If you have solar panels in Perth, you have probably seen a line on your power bill called the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme, or DEBS. This is the credit Synergy pays you for any extra power your solar sends back to the grid. Most people are surprised by how small this credit actually is compared to what they pay for power.
In this guide, we will explain what DEBS is, how much it actually pays, and why – for most homes – the real money is not in selling power back to the grid. It is in using more of your own solar power, which is where a bigger system and a battery can make a big difference, both now and down the track.
What Is DEBS, in Plain English?
DEBS stands for the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme. It is the WA Government scheme that decides how much Synergy pays you for the solar power your home does not use and sends back into the grid. It started in 2020 and replaced an older scheme called REBS for new and upgraded systems.
A few simple things to know:
- It covers power sent back from solar panels, home batteries, and even some electric cars
- It is available to most homes, schools and not-for-profits in the Perth (Synergy) area
- New solar systems are generally kept to a standard size (5kW) to qualify without extra paperwork
- If you are on the old REBS scheme, you can usually stay on it – but adding a battery or upgrading your system will likely move you over to DEBS
How Much Does DEBS Actually Pay? (2026 Rates)
Here is the part that surprises most people. DEBS does not pay one flat rate – it pays different amounts depending on the time of day:
- Between 3pm and 9pm: you get 10 cents for every kWh of power you send back to the grid
- At any other time: you get 2 cents per kWh
- There is also a daily limit: these rates only apply to the first 50 kWh you export each day – which is more than most home solar systems produce anyway
Now compare that to what you pay Synergy for power: around 33 cents per kWh. That is the number that really matters. Every kWh of solar you use yourself, instead of sending it to the grid, is worth roughly three to fifteen times more than the DEBS credit.
Worth knowing: both the DEBS rate and the price you pay for power are reviewed by the government each year, usually around July. So these numbers can change slightly – ask us for the latest figures when you Request Your Quote.
Why Is the Feed-in Tariff So Low?
Exporting solar does earn a credit — but the bigger opportunity is in how much you save by using that power yourself. Every kWh of solar you use directly, rather than send to the grid, saves you around 33 cents. The export rate covers the electricity cost only, so the gap reflects what is actually being valued.
Part of the answer is that the price you pay for electricity covers a lot more than just the power itself – it also pays for the poles, wires, and infrastructure that keep the lights on across the whole state. When you export power, you are only being paid for the electricity, not all those other costs.
The other part is timing. WA has so much rooftop solar now that in the middle of the day, there is often more solar power around than the grid actually needs. That is why the rate is so low (2c) outside the 3pm–9pm window – and a bit better (10c) in the early evening, when the grid genuinely needs more power and most homes’ solar has stopped producing.
Some larger or newer systems may also have a limit on how much they are allowed to export at all. The takeaway is the same either way: the real value of your system comes from using the power yourself, not from selling it back.
Why a Bigger Solar and Battery System Often Pays Off
Because using your own solar is worth so much more than selling it, it often makes sense to install more solar – and a battery – than you might think you need right now. Here is why:
- More solar means more savings during the day: a bigger system generates more power while the sun’s out, so things like your washing machine, dishwasher, pool pump and air conditioning can run on your own solar power instead of grid power.
- A battery turns low-cost solar into expensive savings: instead of sending your leftover midday solar to the grid for just 2 cents, a battery stores it so you can use it that evening – avoiding a 32 cent charge for the same power. That is the real win.
- The numbers add up fast: every kWh you shift from a 2 cent export to a 33 cent saving is worth about 31 cents. Do that with a 10kWh battery every day. It adds up to real savings over a year – far more than DEBS alone could ever give you.
- Facing some panels west can help too: if you do want to export power during the better-paying 3pm–9pm window, panels facing west keep generating later into the afternoon.
The good news is that the upfront cost of a bigger system and battery can be reduced through government rebates. See our WA Battery Rebates 2026 guide for the current rebate amounts and how to qualify.
Thinking Ahead: Sizing Your System for the Future
Most households use more electricity now than they did a few years ago – and that trend is only going to continue. If your system is sized only for what you use today, it might not be big enough in a few years’ time. And adding more panels or a bigger battery later is often more expensive than building it bigger from the start.
Some common reasons households end up using more power:
- Buying an electric car, which can use as much power as a small house
- Switching from gas to electric for cooking, hot water or heating
- Adding a pool, spa, or ducted air conditioning
- Spending more time at home and using more power during the day
If any of these are on the cards for you in the next few years, it is worth building that into your system size now. A slightly bigger solar and battery system today can save you the cost and hassle of upgrading later.
So How Big Should Your System Be?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer – it comes down to a few things we look at for every home:
- How much power you use now, especially in the late afternoon and evening
- How much roof space you have, and which way it faces
- Anything you are planning that could increase your usage, like an EV or a pool
- Any rules about how much solar you can export, depending on your system size
- How much battery storage you would need to cover your evening power use from stored solar
Our team can look at your actual power bills and usage to work out the right size for your home – balancing upfront cost, available rebates, and long-term savings.
Why Choose Positive Energy Solutions
Getting the most out of your feed-in tariff is not about chasing export payments – it is about designing a system around how your home actually uses power, now and in the future. When you work with Positive Energy Solutions:
- We size your system around your home, not just your roof: We look at your actual power use – especially in the evening – to recommend a solar and battery setup that gets the most savings.
