In an exciting new initiative, some residents in eastern Australia will soon enjoy three hours of free electricity every day, thanks to the federal government’s Solar Sharer Offer.
Launching on Wednesday, this program aims to maximize the use of solar power, particularly during peak daylight hours. The offer will be accessible to both renters and homeowners in New South Wales, South Australia, and south-east Queensland—regions that fall under the Default Market Offer (DMO).
Regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator, the DMO dictates the highest rate energy retailers can charge residential and small business customers under a standard electricity contract. Other regions in Australia enforce different regulatory systems.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility for this offer does not require owning rooftop solar panels, but participants must reside in one of the designated areas, have a smart meter installed, and be with an energy retailer within the DMO regions that has more than 1,000 customers. Customers connected through embedded networks are not eligible.
Regrettably, small businesses are not included in the Solar Sharer Offer.
When are the free electricity hours?
Eligible households will be able to access up to 24kWh of free electricity during a three-hour window each day. For NSW and south-east Queensland, the window is from 11am to 2pm AEST. In South Australia, the window will be from 12pm to 3pm ACST.
The offer isn’t automatic. Eligible households will need to opt in through their energy retailer.
How to make the most of the free energy hours
Back in January, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Solar Sharer Offer was about “making sure we make the most of our huge solar generation”.
“It will provide direct bill savings for households who sign up and can move their energy use into the zero-cost power period, while also taking pressure off evening peak demand, lowering network and system security costs,” he said.
On its website, Australia’s energy department says households eligible for the Solar Sharer Offer can take advantage of it by planning around the three-hour daily window.
It suggests running larger appliances during the free-power period “where it is safe and practical to do so”. That may include heating and cooling, using clothes dryers, washing machines, dishwashers and EV chargers.
It also suggests planning to complete regular household tasks, such as laundry or dishwashing, during the period.
Will other states and territories follow?
In Victoria, where the DMO doesn’t apply, the state government has announced that it will roll out the Midday Energy Saver from October.
The scheme will offer a free power window between 11am and 2pm every day. Victorians interested in accessing the scheme will need to contact their own retailers to sign up by 1 October.
The state government estimates a household could save between $139 and $429 a year by accessing the scheme, while EV owners who charge their vehicles during the free power window could save an additional $674.
The federal government also says it’s considering making the Solar Sharer Offer, or an equivalent option, “available in other areas”.