Three hours of free power a day: is it worth it?
Households in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia can now get three hours of free electricity every day on the Solar Sharer Offer, and Victorians can on the Midday Power Saver. You don't need solar panels, but you do need a smart meter and you must ask your retailer to switch. It pays off if you're home during the day or can put things on timers: charging an EV, hot water, laundry, heating and cooling. If you're out all day and can't shift anything, it can cost you slightly more.
Where and when you get free power
| Where | Free window | Available from | Called |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 11am–2pm | 1 July 2026 | Solar Sharer Offer |
| South East Queensland | 11am–2pm | 1 July 2026 | Solar Sharer Offer |
| South Australia | 12pm–3pm | 1 July 2026 | Solar Sharer Offer |
| Victoria | 11am–2pm | 1 October 2026 (runs to 30 June 2027) | Midday Power Saver |
Not available in WA, Tasmania, the NT, the ACT or regional Queensland. Free power is capped at 24 kWh a day. The window times are fixed and don't move with daylight saving.
The rules in plain English
- It's opt-in. Nobody is moved onto it automatically. Ask your retailer for its Solar Sharer (or, in Victoria, Midday Power Saver) plan. Retailers with more than 1,000 customers in these areas must offer one.
- You need a smart meter. Most homes already have one. If you don't, ask your retailer whether they'll install one and what it costs.
- Up to 24 kWh a day is free. Anything above that in the window is charged.
- The rest of the day isn't free. You still pay the daily supply charge and for power outside the window, which is usually priced a little higher than a standard time-of-use plan, especially in the evening peak.
- Controlled-load hot water may not count. If your hot water is on a separate off-peak circuit, it may not be covered. Check with your retailer.
- Embedded networks (some apartment blocks, retirement villages and caravan parks) are generally excluded.
What could the free hours be worth to you?
If you work from home and don't have solar
This is who the scheme helps most. Your midday power was full price before; now up to 24 kWh of it is free. Things worth moving into the window:
- An electric car. From a normal power point (about 2.3 kW) three hours adds about 7 kWh, roughly 40–45 km of driving. A 7 kW wall charger can add about 21 kWh, roughly 131 km, worth about $7.12 a day at NSW's standard rate. Even charging just on the days you're home covers most people's weekly driving.
- Hot water on general power, set to heat at midday with a timer.
- Dishwasher, washing machine and dryer on delay start.
- Heating and cooling. Pre-cool or pre-heat the house before 2pm so the system works less in the expensive evening peak.
- A home battery, if you have one: fill it free at midday and run the house from it in the evening.
Stagger big appliances across the three hours rather than running them all at once, and don't leave appliances running unattended if their instructions say not to.
If you already have solar panels
The benefit is smaller, because on a sunny day your panels already cover much of your midday use. Where it still helps:
- Cloudy days and winter, when your panels can't keep up and you'd otherwise buy power.
- Big loads that are larger than your panels' output, such as EV charging on a 7 kW charger plus air-con.
- Batteries: some households charge the battery from free grid power and export more of their own solar.
Check two things before switching: the feed-in tariff on the free-power plan (you may earn less for exports than on your current plan), and the evening rates. Solar households can choose from any plan, and a good solar plan may still be the better deal. See charging an EV with solar.
Is it worth switching?
- Probably yes if someone is home during the day, or you have an EV, battery, or hot water on general power you can time to midday.
- Probably not if the house is empty from 9 to 5 with nothing on timers. One analysis of Victoria's offer found you need roughly 11% of your daily use in the free window just to break even, because other hours cost a bit more.
- Compare market offers too. The regulated offer is a floor, not the best deal. Some retailers offer longer free windows, higher caps or better evening feed-in rates.
- Ask for an estimate on your own usage. Your retailer must tell you if the plan may not suit you. Use your smart meter data to compare.
How to sign up
- Check you're in NSW, South East Queensland, South Australia or Victoria, and have a smart meter (it's on your bill, or ask your retailer).
- Call or log in to your retailer and ask for its Solar Sharer or Midday Power Saver plan. Ask for the full rates: supply charge, peak, shoulder and off-peak, and the feed-in tariff.
- Compare it with your current plan using a year of your own usage. Energy Made Easy (or Victorian Energy Compare) can help.
- Set timers on the car, hot water and appliances for the free window.
Common questions
Is the Solar Sharer only for people with solar panels?
No. Despite the name, it's for any household with a smart meter in NSW, South East Queensland or South Australia. The idea is to share cheap midday solar power on the grid with everyone, including renters.
What times is the free power?
11am to 2pm in NSW, South East Queensland and Victoria, and 12pm to 3pm in South Australia. The times don't change with daylight saving.
Is there a limit on free power?
Yes. Up to 24 kWh a day is free. Use above that in the window is charged.
Can I charge my electric car for free?
Yes, within the window and the 24 kWh cap. A 7 kW wall charger can add about 21 kWh in three hours, roughly 131 km of driving. A normal power point adds about 7 kWh, roughly 40–45 km.
Will my bill go down?
Only if you move enough use into the free hours. Power at other times, and the daily supply charge, still cost money and are often priced a little higher on these plans. If you can't shift much, you may pay slightly more.
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How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at October 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer. © 2026 EV Pick (T. Crouch). For personal use only; not to be copied, republished or sold without permission.