- We know the Perth (Synergy) area: We service Perth metro and surrounds, so our advice reflects the actual rates and rules that apply to your home.
- We think about what is coming next: if an EV, a pool, or switching from gas is on your radar, we will factor that into your system size so you are not caught short later.
- We handle the paperwork: from rebates to network approvals, we take care of the details so your system is set up correctly from day one.
- We are here after installation, too: Our systems come with ongoing monitoring, so you can see how much power you are using versus sending back to the grid.
Read more about how we design solar and battery systems for Perth homes.
Our 10-year installation workmanship warranty covers every system we supply — giving you long-term confidence in both the equipment and the installation.
Positive Energy Protection, Powered by Omnidian, includes 24/7 system monitoring and dedicated after-sales support with every system.
You can view our full range in person at our Osborne Park showroom, where our team is available for consultations.
Get Started
If you are planning a new solar and battery system – or just wondering if your current one is the right size – it is worth getting a proper assessment rather than guessing.
At Positive Energy Solutions, we will look at how your home uses power, recommend a system sized for both today and the future, and apply any rebates you are eligible for.
Request Your Quote today to find out what the right-sized solar and battery system could look like for your home.
Related guides
- How to Read Your Synergy Bill After Solar Perth: What Has Changed and What It All Means
- Synergy A1 vs Midday Saver vs EV Add-On: Which Electricity Plan Suits Your Perth Solar Home?
- Synergy Battery Rewards Explained: How WA's Battery VPP Works and What You Actually Earn
- Adding a Battery to Your Existing Solar System in Perth: 2026 Costs, Rebates, and Inverter Compatibility Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DEBS?
DEBS (Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme) is the current rate Synergy pays you for solar power your home sends back to the grid. It started in 2020 and replaced an older scheme called REBS. Where REBS paid one flat rate, DEBS pays more in the late afternoon/evening and less at other times, and it also covers power exported from batteries and some electric cars.
How much is the DEBS feed-in tariff worth right now?
Currently, you get 10 cents per kWh for power exported between 3pm and 9pm, and 2 cents per kWh at any other time, up to the first 50 kWh exported each day. These rates are reviewed by the government each year, so it is worth checking for the latest figures.
Why is my feed-in tariff so much lower than my electricity price?
The price you pay for electricity covers more than just the power itself – it also pays for the network of poles and wires, and keeping enough power available for everyone at busy times. When you export power, you are only paid for the electricity, which is why the rate is much lower than what you pay to buy it.
Is it still worth exporting solar to the grid?
Yes – any credit is better than nothing, and it does help lower your bills. But for most homes, there is a bigger win available: using more of that solar yourself, either straight away or by storing it in a battery, rather than sending it off to the grid for just a couple of cents.
Does a home battery help with DEBS?
Yes, in two ways. First, it lets you store extra solar from the middle of the day – which earns 2 cents per kWh if exported – and use it that evening to avoid paying around 33 cents per kWh. Second, if you do export power from your battery during the 3pm–9pm window, it earns the better 10 cent rate, just like solar does.
Should I get a bigger solar system than I need right now?
Often, yes – especially if you are thinking about an electric car, switching from gas, or expect to use more power in future. Since using your own solar is worth so much more than exporting it under DEBS, a bigger system with a battery can pay for itself over time, and you avoid the extra cost of upgrading later.
Is there a limit on how much solar I can send to the grid?
Sometimes, yes. Depending on the size of your system and your local network, there may be a cap on how much power you are allowed to export at any one time. This does not affect how much solar you can generate and use yourself – it only limits the amount sent back to the grid.
How does DEBS work with the WA battery rebates?
They are two different things. DEBS is the ongoing payment you get for power you export, while the WA and federal battery rebates are one-off discounts that reduce what you pay upfront for a battery. So you can get the rebate to help pay for your battery, and then earn DEBS credits on top of the savings the battery gives you. See our WA Battery Rebates 2026 guide for details.
Can I get paid for an electric car sending power back to the grid?
Yes – DEBS was updated to cover power exported from home batteries and from electric cars that are set up to send power back to the grid, reflecting how common these are becoming in WA homes.
About the Author
Jason Wiktorowicz
Sales Manager, Positive Energy Solutions | Perth, WA
Jason has been at the centre of Western Australia’s energy transition for over a decade. As Orchestration Lead on Project Symphony — WA’s largest virtual power plant pilot — and Stream Lead on Project Encore, he worked directly with AEMO, Western Power and Energy Policy WA to shape how distributed energy resources connect and operate on the SWIS. That work included developing and rolling out CSIP-AUS, now mandatory for all new WA grid connections. He also led Emergency Solar Management (ESM), the first program of its kind in WA, VPP for Schools (VPP4S), which provided direct market benefits through Supplementary Reserve Capacity, and REBAR, the WA Residential Battery Rebate scheme.
His earlier career spanned Synergy, Infinite Energy and Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute, where he co-authored peer-reviewed research on net-zero urban precincts, solar integration and peer-to-peer energy trading, published in the journal Urban Planning in 2018.
At Positive Energy Solutions, Jason leads sales with a focus on system design accuracy and long-term performance. Positive Energy Solutions installs solar and battery systems, EV chargers and heat pumps, and holds partner accreditations with Fronius, SigEnergy, iStore and SunPower. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
