This guide was last updated in July 2026. Network tariff structures, solar pricing schedules, and switching rules are designated directly by regional electricity distributors and are subject to operational changes. We strongly recommend checking your specific distributor's website or the official Amber Help Centre for the most accurate, live terms before requesting a tariff adjustment.
From this July, most of the electricity networks Amber operates in will start offering two-way tariffs. You might have heard them called solar export tariffs or CER (Consumer Energy Resource) tariffs. Whatever the name, the core mechanics are the same: they change how much you're paid for exporting solar or battery power depending on the time of day, offering evening export bonuses of up to 15c/kWh on top of normal rates.
On paper, it sounds like a massive win for battery owners. But quicker than you can say "did someone say bonus rates" traditional energy retailers are already working behind the scenes to pocket those export rates for themselves and cut battery owners out of the deal.
If you think missing out on a two-way tariff designed to reward smart energy use sounds lousy, read on to find out what’s actually changing, how big energy companies are trying to exploit it, and how you can ensure your battery works for you - not your retailer.
Why this is happening
Electricity networks were built to send power one way, from generators to homes. Rooftop solar has changed that, and on some networks, the amount of power flowing back into the grid from home solar during the day is now bumping up against what the network can handle. Two-way tariffs are a price signal to spread that out: a bonus for exporting in the evening, when the grid actually needs the extra supply, and a small charge for exporting in the middle of the day, when solar output across the network is already at its highest. For networks, it's a way to manage that pressure without necessarily having to spend on infrastructure upgrades. For battery owners, it means the evening window is genuinely valuable to the grid, not just to your own bill.
What a two-way tariff actually does
A standard tariff charges you a flat rate for imports and pays a flat feed-in tariff (FiT) for exports. A two-way tariff adds a network pricing layer on top of that.
The exact numbers vary significantly depending on who manages your poles and wires:
- Powercor, CitiPower, and United Energy: Pay a 7c/kWh bonus (4pm-9pm) during summer (Dec-Feb) and winter (Jun-Aug), with a 1c/kWh midday penalty.
- AusNet: Pays a 10c/kWh bonus (4pm-9pm) every day of the year, with a 1c/kWh midday penalty.
- Jemena: Pays the highest bonus at 15c/kWh (4pm-9pm) every day of the year, but has a steeper midday penalty of 3c/kWh.
- Endeavour Energy: Offers a seasonal bonus on business days (up to 11.7c/kWh in summer peak times) with a 1.86c/kWh penalty after a free daily allowance.
If you're not sure which network you're on, open the Amber app, tap Settings, and check the first line under Tariff Information.
Why this matters if you've got a battery
If you've got a battery, the bonus and penalty windows matter more, because a battery can actually do something about them. The bonus is only worth something if you've actually got energy to export during that evening window, and the penalty only bites if you're exporting a lot in the middle of the day.
A battery can charge up during the day, hold onto that energy instead of exporting it while the penalty applies, then release it during the evening peak when the bonus kicks in. You don't have to do this manually. SmartShift factors these export rewards and charges into its decisions automatically, so if you switch tariffs, your battery's export timing adjusts along with it.
The catch: Why traditional retail models capture this value
There is a key structural detail to keep in mind with two-way tariffs: their bonuses and penalties are paid by networks directly to the energy retailers, not to households. That means it is entirely up to your specific retailer how (or if) they choose to pass them on to you.
The reality is that traditional providers often benefit from the fact that energy bills are notoriously confusing. Because most consumers are used to standard flat rates, retailers can rely on battery owners not having the insider confidence to demand a dynamic tariff. This lack of transparency makes it easy for big power companies to keep you on a basic plan while they quietly pocket the network rewards behind the scenes. Instead of passing those lucrative evening bonuses directly down to the consumer, traditional retail plans typically:
- Absorb the premium export value into their own overall rate calculations rather than passing it through on a 1:1 basis.
