What could solar take off your power bill?
Enter your average quarterly electricity bill to see an indicative estimate of what different solar system sizes could mean for your home. Based on current Ergon Energy pricing and typical Cairns solar generation.
Enter the total amount from a recent bill. We'll use this to estimate your annual electricity usage under standard Ergon Energy Tariff 11 assumptions.
Select a system size to see an indicative estimate. Generation figures are annual averages for Cairns based on Australian Government data (4.2 kWh/day per kW installed).
Using your solar is worth more than exporting it
Under current assumptions, electricity from the grid costs approximately 28.9¢/kWh, while exported solar receives approximately 6.0¢/kWh. Solar used directly at the property while the system is generating is worth roughly 4.8 times more than solar sent to the grid. This is why two households with the same bill and the same system can experience very different savings — it depends on how much electricity you use during daylight hours.
Get more from your solar.
Download your personalised guide — your estimated savings are on the cover, plus practical advice on getting the most from a solar system in Cairns.
- Why your Queensland electricity bill is so high
- How to read your power bill
- When to run appliances to maximise solar
- Is a battery worth it for your home?
- Your estimated savings from this calculator
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Get a quote from Ferrero Solar →| Assumption | Value used |
|---|---|
| Location | Cairns / Far North Queensland |
| Electricity tariff | Ergon Energy Tariff 11 |
| Electricity usage rate | 28.895¢/kWh (incl. GST) |
| Daily supply charge | $1.80508/day (incl. GST) |
| Solar feed-in tariff | 6.006¢/kWh |
| Cairns solar generation | 4.2 kWh/day per kW installed (annual average) |
| Self-consumption modelling | Range of 25%–60% of generation used at home. Capped at estimated household consumption. |
| Pricing period | Rates current from 1 July 2026 |
| Supply charge | Separated from consumption — not eliminated by solar |
Sources: Ergon Energy Retail (Tariff 11, from 1 July 2026) · Queensland Competition Authority (regional solar feed-in tariff 2026–27) · Australian Government Energy.gov.au (Cairns solar generation data)
Actual results vary. Solar self-consumption depends on when your household uses electricity relative to when the solar system is generating. See full disclaimer below.
Solar Savings Calculator Disclaimer
The Ferrero Solar Savings Calculator is provided for general information and estimation purposes only.
Results produced by the calculator are indicative estimates and do not constitute a quote, guarantee, representation of actual future performance, financial advice or a guarantee of electricity bill savings.
Calculations are based on a range of assumptions, including the electricity bill amount entered by the user, current regional Queensland electricity pricing, current solar feed-in tariffs, estimated household electricity consumption, assumed solar self-consumption and typical average solar generation for Cairns.
Actual electricity consumption, solar generation, electricity costs, solar exports, feed-in tariff payments and financial savings can vary significantly between properties and customers.
Factors that may affect actual results include, but are not limited to, roof orientation and pitch, shading, weather conditions, solar irradiance, panel temperature, system design, equipment efficiency and degradation, inverter performance, household electricity consumption patterns, daytime versus nighttime electricity usage, electricity tariff structures, retailer pricing, rebates, concessions, controlled-load tariffs, changes in electricity prices, changes in feed-in tariffs, network constraints, export limits, curtailment and applicable connection requirements.
Solar generation figures used by the calculator are estimates based on typical average generation data for Cairns and should not be interpreted as guaranteed system output.
Electricity prices and feed-in tariffs may change. The calculator currently uses regional Queensland pricing assumptions applicable from 1 July 2026 and should be updated when electricity tariffs or feed-in tariffs change.
Larger solar systems do not necessarily result in proportionally greater electricity bill savings. The financial value of solar electricity depends significantly on how much solar energy is consumed at the property at the time it is generated compared with how much electricity is exported to the grid.
The calculator does not assess the technical suitability of a property for a particular solar system size. Installation capability, inverter capacity, available roof area, electrical infrastructure, phase configuration, network connection requirements and allowable export capacity must be assessed separately. A 6.6 kW, 12 kW or 24 kW system may not be technically suitable or approved for every property.
Actual system recommendations and expected performance should only be determined following an appropriate assessment of the property and the customer's electricity requirements.
Ferrero Solar does not warrant that a user will achieve the estimated savings displayed by the calculator. Users should not make a purchasing or financial decision solely on the calculator result. Please contact Ferrero Solar for a site-specific assessment and tailored solar proposal.
Before making any solar purchasing decision, users are encouraged to seek independent advice appropriate to their circumstances.
Want to know what solar could actually do for your home?
Every home uses electricity differently. Ferrero Solar can assess your usage, property and available system options to provide a more accurate recommendation.