DEBS vs REBS: WA solar export buyback schemes explained

If you have solar panels in Western Australia, the power you export back to the grid earns you credits on your Synergy bill. How much you earn comes down to which buyback scheme you're on: REBS or DEBS. Here's how the two compare, and how to get the most out of whichever one applies to you.

What are REBS and DEBS?

REBS (renewable energy buyback scheme)

REBS is the older, simpler scheme. It pays a flat rate for all the solar energy you export, whatever time of day you send it back.

• Rate: A single flat buyback rate per kWh.
• Eligibility: Systems connected to Synergy's network before October 2020. This scheme is grandfathered — no new customers can join REBS.
• The upside: Simple, predictable credits. For solar-only homes without a battery, the flat rate often beats DEBS in practice.

DEBS (distributed energy buyback scheme)

DEBS replaced REBS from October 2020. All solar systems installed after that date are automatically placed on DEBS — there is no option to choose REBS for new installations. It pays time-varying rates — more for exports during peak demand, and less during the midday solar glut.

• Peak export rate (3pm–9pm): A higher rate per kWh.
• Off-peak export rate (all other times): A lower rate per kWh.
• Eligibility: All solar systems installed from October 2020 onwards.

Current buyback rates

Rates are reviewed each year. Here's the general shape of them:

| Scheme | Time period | Approximate rate | |--------|------------|-----------------| | REBS | All hours | ~7.1 c/kWh | | DEBS | Peak (3pm–9pm) | ~10 c/kWh | | DEBS | Off-peak (all other times) | ~2 c/kWh |

Here's the catch with DEBS: the peak rate beats REBS, but the off-peak rate is much lower. Most solar export happens in the middle of the day, which is off-peak under DEBS, so a lot of solar-only households actually earn less on DEBS than they would on REBS.

Which scheme am I on?

Check your Synergy bill — the export credits section will show one of two things:

• A single buyback line item (REBS).
• Two separate line items for peak and off-peak exports (DEBS).

If you installed solar before October 2020 and haven't significantly upgraded your system since, you're most likely still on REBS. All systems installed from October 2020 onwards are on DEBS automatically.

How DEBS changes the solar equation

DEBS was designed to encourage battery storage and load shifting. Here's how the maths plays out.

Without a battery (DEBS)

Most of your solar generation happens between 10am and 3pm. Under DEBS, exports in that window earn the lowest rate (~2 c/kWh) — less than a quarter of what you pay to buy electricity back from the grid.

With a battery (DEBS)

A battery changes the picture:

1. Store your midday solar instead of exporting it at 2 c/kWh.
2. Use that stored energy in the evening instead of buying at 30+ c/kWh.
3. Export from the battery during peak hours (3pm–9pm) at the higher DEBS rate.

The value comes from shifting energy out of low-rate export and into self-consumption: roughly 28–35 c/kWh, the gap between buying from the grid and the low DEBS export rate.

Getting the most from your export credits

If you're on REBS

• Enjoy the flat rate — no time-of-day strategy needed.
• Focus on self-consumption: use power while the sun is shining.
• Export anything you can't use; the rate is the same whatever the time.

If you're on DEBS

Strategy 1: Self-consume more daytime solar.

• Run heavy appliances between 10am and 3pm.
• Set timers on the washing machine, dishwasher, and pool pump.
• Pre-heat your water or pre-cool the house during solar hours.

Strategy 2: Add a battery.

• Store excess solar instead of exporting it at the low daytime DEBS rate.
• Use that stored energy through the expensive peak period (3pm–9pm).
• This turns a 2 c/kWh export into a 30+ c/kWh saving.

Strategy 3: Move to the Midday Saver tariff.

• On DEBS, the Midday Saver tariff lets you buy grid power at a discount during 9am–3pm.
• Paired with self-consumption of your own solar, it brings your overall costs down.

Should I switch from REBS to DEBS?

If you're already on REBS (pre-October 2020 system), you generally cannot switch back once you move to DEBS — it's a one-way door. Generally, stay on REBS if you can. The flat rate works out better for most solar-only households without a battery.

Consider switching to DEBS only if:

• You have, or plan to add, battery storage (batteries can exploit the peak export window).
• You can shift a good chunk of your load into daytime hours.
• You want to make the most of the higher peak export rate (3pm–9pm at ~10 c/kWh).

If you're installing a new solar system after October 2020, you're on DEBS by default — REBS is not an option.

The battery effect

Here's a modelled example to show how a 10 kWh battery changes the DEBS sums for a Perth household with a 6.6 kW solar system. The figures are illustrative — your own numbers depend on your usage and system size.

| Metric | Solar only (DEBS) | Solar + battery (DEBS) | |--------|-------------------|----------------------| | Daily export | ~18 kWh | ~5 kWh | | Daily import | ~12 kWh | ~3 kWh | | Export credits | ~$0.45 | ~$0.30 | | Import costs | ~$3.70 | ~$0.93 | | Net daily cost | ~$3.25 | ~$0.63 | | Annual saving | | ~$956 |

The battery actually earns fewer export credits, not more. The win comes from slashing what you buy back from the grid.

Work out your own setup

Every household is different. Your system size, the way you use power, and your current scheme all shape the best strategy.

Upload your bill to BillWise → to see:

• Which export scheme you're on right now.
• How much you're earning (and losing) on exports.
• Whether a battery would improve your numbers.
• Your best tariff and export strategy combination.

Knowing whether you're on DEBS or REBS is the first real step to getting more out of your solar in WA.

Related reading

• Solar Panels Perth: Complete Guide 2025 -- Everything you need to know about choosing and installing solar panels in Perth.
• Home Battery Storage WA Guide -- How batteries can get more out of your solar and cut your grid reliance.

Ready to get more from your solar exports? Use our free Savings Planner to model DEBS vs REBS for your household, or compare solar systems to see how panel size affects your export earnings.