Electricity prices in Australia keep rising. Outdoor lighting—garden lights, security lights, path lights—can quietly rack up your power bill. If your lights are on all night, every night, that cost adds up fast.
Solar lighting offers a way to cut down energy use without sacrificing visibility or security. But how much can you actually save by switching?
Let's look at the real numbers—including a worked example on current Victorian rates.
What Four Wired Path Lights Cost in Victoria in 2026
Start with a common scenario: four 30W wired path lights, running on an evening timer for about three and a half hours a night.
That's 120W running 3.5 hours, or roughly 0.42 kWh a day—about 153 kWh a year. The Victorian Default Offer sets usage rates between roughly 27 and 35 cents per kWh depending on your network zone (prices set by the Essential Services Commission for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026). At around 29c per kWh, which applies in several Melbourne zones, those four lights cost about $44 a year.
Swap them for solar path lights and that drops to $0 a year—and because solar lights need no wiring, you also skip the licensed electrician that 240V garden lighting legally requires in Victoria, a call-out and installation that typically adds hundreds of dollars up front.
Now scale that thinking up to a whole backyard.
How Much Does Outdoor Lighting Cost?
The cost depends on the type of lights you use, how many you have, and how long they're on each night.
Here's a simple breakdown for an average Aussie household using 10 outdoor lights.
- Wattage per light: 10 watts (LED)
- Total wattage: 10 lights x 10W = 100W
- Hours per night: 10 hours
- Daily usage: 100W x 10 hours = 1,000Wh = 1 kWh per day
- Monthly usage: ~30 kWh
- Electricity cost per kWh: roughly 29c on 2025–26 Victorian Default Offer rates (27–35c depending on zone)
- Monthly cost: 30 kWh x $0.29 = about $8.70/month
- Annual cost: about $106/year
If you use higher-wattage lights or have more of them, the cost climbs.
Now compare that to solar lighting.
Cost of Running Solar Outdoor Lights
Zero.
Once installed, solar lights don't add to your electricity bill. They charge using sunlight during the day and turn on automatically at night.
Your only cost is the upfront purchase and occasional battery replacements. But even those are minimal.
Initial Cost vs Long-Term Savings
Let's compare two common setups:
1. 10 Wired LED Lights
- Cost per light: $25
- Total upfront cost: $250
- Ongoing electricity cost: about $106/year
- 5-year cost: $250 + (5 x $106) = $780
2. 10 Solar LED Lights
- Cost per light: $30
- Total upfront cost: $300
- Ongoing electricity cost: $0
- Battery replacement (after 3–5 years): about $50 total
- 5-year cost: $300 + $50 = $350
Estimated 5-Year Savings: $430—and that's before the electrician you don't have to call, because hardwired outdoor lighting in Victoria must be installed by a licensed professional.
Multiply that across larger properties or businesses, and the savings get bigger.
Other Ways You Save
1. No Trenching or Wiring Costs
Wired outdoor lights often require digging, wiring, and hiring an electrician—in Victoria, any fitting connected to 240V mains legally must be installed by a licensed electrician. Trenching for cables and the call-out alone can add hundreds to your total cost.
Solar lights? Just stake them into the ground or mount them where needed. No wires, no electrician, no fuss.
2. Lower Maintenance
Solar lights are self-contained. Once installed, they operate automatically. Some models even come with motion sensors to conserve power and last longer through the night.
3. Works During Blackouts
Solar lights continue to work even if the grid goes down. That's useful in storms or emergency situations when you still need visibility.
Are Solar Lights Bright Enough?
Modern solar lights are much better than the weak, dim models from 10 years ago. LED technology has improved a lot. Today, solar options are available for:
- Pathway lighting
- Floodlights
- Security motion lights
- Wall-mounted fixtures
- Decorative garden lighting
Some high-end solar floodlights can produce over 1,000 lumens—plenty bright for driveways or backyards.
Things That Affect Solar Light Performance
While solar lighting can save money, not all setups are equal. Here's what impacts performance:
- Sunlight exposure: They need direct sun to charge fully.
- Battery quality: Cheap batteries lose capacity faster.
- Placement: Shady areas reduce efficiency.
- Weather: Cloudy or rainy days can reduce brightness.
Tip: If you live in a cloudy area, choose solar lights with larger panels and longer battery life.
Solar Lighting Makes Sense for Long-Term Savings
If you're still using hardwired lights outdoors, it's worth reviewing your power bill. Switching to solar pays off, especially over time.
Here's what you save:
- No power costs
- No trenching or wiring
- No electrician for installation or repairs
- Minimal maintenance
- Peace of mind during outages
And here's what you spend:
- A little more upfront (usually just $5–$10 more per light)
- Replacement batteries every 3–5 years
For most Australian households, that's a smart trade-off.
Final Thoughts
Switching your outdoor lighting to solar isn't just about sustainability—it's a money-saving move. You lower your electricity use, cut down on installation costs, and reduce maintenance headaches.
Over time, those savings add up. And you get a simpler, cleaner lighting setup that runs on free energy.
At Outway Living, we make solar lighting easier with durable, high-output lights built for Australian conditions. Whether you're lighting a garden, driveway, or commercial space, we've got a solar solution that works—and pays for itself.
Browse the solar path lights that replace those wired examples above, or see the full solar garden lights range to start saving.
