Free Electricity Hours FAQ: Every Question Answered

A daily window, usually three hours around midday, where grid electricity costs nothing up to a fair use cap of 24 kWh per day. They exist because rooftop solar floods the grid at lunchtime, often pushing wholesale prices to zero or below, and the schemes pass that glut on to households. The trade-off: rates outside the window are set higher than a standard plan.

Two regulated schemes: the federal Solar Sharer Offer, live since 1 July 2026 in NSW and south-east Queensland (11am–2pm) and South Australia (12pm–3pm), and the Victorian Midday Power Saver (11am–2pm), starting 1 October 2026. Commercial free-hours plans like OVO Free 3 and GloBird FOUR4FREE run alongside them.

Within the window, yes — every kWh up to the 24 kWh daily cap costs nothing. But the daily supply charge still applies, controlled load is not free, and the outside-window rates are higher to recover the cost.

No. The window is fixed to local clock time (for example 11am–2pm) year-round and does not shift when daylight saving starts or ends.

In Victoria, any household with a smart meter whose retailer has 1,000 or more customers — around 2.6 million homes. Under the Solar Sharer Offer, retailers with 1,000+ customers in NSW, south-east Queensland and SA must offer it. You do not need solar or a battery in either scheme.

Yes. Renters qualify for both schemes as long as the property has a smart meter and they hold the electricity account. Nothing needs to be installed on the property.

Yes — the retailer needs interval data to know what you used during the window. If you still have a basic meter, you can request a smart meter upgrade from your retailer.

No. Both schemes are strictly opt-in. Nothing about your plan changes unless you contact your retailer and ask, and the retailer must warn you if the plan is unlikely to suit your usage pattern.

Any retailer with 1,000 or more customers in a covered region must offer the Solar Sharer Offer; the same threshold applies in Victoria. Most major retailers were live from day one, though EnergyAustralia delayed its Solar Sharer launch to around September 2026.

The free window is funded by higher rates the rest of the day — Solar Sharer standing offer peak rates can top 60c/kWh. Add the unchanged supply charge and the 24 kWh cap, and households with evening-heavy usage can end up worse off. Our decision guide covers who wins and who loses.

No. Controlled load circuits are metered separately and charged normally, even at midday. Getting hot water heated free means running the tank on your main circuit with a timer, which may need an electrician and a tariff change — ask your retailer first.

Usage above the cap is charged at the plan rate. In practice only households stacking an EV, a battery and electric hot water together get near 24 kWh in three hours.

Yes. The regulated schemes are standing offers with no exit fees, so you can switch away any time. Commercial free-hours plans are market offers — check their terms before you sign. Retailers must also send a Better Offer notice at least every 100 days flagging any cheaper plan they have for you.

Concessions are unaffected in principle and continue to apply. Because concession rules vary by state and retailer, confirm how yours interacts with the plan before switching.

Usually only with a battery or EV attached. Panels already cover the midday window on sunny days, so free grid power mostly displaces exports worth just a few cents per kWh. See our full solar, batteries and EVs guide.

The most of anyone. Charging free at midday and discharging through the evening peak adds an estimated $674 a year under Victorian government modelling, for a total benefit of up to $1,102 a year.

If the car is home during the window, yes — a 7 kW charger takes on 21 kWh (100+ km of range) across three hours, just under the 24 kWh cap. If you charge overnight instead, compare dedicated overnight EV plans, which can be cheaper overall.

The Midday Power Saver: 11am–2pm free daily from 1 October 2026, ESC-regulated tariffs, 24 kWh cap, around 2.6 million eligible households including renters. Opt in through your retailer.

The Solar Sharer Offer, live since 1 July 2026: 11am–2pm free in NSW and south-east Queensland, 12pm–3pm in SA, with a 24 kWh cap and pricing tied to the DMO time-of-use framework. Retailers with 1,000+ customers must offer it; EnergyAustralia delayed to around September 2026.

No scheme yet. A 2027 expansion of the Solar Sharer Offer has been floated but is unconfirmed. Households there can still look at commercial free-hours market plans where retailers offer them.

Victorian Energy Compare for Victoria and Energy Made Easy for NSW, Queensland and SA. Both are free government comparison sites and will show free-window plans alongside standard offers.