--- title: Why are export rates lower than import rates? description: When you compare export and import rates you compare apples and oranges. They include different things. --- [Skip to content](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/why-are-export-rates-lower-than-import-rates#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![io-logo-800x800px.png\]](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/io-logo-800x800px.png?width=50&height=50&name=io-logo-800x800px.png) - Quick Links Show submenu for Quick Links - Products - Business - Residential - Why Choose iO - Support Show submenu for Support - Hardship - Basic Plan Info Documents - FAQ - Reach Us Show submenu for Reach Us - hello@ioenergy.com.au - Contact Us Open main navigation Close main navigation - Quick Links Show submenu for Quick Links - Products - Business - Residential - Why Choose iO - Support Show submenu for Support - Hardship - Basic Plan Info Documents - FAQ - Reach Us Show submenu for Reach Us - hello@ioenergy.com.au - Contact Us - English Show submenu for translations - Go to ioenergy.com.au Go to ioenergy.com.au Hello! How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [iO Energy Knowledge Base](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/?hsLang=en) 2. [Energy optimisation](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/energy-optimisation?hsLang=en) 3. [Export optimisation](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/energy-optimisation?hsLang=en#export-optimisation) # Why are export rates lower than import rates? ## When you compare export and import rates you compare apples and oranges. They include different things. To compare export and import rates is to compare apples and oranges. The two are are not directly comparable because they account for different things. When consumers buy energy they pay a bundled rate consisting of four things: wholesale energy costs, network infrastructure costs, regulatory costs, and retail operation costs. Whereas when they sell solar power in exchange for an FiT (Feed-in Tariff), they—like every other energy generator—can only sell the energy generated. This explains why export rates are lower than import rates. If you are wondering whether the FiT you are being paid is fair, the best comparison would be to compare it to the wholesale value of rooftop solar on the NEM (National Energy Market) over one year. You can do that by using the OpenNEM website to check the price of 'Solar (Rooftop)' for your state: - [New South Wales](https://opennem.org.au/energy/nsw1/?range=1y&interval=1w) - [Queensland](https://opennem.org.au/energy/qld1/?range=1y&interval=1w) - [South Australia](https://opennem.org.au/energy/sa1/?range=1y&interval=1w) - [Tasmania](https://opennem.org.au/energy/tas1/?range=1y&interval=1w) - [Victoria](https://opennem.org.au/energy/vic1/?range=1y&interval=1w) *PS: Note that these prices are listed in $/MWh, and that you will need to divide by 100 to get the fair price in c/kWh.* - [Sustainability](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/sustainability?hsLang=en) - [Metering](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/metering?hsLang=en#main-content) - [About](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/metering?hsLang=en#about) - [Installation](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/metering?hsLang=en#installation) - [Data](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/metering?hsLang=en#data) - [Billing, Pricing, and Payments](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/billing-pricing-and-payments?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Payments](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/billing-pricing-and-payments?hsLang=en#payments) - [Pricing](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/billing-pricing-and-payments?hsLang=en#pricing) - [Billing](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/billing-pricing-and-payments?hsLang=en#billing) - [Account management](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/account-management?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Joining](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/account-management?hsLang=en#joining) - [Moving and Disconnecting](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/account-management?hsLang=en#moving-and-disconnecting) - [Energy optimisation](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/energy-optimisation?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Purchasing and Installing Smart Devices](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/energy-optimisation?hsLang=en#purchasing-and-installing-smart-devices) - [Export optimisation](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/energy-optimisation?hsLang=en#export-optimisation) - [Import Optimisation](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/energy-optimisation?hsLang=en#import-optimisation) - [About iO Energy](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/about-io-energy?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General Questions](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/about-io-energy?hsLang=en#general-questions) - [Other](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/other?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/other?hsLang=en#general) - [Emergencies](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/other?hsLang=en#emergencies) - [Transfers](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/transfers?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Transfers](https://help.ioenergy.com.au/transfers?hsLang=en#transfers) - Quick Links - Products - Business - Residential - Why Choose iO - Support - Hardship - Basic Plan Info Documents - FAQ - Reach Us - hello@ioenergy.com.au - Contact Us # iO Energy ioenergy.com.au Help Center Copyright © 2025 iO Energy