The Solar Sharer Offer is a federal energy reform that shares the benefit of Australia's abundant daytime solar with more households. From 1 July 2026, electricity retailers in NSW (along with south-east Queensland and South Australia) must offer at least one residential plan that includes a three-hour block of free electricity in the middle of the day. In NSW the free window is 11am–2pm, with a daily cap of around 24 kWh.
Good to know: the plans are opt-in (retailers must offer one; you choose whether to switch), you'll need a smart meter, and you don't need your own solar to join — it's open to owners and renters. Retailers typically recover the cost elsewhere, often through higher peak or supply charges, so the right plan depends on your usage. Always confirm current terms with your retailer and at energy.gov.au.
On a sunny day, so much solar flows into the grid that wholesale power sometimes drops to zero or below. The Solar Sharer passes that value back to households — including renters and homes without panels — by guaranteeing a daily window of free power.
If you've got rooftop solar, you're already capturing free midday energy. A Solar Sharer plan can add to it — for example, running big loads (pool pump, dishwasher, EV charging) in the free 11am–2pm window. Pairing solar with a battery takes it further: store free and cheap daytime energy and use it through the expensive evening peak.
Even without panels, the free midday window rewards shifting some usage to the middle of the day. But because the cap is ~24 kWh and retailers lift other charges to fund it, the biggest, most reliable savings still come from generating your own power and using more of it directly.
Not sure how Solar Sharer fits your setup? We'll help you design a system and usage plan that squeezes the most out of cheap daytime energy. Get a free, no-obligation quote or estimate your savings with our payback calculator.
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