Free Electricity Hours in Australia: Every Scheme Compared
Three hours of free power every day sounds like a no-brainer. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it quietly costs you money. This hub covers every free-power scheme in Australia, state by state, plus calculators to work out whether it is right for your household.
Free power schemes at a glance
What is on offer in each state, and when.
| Region | Scheme | Free window | Starts | Daily cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Victorian Midday Power Saver | 11am – 2pm daily | 1 October 2026 | 24 kWh |
| NSW | Solar Sharer Offer | 11am – 2pm daily | Live now (1 July 2026) | 24 kWh |
| SE Queensland | Solar Sharer Offer | 11am – 2pm daily | Live now (1 July 2026) | 24 kWh |
| South Australia | Solar Sharer Offer | 12pm – 3pm daily | Live now (1 July 2026) | 24 kWh |
| ACT, TAS, WA, NT | Not yet covered | — | Possible expansion by 2027 (unconfirmed) | — |
On top of the government schemes, several retailers run their own free-hours plans: OVO The Free 3 (11am–2pm), GloBird FOUR4FREE (10am–2pm), AGL Three for Free (10am–1pm, SA only) and Red Energy free weekend hours. These are unregulated outside the free window, so check the full rate card.
Work out if free power is right for you
Two free calculators built for the Australian schemes.
Free power savings calculator
Enter your state, usage and what you can shift. Get a dollar estimate of whether a free-hours plan beats your current one, including the higher rates outside the window.
Calculate my savingsLoad shift planner
Pick your appliances and see exactly what each one is worth per run in the free window, how close you get to the 24 kWh cap, and your total annual value.
Plan my load shiftGuides in this hub
Is a free electricity plan right for you?
The honest decision guide: the core trade-off, who wins, who loses, and the five questions to ask before you switch.
Read guideVictorian Midday Power Saver
Victoria’s scheme from 1 October 2026: 11am to 2pm free, who is eligible, government savings estimates, and the catches.
Read guideSolar Sharer in NSW
Live now: 3 free hours from 11am, which retailers offer it, and the modelling showing who ends up ahead or behind.
Read guideSolar Sharer in Queensland
How the offer works in South-East Queensland, what regional Ergon customers need to know, and who should sign up.
Read guideSolar Sharer in South Australia
SA’s window runs 12pm to 3pm. With the highest power prices in the NEM, the stakes are bigger both ways.
Read guideSolar, batteries and EVs
Why battery owners are the biggest winners, why solar-only homes gain least, and how EV owners should play it.
Read guideAppliance shifting guide
What every appliance is worth per run in the free window, from the dishwasher (about 40c) to the EV charger (about $7 a day).
Read guideFree power FAQ
Every question answered: eligibility, smart meters, the 24 kWh cap, controlled load, concessions, exit fees and more.
Read guideOur take on free power hours
Free electricity windows are a genuine saving for the right household and a quiet loss for the wrong one. The schemes recover the cost of the free window through higher rates at other times, so the question is never “is free power good?” but “can I move enough usage into the window to beat the higher rates outside it?”
As a rule of thumb, you want to shift at least 5 to 6 kWh a day into the free window. Battery and EV owners clear that bar easily. Households out all day with no automation usually do not, and modelling by Energy Consumers Australia shows they can end up around $320 a year worse off. Run the calculator, check your last bill, and compare against a plain low-rate plan before you switch.
Not sure free power is the best deal?
A cheap flat-rate plan often beats a free-hours plan. Compare what is available at your address.
Compare plans nowA better deal starts here.
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