c in QLD, 26c in SA and 25.5c in VIC for exports from 5pm to 9pm, and 3c at other times, with a smart meter and no exit fee. We did not find a plan with that name in AGL’s Australian Energy Regulator plan data, and an earlier SolarQuotes report (December 2025) described the payment as gift cards with a cap, so check AGL’s current terms before relying on it. Our VPP guide explains the trade-offs.
Source: AER plan data read 14 November 2026; Finder, 10 November 2026. Solar Cobber calculation: 8 kWh times rate times 365 days.
View the data as a table
| Evening export value | |
|---|---|
| Standard retail contract | A$0 |
| Smart Saver (3c) | A$88 |
| Three for Free (15c) | A$438 |
| Battery Rewards (28c, Finder) | A$818 |
The AGL VPP (bring your own battery). A virtual power plant (VPP) lets a retailer discharge your battery to the grid at busy times. SolarQuotes’ VPP table (updated 3 August 2026) lists AGL’s offer as follows:
| Item | AGL bring your own battery VPP |
|---|---|
| States | NSW, QLD, SA, VIC |
| Welcome credit | $200 |
| Ongoing credit | $80 a year (NSW, QLD, VIC); $180 a year (SA) |
| Event payments | $1 per kWh, capped at 250 kWh a year |
| Term and exit | 12-month credit period, no exit fee |
| Needs | Eligible battery, smart meter, internet |
Source: SolarQuotes VPP comparison table, 3 August 2026. AGL’s own VPP page blocked our requests, so we could not read AGL’s eligible battery list. Finder says the VPP supports only approved battery and inverter combinations and that GoodWe, Anker and FoxESS units cannot export manually while in it.
Our VPP guide quotes an older SolarQuotes figure of $280 a year in SA; the August 2026 table says $180 a year, which we use here. The most a New South Wales battery owner could earn in a year is $80 plus $250, or $330, plus $200 in year one (Solar Cobber calculation). That is 4.5% a year of Solar Choice’s $7,384 average price for a 10 kWh battery after the federal discount, from its November 2026 index. The federal discount for a 10 kWh battery installed now is 68 certificates, about $2,720 at $40 each (see our federal battery rebate guide), and it does not require joining a VPP.
AGL installed solar and battery offers
We could not confirm AGL’s current installed solar and battery packages: its pages are blocked to automated access and we opened no AGL offer page. A search listing mentions an AGL offer of Velocity Points for buying an eligible battery and joining its VPP, but we did not open it, so we do not state any terms. Use the installer directory and our battery price guide to compare, and read state battery incentives before you buy.
What customers praise and complain about
ProductReview.com.au shows AGL Energy at 1.4 stars from 2,744 reviews (customer service 1.4, rates and fees 1.6), read 14 November 2026. Its automated summary of reviews lists these themes:
- Praise: a fast online sign-up, a mobile app with usage detail, bundling of services, and some helpful staff.
- Complaints: billing estimates far above actual use, long phone and chat waits, sign-up credits not applied, and errors when moving house leaving customers billed after leaving.
The same page lists Energy Locals at 4.8, GloBird Energy at 4.6, CovaU at 4.6, 1st Energy at 4.5 and Origin Energy at 4.2. We read only AGL’s count, and ProductReview notes some reviews are incentivised. Use ratings as a pattern, not proof about your account.
Regulator action: the Centrepay case
The Australian Energy Regulator sued AGL in December 2022 over Centrepay deductions taken from welfare recipients. The Federal Court ordered a A$25 million penalty in December 2024. On 19 August 2026 the Full Federal Court ([2026] FCAFC 106) allowed AGL’s appeal, set the penalty aside and ordered the regulator to repay it with interest, holding the money was an overpayment, not an overcharge, as reported by The Lawyer Magazine. On 17 September 2026 ESD News reported the regulator was seeking special leave to appeal to the High Court. We found no other action in the sources we opened, and did not open the judgment itself.
Risks to understand before switching
- Prices rise each July, and feed-in tariffs can fall with ten business days’ notice.
- The standard retail contract pays 0c. If you never moved off a default plan, your export credit is nil.
- Solar Savers caps the 8c rate at 8 kWh a day and at inverters of 10 kW or under.
- Free hours need a smart meter and the plan’s supply charge still applies.
