Free Electricity for Three Hours a Day

Do You Still Need Solar?

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For years, Australian households were told electricity is expensive, sunshine is free, and rooftop solar lets you generate your own power instead of buying from the grid. But now, the electricity grid is stepping up with its own offer of free power.

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Under Australia’s new Solar Sharer Offer, eligible households can access three hours of free electricity in the middle of every day, even if they don’t have rooftop solar. Which is great for households, but if sunshine hours now mean free electricity, is rooftop solar still worth the investment?

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The short answer is yes, because how we use and value solar isn’t just for three hours a day. Free electricity in the daytime won’t light up your evenings, erase daily supply charges or shield you from future price hikes. What it does offer is a reward for households that get clever about when they use, generate and store energy.

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What Is the Solar Sharer Offer?

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Introduced on 1 July 2026, the Solar Sharer Offer is an optional electricity plan that gives eligible households a three-hour window of free grid electricity each day.

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The free-power periods are:

• New South Wales: 11 am to 2 pm
• South East Queensland: 11 am to 2 pm
• South Australia: 12 pm to 3 pm

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Eligible households can use up to 24kWh of free electricity during this window. That’s a considerable amount of energy, more than most households consume across an entire average day. You don’t need solar panels to access the offer. Renters and homeowners can both apply, provided they have a smart meter, live in an eligible area and are not supplied through an embedded electricity network.

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Retailers with more than 1,000 customers in areas covered by the Default Market Offer are required to make a Solar Sharer plan available. However, customers must choose to opt in; they won’t necessarily be moved onto it automatically.

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The offer is currently limited to New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland. It is not yet available in Victoria, the ACT, regional Queensland or other areas outside the relevant Default Market Offer regions, although similar offers may be considered in the future.

You can check the complete eligibility requirements through the Australian Government’s Solar Sharer Offer information.

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Why Is Electricity Free in the Middle of the Day?

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Australia has mastered the art of harnessing solar power. Millions of rooftop systems send electricity into the grid at roughly the same time each day. Solar farms add more. On clear days, the grid can have an abundance of inexpensive renewable energy around midday.

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But as the sun dips below the horizon, everything changes. Solar generation falls as people arrive home, turn on lights, cook dinner, run heating or cooling, and use more electricity. Demand rises while solar supply disappears, pressuring the grid during the evening peak. Sharer Offer is designed to shift some of that demand away from the evening and into the middle of the day.

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It encourages households to run appliances and charge batteries and electric vehicles while solar generation is abundant. This reduces evening demand, improves renewable energy use, and potentially lowers costs for participants. It exists because Australia is overflowing with solar energy, not because solar panels have lost their worth.

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Does “Free” Mean Your Electricity Bill Will Be Free?

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Unfortunately, no. The offer removes the usage charge for eligible electricity consumed during the three-hour window, up to 24kWh daily. It does not remove:

• Daily electricity supply charges
• Charges for electricity used during the remaining 21 hours
• Charges that may apply above the 24kWh daily allowance
• Any other applicable fees or plan conditions

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The usage rates outside the free period may be slightly higher than the rates available under some other plans. The Australian Energy Regulator explains that this allows retailers to recover the cost of supplying electricity. Look at the whole picture before signing up. You need to compare the entire plan.

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A plan with three hours of free electricity might still leave you paying more if your biggest energy use happens in the pricey evening hours. “Free” is tempting, but your yearly bill tells the real story.

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Do You Still Need The Solar Sharer Offer?

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The Solar Sharer offer gives you free power for a set slice of the day, while rooftop solar keeps generating electricity across a much wider stretch of daylight.  Depending on your location, roof, system design, and weather, a solar system may start generating in the morning and continue until late afternoon. During those hours, electricity from your panels can be used at home without a grid usage charge.

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Solar can reduce your grid consumption beyond the Solar Sharer window, including:

• Early in the morning
• Before the free period begins
• After the free period ends
• On days when you use more than the 24kWh allowance
• During future periods when your electricity plan or rates change

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A well-designed solar system can quietly power your home for decades, while electricity deals, rates and free-power periods may change with the seasons. The Solar Offer is a retail plan, while rooftop solar is a long-term energy asset on your roof. They team up, but they play different roles. 

