Solar and free midday power: Charging for less

Solar vs grid charging: yearly cost

A typical EV using 16 kWh per 100 km and driving 250 km a week needs about 2,080 kWh a year. Grid cost uses each state's 2026–27 default flat rate; solar cost is the feed-in credit you forgo (about 6c per kWh).

In practice most solar homes can't cover all their charging from the panels, because the car is often out during the day and winter output is lower. Covering half your charging from solar still saves a few hundred dollars a year.

Why using your own solar beats exporting it

Feed-in tariffs have fallen a long way. IPART's 2026–27 benchmark for NSW is just 3.4–6.5c per kWh, while grid power costs around 28–40c depending on your state. Every kWh you put into your car instead of the grid is worth roughly five times more.

Getting the most from solar charging

• Plug in whenever the car is home during the day, even for a short top-up.
• Use your car's app or a solar-aware charger to start charging only when the panels are producing a surplus.
• A home battery can store daytime solar for overnight charging, but at current prices it rarely pays for itself from car charging alone.
• Compare plans: a time-of-use or EV plan with cheap overnight power can suit people who are away during the day.

No solar? Three free hours of power a day

Even without panels, households in NSW, South East Queensland, South Australia and Victoria can get three hours of free electricity every day on a government-set offer, which is plenty to charge a car. Here's where, when and whether it's worth switching.

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.

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.

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

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. Compare it with your current plan using a year of your own usage. Energy Made Easy (or Victorian Energy Compare) can help.
4. Set timers on the car, hot water and appliances for the free window.