Here’s how the new Free Solar Sharer scheme works — and how you can claim it

What is the Solar Sharer scheme?

Energy retailers will soon be required to offer customers at least three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, when solar generation is at its peak.

That’s the time when Australia’s rooftop and large-scale solar farms are flooding the grid with power — sometimes more than the system can handle — which can make wholesale energy prices drop dramatically, even turning negative. The new scheme aims to share those benefits around. Instead of that excess clean energy going to waste or forcing the grid to scale back solar production, it’ll be made available for households to use.

And crucially, it’s not just for homeowners with panels. It’s designed to share the benefits of cheap solar power with everyone, meaning renters, apartment-dwellers and homes without solar panels will be able to tap into midday solar savings.

As solar adoption grows, daytime energy supply is booming, but demand hasn’t caught up. Most people are still running big appliances and air conditioners in the morning or evening, when the grid relies more heavily on coal and gas.

By nudging households to use energy when the sun’s blazing and the grid’s greenest, the Solar Sharer scheme could help smooth out demand, reduce pressure on fossil fuels, and make better use of the clean power we’re already generating.

How to claim it

There are a few steps you’ll need to take once the scheme kicks off:

• You’ll need a smart meter. These record real-time usage and are essential for tracking when you’re drawing power from the grid. If your property still has an older meter, your retailer can advise on upgrading.
• Your energy retailer has to offer it. The scheme makes free electricity available, but you’ll only get it if your retailer creates a plan that includes it. Keep an eye on plan updates or contact your provider closer to July 2026.
• You’ll need to shift your usage. The more you can move your high-energy tasks — washing, drying, dishwashing, EV charging, pool pumps, even air-conditioning — into that three-hour window, the more you’ll save.

For households that already have solar, this won’t replace your feed-in tariff, but it might be worth comparing how much you could save by running more appliances during the free window.

When is this happening?

The rollout will begin July 2026 in the states covered by the Default Market Offer (DMO) regulation — that includes NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia. Other states and territories are expected to consult and possibly join by 2027.