The Solar Sharer Offer launched on 1 July 2026. It gives households three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day: 11am to 2pm in NSW and south-east Queensland, 12pm to 3pm in South Australia, up to 24 kWh per day. You need a smart meter, but you do not need solar panels. Every retailer with more than 1,000 customers in those regions must offer it.
Who actually benefits
The free window exists to soak up excess rooftop solar flooding the grid at midday. It suits anyone who can shift real consumption into that window: running the dishwasher and washing machine on a timer, heating hot water, pre-cooling the house in summer, or charging an EV during the day. A household that moves 6 to 8 kWh a day into the free window can cut a meaningful slice off its usage charges.
Our take
Check the rest of the plan before switching. A retailer can fund the free window with higher peak rates or a higher daily supply charge, and if most of your usage is in the evening you can end up worse off than on a sharp flat-rate plan. Compare the full rate card, not the headline.
What to do
If you already have a smart meter, ask your retailer for their Solar Sharer plan and compare its evening rates against your current plan. If you are not sure what meter you have, our smart meters and time-of-use guide explains how to check and what the rollout means for you.
Source: Australian Energy Regulator, Solar Sharer Offer requirements effective 1 July 2026.
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