- Keep customers on flat feed-in tariffs (often just 3-5c/kWh) that completely obscure the true value of what your battery is contributing during peak hours.
- Bundle the upside into rigid conditional credits or sign-up incentives, which frequently require locking yourself into a long-term contract.
This echoes a common frustration many battery owners have experienced with certain Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs, where your expensive household hardware is dispatched to support the grid during peaks, but you only see a fraction of the actual financial reward returned to your bill.
The Amber difference
Amber was built to break this cycle. We don't hide margins, and we don't pocket network rewards. When your network pays an evening export bonus, Amber passes 100% of that bonus directly to you, stacked right on top of the live wholesale feed-in rate. If your network charges a midday penalty, that is passed through strictly at cost, too.
More importantly, you don't have to manage this manually. SmartShift factors these network rewards and charges into its automation algorithm automatically:
- During the midday penalty window: SmartShift protects you by storing your solar energy in your battery or prioritizing self-consumption, ensuring you don't export into a penalty.
- During the evening bonus window: SmartShift automatically schedules your battery to discharge and export aggressively to the grid, capturing the network bonus alongside peak wholesale prices for maximum earnings.
Who's likely to benefit, and who isn't
Because SmartShift handles the heavy lifting, battery owners are uniquely positioned to win big under a two-way tariff. Broadly, you will come out well ahead if:
- You have enough battery capacity to export consistently during the 4pm to 9pm peak window.
- You can shift high-energy appliances (like hot water heat pumps, pool pumps, or EV charging) into the middle of the day, ensuring you absorb your own solar and don't export during penalty windows.
- Your system has solar curtailment enabled. This is a major factor. If your setup supports solar curtailment, SmartShift can actively step in to turn down your solar generation when needed, preventing excess power from spilling out to the grid and avoiding the midday penalty window entirely once your battery is full.
On the flip side, if you have a very small battery, regularly drain it before the evening peak, or cannot shift your daytime household usage, a two-way tariff might not work in your favour.
Can you change your mind? Network switching rules
Before making the leap, it is important to know how much flexibility you have. Some networks restrict how often you can change your mind and switch back if you find a two-way tariff doesn't quite suit your household:
- Two changes allowed per year: Powercor, CitiPower, and United Energy. This gives you plenty of breathing room to trial the new tariff structure and switch back if needed.
- One change allowed per year: AusNet, Jemena, Essential Energy, SAPN, Energex, Endeavour, and Evoenergy. On these networks, you are generally committed for a full 12 months once you make the move.
- One change allowed per year (with a specific exception): Ausgrid. While they strictly limit you to one switch every 12 months, there is a caveat: if your tariff was automatically changed as a result of a recent Meter Exchange, you only need to remain on that default tariff for one full calendar month of billing before you're allowed to switch it again.
Switching isn't automatic
If you’re an Amber customer and you decide it's worth trying, you'll need to fill in the request form for your specific network, and we'll raise the change with the distributor on your behalf (check out our FAQ with a link to the network request forms).
Processing times vary by network from a few days to the start of the following billing month. Once it's approved, the new rates will instantly reflect in your Amber app, and SmartShift will immediately adapt its strategy to start chasing those extra export dollars.
Not every network has one yet
A few networks aren't quite there yet. Energex's two-way tariff won't start paying bonuses until later in the year, and Evoenergy doesn't have one available at all right now. If you're on SAPN or Ausgrid, the detailed guidance currently available is still for FY26, so check back for updated numbers.
Current network availability
- Ready now: AusNet, Jemena, Powercor, CitiPower, United Energy, Endeavour, and Essential Energy.
- Coming later: Energex and SAPN two-way tariffs are slated to launch their bonus structures later this year.
- Not available: Evoenergy does not currently offer a two-way tariff option.
Whether a two-way tariff pays off depends entirely on your specific household setup and export patterns. If you want the specifics for your network, including the full rate breakdown and the switch request form, head to the two-way tariffs article on our FAQ page here.
