Millions of Australians can now access up to three hours of free electricity every day under a new scheme allowing eligible households to cut electricity bills by shifting energy use to the middle of the day.
The federal government Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) which came into effect on Wednesday gives households in New South Wales, southeast Queensland and South Australia up to 24 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of free electricity around midday when solar generation is at its peak.
You don’t need rooftop solar to benefit. The scheme is designed to share the benefits of abundant daytime solar generation more broadly.
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Households which are able to move more of their everyday electricity use into the free window are expected to save the most.
Who is eligible?
To qualitfy households in NSW, southeast Queensland and SA must:
- have a smart meter installed
- be supplied by an electricity retailer required to offer the scheme
- not receive electricity through an embedded network, such as many apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks
Both homeowners and renters are eligible, and households do not need rooftop solar to sign up
If you don’t have a smart meter, contact your electricity retailer to find out when your home is due for an upgrade or whether you can request one sooner.
Smart meters are being rolled out across the National Electricity Market, with all older meters due to be replaced by the end of 2030.
When is the free electricity available?
The free power is available every day during the middle of the day, when rooftop solar generation is typically at its highest.
The free period runs:
- 11am to 2pm in NSW and southeast Queensland
- 12pm to 3pm in South Australia
The offer is capped at 24kWh during that three-hour window each day.
Households will still pay for electricity used outside that period, while any power used above the daily cap during the free window will also be charged.
How do you sign up?
The SSO is not set up automatically. Eligible households must choose to opt in through their electricity retailer.
Before switching, consumers are encouraged to compare the new tariff with their current electricity plan, paying particular attention to the rates charged outside the free three-hour window.
Households should also consider whether they can shift enough of their use to the middle of the day for the offer to reduce their bills.
Energy retailers with more than 1,000 customers in eligible areas are required to offer the scheme.
Will it actually save you money?
That depends largely on how — and when — your household uses the most electricity.
Households looking to maximise the offer could:
- run washing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers during the free period
- charge electric vehicles or home batteries in the middle of the day
- cook meals, including using electric ovens, during the free electricity window
- schedule eligible hot water systems or heat-pump hot water units to operate during the free period where possible
Aditionaly, pre-heating or pre-cooling your home during the free period can help reduce electricity use later in the day, particularly in well-insulated homes.
Making use of built-in timers on energy-hungry appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, airconditioners and EV chargers can help households maximise the benefits during that period without having to be home.
However, consumers should avoid leaving appliances such as clothes dryers running unattended unless the manufacturer advises it is safe to do so.
Households with smart meters may also be able to access detailed energy-use data through their retailer, making it easier to identify which appliances consume the most electricity and where savings can be made.
Consumers can contact their electricity retailer for information about eligibility, signing up or smart meters.
They can also compare the SSO with other plans using the federal government’s Energy Made Easy website before deciding whether to switch.