- VPP terms vary between sources. Get AGL’s terms in writing, as our VPP guide advises.
AGL vs alternatives
| Retailer | Model | Best for | ProductReview.com.au (as at November 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGL | Fixed plans, VPP add-on | Solar homes wanting a big-brand plan at the regulated price | 1.4 from 2,744 reviews |
| GloBird Energy | Fixed plans, ZEROHERO battery plan | Battery homes wanting free midday hours | 4.6 from 3,015 reviews |
| Amber Electric | Wholesale pass-through, A$25 a month | Battery homes that can follow prices | 4.0 from 1,946 reviews |
See also our cheapest electricity provider guide.
Who AGL suits, and who should look elsewhere
AGL suits households that want a large retailer, export enough for Solar Savers’ 8c rate to beat Smart Saver, or have a battery and will use Three for Free or Battery Rewards. Look elsewhere if you export little, dislike phone queues, or want the best feed-in tariff: our Queensland and NSW guides list rivals paying more.
FAQ
What is the AGL VPP?
The AGL VPP is AGL’s virtual power plant for battery owners, which lets AGL discharge an eligible battery to the grid during peak events. According to SolarQuotes’ August 2026 table it pays a $200 welcome credit, $80 a year ($180 in SA) and $1 per kWh of event energy capped at 250 kWh a year in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC. Confirm current terms with AGL.
What is AGL’s solar feed-in tariff in 2026?
AGL’s feed-in tariff depends on the plan: 8c per kWh for the first 8 kWh a day on Solar Savers, 3c on Smart Saver, 15c from 5pm to 9pm on Three for Free, and 0c on standing offers. These are AER plan data figures for NSW and south-east Queensland read on 14 November 2026. Victorian Solar Savers lists 0.5c.
Does AGL accept bring your own battery?
AGL accepts a customer’s own battery into its VPP in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC if the battery is eligible and the home has a smart meter and internet. AGL’s own eligible list was not readable for this review. Finder reports that GoodWe, Anker and FoxESS units cannot export manually while in the VPP.
Is AGL good for solar panels?
AGL is fair for solar homes on Solar Savers, mixed on feed-in rates and poorly rated by customers. Its Solar Savers plan matches the regulated price cap and adds an 8c feed-in tariff on the first 8 kWh a day. ProductReview.com.au shows 1.4 stars from 2,744 reviews as at November 2026.
Does AGL pay for solar exports on a standard retail contract?
No. AGL’s standing offers list a 0c feed-in tariff in the AER plan data, and AGL’s help page says standard retail contract customers get none from 1 July 2026. Moving to a market plan such as Smart Saver or Solar Savers earns an export credit.
Is AGL Three for Free worth it?
Three for Free is worth it mainly for households with a battery or EV, because the benefit is 24 kWh of free power from 11am to 2pm. It is worth at most about A$2,400 a year in Ausgrid and Essential areas and A$710 in Energex’s (Solar Cobber calculation). A solar-only home that is out at midday gains little.
Is AGL a reliable retailer?
AGL has low customer ratings and a court case that it won on appeal. ProductReview.com.au shows 1.4 stars from 2,744 reviews, and the Full Federal Court set aside a A$25 million Centrepay penalty on 19 August 2026. The regulator is seeking leave to appeal.
How do I switch from AGL?
Choose a new retailer, which tells AGL; check your plan’s exit fee first. AGL’s plan data lists No Exit Fee versions of several plans, and Battery Rewards is reported as exit-fee free by Finder. Check your VPP credit period too.
Sources
- AER Energy Made Easy product data (Consumer Data Right), AGL plans, read 14 November 2026
- AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination
- Essential Services Commission: Victorian Default Offer and minimum feed-in tariff
- ProductReview.com.au: AGL Energy
- SolarQuotes: VPP comparison table, updated 3 August 2026
- Finder: AGL Battery Rewards plan, 10 November 2026
- Solar Choice: battery price index, 6 November 2026
- The Lawyer Magazine: Full Federal Court quashes $25m penalty
- ESD News: AER seeks to appeal AGL Centrepay decision, 17 September 2026
About this review
Written by the Solar Cobber editorial team from independent desk research checked in November 2026. Solar Cobber is a free directory that may earn referral or advertising fees from installers, and commercial relationships never affect content. This is not financial advice. Corrections via /contact.
Filed under Savings
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