Approvals, export limits and feed-in tariffs in plain English — and the Ergon paperwork a local installer handles for you.
If you live in Townsville, your poles and wires are almost certainly on the Ergon Energy Network. Any rooftop solar or home battery needs Ergon Network approval before it’s installed — export or not. Ergon Energy Retail then pays any feed-in tariff you qualify for.
Approval is a gate, not a formality. Here’s what happens before your system is switched on.
A network connection application goes to Ergon Network — for solar and batteries, whether you’ll export or not.
Ergon assesses your local feeder and inverter size, then issues an offer — basic or negotiated, depending on size and network conditions.
Installation and commissioning go ahead under that approval. The right meter must be in place before the inverter is left exporting.
Ergon Network sets how much you can send back to the grid at your connection point. There are two common paths.
A fixed export limit
Typical basic offer on the main grid
Export flexes with the network
When the network has room, with compatible equipment
For eligible exports, set by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) and paid by Ergon Energy Retail.
Ergon Network advises that if you want to export energy from a battery, you generally can’t keep the 44c arrangement. The scheme is closed to new customers and legislated to end on 1 July 2028.
Tell us before we design anything — keeping or leaving 44c should be a deliberate decision.
On a typical Townsville solar or battery job, here’s what our local crew takes care of.
You still deal with Ergon Retail for tariffs and billing — we help translate the jargon. Adding storage? See our battery systems.
Yes. On the Ergon network, solar and battery systems need network approval before installation, whether they export or not. Your installer usually lodges this for you.
From 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 the QCA regional feed-in tariff is 6.006 cents per kWh for eligible exports. Confirm eligibility with Ergon Retail.
A basic connection uses a fixed export limit (often around 5 kW per phase on the main grid). A dynamic connection can allow higher export when the network has capacity and reduce export when the network is constrained.
Often yes if the battery will export to the grid. Tell your installer if you are on 44c before any upgrade design starts.
Yes. For a typical install Barra designs the system and lodges the Ergon Network connection application, then installs and commissions once the approval path is clear.
Want to model your own bills first? Try the Solar & Battery Savings Calculator.
Start with a conversation about your bills and goals. We handle the Ergon paperwork, so you see your export offer before anyone drills the roof.
Call the Garbutt team07 4401 5122Sources & disclaimer: Queensland Competition Authority (regional feed-in tariff 2026–27); Queensland Government regional feed-in tariff eligibility; Ergon Energy Network connection, Dynamic Connections and battery storage guidance; Ergon Energy Retail solar pages. This guide is general information for homeowners and small businesses, not legal or financial advice. Rules and rates change — check the latest with Ergon and the QCA.