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The Real Problem Happens After the Sun Goes Down

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For most households, the real sting comes not at midday, but in the evening when electricity is at its priciest. That is when families return home, air conditioners or heaters are running, dinner is being cooked, televisions and computers are switched on, and hot-water systems may be operating.

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The Solar Sharer Offer doesn’t provide free electricity during those hours. A solar-only home also faces this limitation. Once its panels stop generating, the household generally returns to buying electricity from the grid.

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That’s why home batteries are now at the heart of the energy conversation. With a battery, you can stash away cheap or free energy and tap into it when grid prices climb. The question is no longer, “Can I generate cheap electricity?” More and more, the real question is: “Can I shift cheap electricity from the sunny hours into the evening?”

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Can You Charge a Home Battery for Free?

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The Australian Government specifically identifies home batteries as one of the technologies households may be able to charge during the Solar Sharer window. If your system is compatible, you could soon have a new daily ritual:

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1. Charge the battery during the free-power period.
2. Store that electricity instead of consuming it immediately.
3. Use the stored energy during the evening peak.
4. Reduce the amount of full-price electricity purchased after dark.

Households with rooftop solar usually fill their batteries with their own extra power. But on cloudy days, or when you want to save more energy for the evening, charging from the grid during the free window can be a smart backup.

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Not every battery or inverter is set to charge from the grid. Settings, retailer conditions, network rules, and equipment capabilities vary. Battery owners should confirm grid charging is supported and configured before changing their system’s mode.

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Could Solar Owners Use Free Grid Electricity and Export Their Solar?

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In some circumstances, a solar household may be able to consume free grid electricity while its panels continue generating and exporting excess energy. A household could schedule appliances or battery charging during the free period while still receiving a feed-in tariff for eligible solar exports.

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However, this should not be treated as a guaranteed money-making loophole. The result will depend on:

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• The household’s electricity plan
• Its feed-in tariff
• Import and export rates
• Smart-meter configuration
• Battery and inverter settings
• Network export limits
• How much solar the system is producing
• Whether the retailer applies any relevant plan conditions

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Feed-in tariffs are usually much lower than what you pay to buy electricity outside the free window. You’ll get the most value by using or storing your solar energy, instead of sending it out for a small credit.

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Who Is Most Likely to Benefit?

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The Solar Sharer Offer may be particularly valuable for households that can shift a significant portion of their energy consumption into the middle of the day. That could include:

• People who work from home
• Retirees or people commonly at home during the day
• Households with programmable appliances
• Electric vehicle owners
• Homes with pool pumps
• Households with electric hot-water systems
• People with home batteries that support grid charging
• Homes that can pre-cool or pre-heat before the evening peak

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A household that uses electricity between 5 pm and 10 pm may get less benefit unless it can automate appliances, charge a battery, or shift consumption.

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How to Make the Most of the Free Period

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There’s no need to dash around for three hours flipping switches. Timers, smart plugs and appliance schedules can handle most of the heavy lifting for you. Depending on your household, you could schedule the following during the free-power window:

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• Washing machine
• Clothes dryer
• Dishwasher
• Pool or spa pump
• Electric vehicle charger
• Home battery
• Electric hot-water system
• Heating and cooling
• Oven or slow cooker

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You could also chill your home before a heatwave or warm it up before the evening chill sets in, making life easier for your heating and cooling systems later on. Avoid overloading circuits or running multiple high-powered appliances unsafely. If you want to automate large loads, have a licensed electrician assess your switchboard, circuits, and energy-management system.

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Five Things to Check Before Switching

Before joining a Solar Sharer plan, compare it with your current offer and a few alternatives.

1. Rates outside the free period

Check how much you’ll pay during morning, afternoon, evening, and overnight. Higher rates across 21 hours can outweigh savings during the three-hour window.

2. The daily supply charge

You will keep paying a daily charge to stay connected to the grid, even if much of your electricity is free.

3. Your current usage pattern

Check your smart-meter data or retailer app to see when you consume the most power instead of relying on estimates.

4. Your solar feed-in tariff

Solar owners should check whether changing plans will reduce their feed-in tariff or alter other solar-related conditions.

5. How much is your real AOD? 

It is only as valuable as the energy you can actually use. Figure out which appliances can be safely scheduled, and whether a battery or electric vehicle can soak up a decent share. 

