DEBS vs REBS: WA Solar Export Buyback Schemes Explained

If you have solar panels in Western Australia, the electricity you export back to the grid earns you credits on your Synergy bill. But how much you earn depends on which buyback scheme you're on — REBS or DEBS. Here's everything you need to know.

What Are REBS and DEBS?

REBS (Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme)

REBS is the older, simpler scheme. It pays a flat rate for all solar energy you export, regardless of when you export it.

• Rate: A single flat buyback rate per kWh
• Eligibility: Systems installed before the DEBS changeover, or smaller systems under 5kW inverter capacity
• Advantage: Simple and predictable credits

DEBS (Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme)

DEBS replaced REBS for new installations. It pays time-varying rates — more for exports during peak demand periods and less during the solar glut in the middle of the day.

• Peak export rate (3pm–9pm): Higher rate per kWh
• Off-peak export rate (9pm–3pm): Lower rate per kWh
• Eligibility: New solar installations (typically post-2020)

Current Buyback Rates

Rates are reviewed annually. Here's the general structure:

| Scheme | Time Period | Approximate Rate | |--------|------------|-----------------| | REBS | All hours | ~7.1 c/kWh | | DEBS | Peak (3pm–9pm) | ~10 c/kWh | | DEBS | Off-peak (9pm–3pm) | ~2 c/kWh |

The key takeaway: DEBS peak rates are higher than REBS, but DEBS off-peak rates are much lower. Since most solar export happens during the day (off-peak under DEBS), many solar-only households actually earn less under DEBS than they would under REBS.

Which Scheme Am I On?

Check your Synergy bill — the export credits section will show either:

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

If you installed solar before the DEBS transition and haven't upgraded your system, you're likely still on REBS.

How DEBS Changes the Solar Equation

DEBS was designed to incentivise battery storage and load shifting. The economics work like this:

Without Battery (DEBS)

Most of your solar generation happens between 10am–3pm. Under DEBS, exports during this window earn the lowest rate (~2 c/kWh). That's less than a quarter of what it costs to buy electricity from the grid.

With Battery (DEBS)

A battery changes everything:

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

The savings per kWh shifted from export to self-consumption: approximately 28–35 c/kWh (the difference between buying from the grid and the low DEBS export rate).

Maximising Your Export Credits

If you're on REBS:

• Enjoy the flat rate — there's no time-based strategy needed
• Focus on maximising self-consumption (use power when the sun is shining)
• Export anything you can't use — the rate is the same regardless of time

If you're on DEBS:

Strategy 1: Self-consume more daytime solar

• Run heavy appliances between 10am–3pm
• Set timers on washing machines, dishwashers, pool pumps
• Pre-heat water or pre-cool/heat your home during solar hours

Strategy 2: Add a battery

• Store excess solar instead of exporting at the low daytime DEBS rate
• Use stored energy during the expensive peak period (3pm–9pm)
• This effectively turns your 2 c/kWh export into 30+ c/kWh savings

Strategy 3: Shift to Midday Saver tariff

• If you're on DEBS, the Midday Saver tariff lets you buy grid power at a discount during 11am–3pm
• Combined with self-consumption of solar, this minimises your overall costs

Should I Switch from REBS to DEBS?

Generally, stay on REBS if you can. The flat rate is more favourable for most solar-only households without batteries.

You should consider DEBS if:

• You're installing a new solar system (DEBS may be mandatory)
• You have or plan to add battery storage
• You can significantly shift your load to daytime hours
• You want to take advantage of higher peak export rates

The Battery Effect

Here's how a typical 10kWh battery changes the DEBS equation for a Perth household with a 6.6kW solar system:

| 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 doesn't earn more export credits — it earns fewer. But by dramatically reducing grid imports, the net savings are substantial.

Calculate Your Optimal Setup

Every household is different. Your solar system size, usage patterns, and current scheme all affect the best strategy.

Upload your bill to BillWise → to see:

• Which export scheme you're currently on
• How much you're earning (and losing) on exports
• Whether a battery would improve your economics
• Your optimal tariff + export strategy combination

Understanding DEBS vs REBS is the first step to truly optimising your solar investment 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 -- Learn how batteries can maximise your solar investment and reduce grid reliance.

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