Solar ATAP Export Rate Malaysia 2026: RM 0.27 vs RM 0.37 vs SMP
How much TNB actually pays you for solar energy exported to the grid — explained with real bill examples.
For households using ≤ 1,500 kWh/month (TNB bill roughly ≤ RM 600/month)
For households using > 1,500 kWh/month (TNB bill roughly > RM 600/month)
Avg. System Marginal Price — market-linked, variable each month
How Solar ATAP Export Credits Work
Every kilowatt-hour your solar panels export to the grid earns you a credit at the applicable export rate. At month-end, TNB deducts these credits from your import electricity bill. If the credits wipe out your entire bill, your net charge is RM 0 — but any leftover credit is forfeited and does not roll over.
Example: Your household uses 800 kWh/month (bill ≈ RM 320). Your 5 kW solar system exports 200 kWh that month. Export credit = 200 × RM 0.27 = RM 54. Your net TNB bill = RM 320 − RM 54 = RM 266. The remaining solar generation offset your own consumption, saving you at the full retail tariff rate.
The Monthly Reset — Why Sizing Matters
Under NEM 3.0, unused export credits rolled over for 24 months — so oversizing was tolerable. Under Solar ATAP, credits reset every month. This means if you export 500 kWh but only need 200 kWh of credits, the other 300 kWh worth of credits (RM 81 at RM 0.27/kWh) disappear at month-end.
The right strategy: size your system to cover roughly 80–90% of your daytime consumption, so you maximise self-consumption and minimise wasted export. Use our calculator to find your ideal system size →
Export Rate: Solar ATAP vs NEM 3.0
| Feature | NEM 3.0 (Ended) | Solar ATAP 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential export rate | ~RM 0.4325/kWh (full retail) | RM 0.27 or RM 0.37/kWh |
| Commercial export rate | Fixed rate | Average SMP (market-linked) |
| Credit rollover | 24 months | None — resets monthly |
| Quota | Fixed national quota (closed) | No quota — open year-round |
| Self-consumption benefit | At full retail tariff | At full retail tariff |
| Contract duration | Varies | 10 years |
NEM 3.0 closed to new applicants on 30 June 2025. Existing NEM participants continue on their existing contracts.
Who Qualifies for RM 0.37/kWh?
The higher export rate of RM 0.37/kWh applies to households consuming more than 1,500 kWh per month. As a rough guide, this corresponds to a TNB monthly bill above approximately RM 600. These are typically larger homes, families running multiple air-conditioners, or households with electric vehicles.
| Monthly TNB Bill | Approx. Usage | Your Export Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Under RM 300 | Under 600 kWh | RM 0.27/kWh |
| RM 300–600 | 600–1,500 kWh | RM 0.27/kWh |
| RM 600–1,200 | 1,500–3,000 kWh | RM 0.37/kWh |
| Above RM 1,200 | Above 3,000 kWh | RM 0.37/kWh |
Approximate figures based on TNB Domestic Tariff. Actual usage thresholds set by TNB policy.
Calculate Your Solar ATAP ROI
Enter your monthly TNB bill and daytime usage pattern to see exactly how much you save — and what export credits you actually earn.
Frequently Asked Questions — Solar ATAP Export Rates
What is the Solar ATAP export rate for homes in Malaysia?▾
Residential Solar ATAP export is credited at RM 0.27/kWh for households consuming 1,500 kWh/month or less, and RM 0.37/kWh for those consuming above 1,500 kWh/month. These are the retail tariff offset rates set by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and remain fixed for the duration of your 10-year Solar ATAP contract.
What is SMP and why does it apply to commercial Solar ATAP?▾
SMP stands for System Marginal Price — the real-time wholesale price of electricity on the grid, set by market supply and demand. Commercial and industrial Solar ATAP participants export at the Average SMP rather than a fixed retail rate. SMP varies month to month and is typically lower than the residential retail offset rate, making right-sizing even more important for C&I users.
How does the monthly credit reset work?▾
Under Solar ATAP, any export credits you earn in a given month are applied against your TNB import charges that month. If your credits exceed your import bill, the remaining balance is forfeited — it does not carry over to the next month. This is the biggest difference from NEM 3.0, which allowed 24-month credit rollover.
Is RM 0.27/kWh or RM 0.37/kWh better?▾
The RM 0.37/kWh rate applies to high-consumption households (above 1,500 kWh/month, roughly RM 600+ monthly bill). This is the same group that also pays the highest import tariff, so the export rate offsets the highest-cost kWhs. If your bill is under RM 600/month, you will earn RM 0.27/kWh on exports — still a meaningful credit, but the key ROI driver for lower-consumption households is maximising self-consumption, not export.
Should I oversize my system to export more?▾
No. Under Solar ATAP's monthly credit reset, oversizing is counterproductive. If you generate more than you consume in a month, the surplus export credits are lost at month-end. The optimal sizing strategy is to match your system output to roughly 80–90% of your daytime consumption — maximise self-consumption, minimise wasted export.
How is the export rate different from under NEM 3.0?▾
Under NEM 3.0, the export credit was the full retail rate (approximately RM 0.4325/kWh for typical residential tariffs), and it rolled over for 24 months. Under Solar ATAP, the residential export rate is capped at RM 0.27 or RM 0.37/kWh, and credits reset monthly. The lower rate and no rollover means Solar ATAP rewards self-consumption more than exporting.
Does the export rate change during my 10-year contract?▾
The rate tier thresholds (1,500 kWh/month) and the rate values (RM 0.27 and RM 0.37) are fixed by TNB policy and can be reviewed by the government. Historical precedent from NEM shows that rates have been reduced over successive policy rounds. There is no absolute guarantee rates will not change, but your signed Solar ATAP contract with TNB provides some contractual protection for the agreed duration.