Households can compare available offers using the Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy comparison service.

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Is Free Daytime Electricity Good or Bad for Solar?

It’s clear proof that solar is already reshaping Australia’s electricity landscape. The grid now has periods when renewable electricity is so plentiful retailers must offer some to eligible households for free. That would have sounded improbable not long ago.

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But it also shines a light on the next big challenge. Australia doesn’t just need to generate more renewable energy. It needs to use and store that energy better when available. Smart appliances, electric vehicles, and home batteries will play a growing role in shifting demand from expensive evening periods. For households, this means solar decisions should no longer be based only on the number of panels that can fit on the roof. A good system design should consider:

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• When the household uses electricity
• How much energy it consumes after dark
• Whether future battery storage is likely
• Electric vehicle charging
• Available tariffs and electricity plans
• How the system will be monitored and controlled

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The Verdict: Do You Still Need Solar?

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Three hours of free electricity is a real bonus, but it’s no substitute for rooftop solar. The Sharer Offer gives eligible households a new way to reduce their bills by moving energy use into the middle of the day. Solar allows homeowners to generate their own electricity across a much wider portion of the day. A battery can then move some of that energy into the evening.

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For some households, the smartest setup may eventually combine all three:

Rooftop solar to generate energy.

A free-power period to top up flexible loads or storage.

A battery to carry cheap energy into the night.

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The real winners won’t be those with the most panels, the biggest battery or the flashiest plan. They’ll be the households that truly know their energy habits and build their setup around them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Solar Sharer Offer?

The Solar Sharer Offer is an optional electricity plan giving eligible households three hours of free grid electricity daily. It was introduced on 1 July 2026 to encourage households to use more electricity when renewable energy is abundant.

When is the free electricity period?

The free-power window runs from 11 am to 2 pm in New South Wales and South East Queensland, and from 12 pm to 3 pm in South Australia.

Who is eligible for the Solar Sharer Offer?

You may be eligible if you live in New South Wales, South Australia or South East Queensland, have a smart meter and are not supplied through an embedded electricity network. Homeowners and renters can access the offer through participating retailers.

Do I need rooftop solar to receive free electricity?

No. The offer is available to eligible households with or without rooftop solar. It allows more people to benefit from Australia’s abundant daytime solar generation, including renters and households that cannot install panels.

How much free electricity can I use?

Eligible households can use up to 24kWh during the three-hour window daily. Charges may apply if you exceed this allowance, depending on your retailer and plan conditions.

Does the offer make my entire electricity bill free?

No. You will still pay the daily supply charge and for electricity used outside the free-power window. Usage rates outside the free period may be slightly higher, so compare the total estimated annual cost.

Is the Solar Sharer Offer available in Victoria or the ACT?

Not currently. As of August 2026, the offer is available in New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland. The Australian Government is considering if it or a similar offer could be introduced elsewhere.

Does free daytime electricity mean solar is no longer worthwhile?

No. Rooftop solar generates electricity across a much broader part of the day, while the Solar Sharer Offer covers only three hours. Solar also gives homeowners greater protection against changing electricity prices and retail plan conditions.

Can I charge my home battery during the free period?

Potentially yes. Compatible batteries may be charged from the grid during the free-power window and used later when electricity is more expensive. Check your inverter settings, equipment capabilities, retailer conditions and network requirements first.

Can I charge an electric vehicle for free?

Yes, eligible households can charge an electric vehicle during the free period, subject to the 24kWh daily allowance. Using a charger with scheduling controls can make this easier to automate.

What appliances should I run during the free-power window?

The period is ideal for energy-intensive appliances such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, pool pumps, electric hot-water systems and air conditioners. Timers and smart controls can automate their operation.

Could the Solar Sharer Offer cost me more?

It could if you use little electricity during the free window and face higher rates at other times. Compare the supply charge, peak and off-peak rates, feed-in tariff and estimated annual cost before switching.

Will switching affect my solar feed-in tariff?

It may. Electricity plans can have different feed-in tariffs and solar conditions. Solar owners should compare the value of their exports as well as the free usage period before changing plans.

How do I apply for the Solar Sharer Offer?

Contact your electricity retailer and ask whether you are eligible. You can also compare available plans using the Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy website.

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