Because over one in three Australian homes now feature rooftop solar, the country's energy grid frequently experiences a massive midday supply glut. To help soak up this excess clean energy, the federal government and state regulators have introduced mandatory, opt-in retail plans that guarantee free power during peak generation hours.
The program officially rolled out in New South Wales, South Australia, and South-East Queensland, with Victoria's Midday Power Saver following close behind.
Who Gets Free Electricity?
Unlike traditional government concessions, anyone can access these free energy windows. You do not need to be a pensioner, and you do not even need to own solar panels.
To qualify, you must meet four basic criteria:
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Location: You must live in an eligible state (NSW, SA, SE QLD, or VIC).
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Equipment: You must have a smart meter installed at your property so your provider can track time-of-use data.
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Network Status: You must not be supplied via an embedded network (common in some apartment blocks where the whole building buys bulk power).
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Provider: Your electricity retailer must be large enough to fall under the Default Market Offer (DMO) regulations requiring them to offer the plan.
How to Apply & Opt In
This free power scheme is not automatic. If you stay on your current standard contract, you will keep paying normal rates.
The Setup Method
Look at your electricity meter box. If it is digital and updates remotely, you have a smart meter. If it's an old mechanical spinning dial, call your energy retailer to request a smart meter upgrade first.
Call your current electricity provider or visit their website and ask for the "Solar Sharer Offer" (or the "Midday Power Saver" if you are in Victoria).
Before saying yes, ask the provider for the rates outside the free window. Compare their peak and daily supply charges against your existing plan to ensure the math works in your favor.
Once you agree to the terms, the provider will switch your tariff structure. You can track your usage via your provider’s app to ensure your heaviest power draws sit squarely inside the daily 3-hour window.
Crucial Things to Consider (The "Catches")
While "free electricity" sounds like an absolute win, these plans are built around a variable time-of-use tariff. If you aren't careful, it can backfire.
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The Usage Cap: You can't run a commercial manufacturing plant out of your garage for free. The Solar Sharer plans carry a "fair use" cap—typically 24 kWh per day within that 3-hour block. If you exceed 24 kWh in those three hours, you will be charged standard rates for the excess.
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Higher Peak Rates Outside the Window: To make up for giving away free power at noon, retailers often charge slightly higher rates during evening peak times (usually 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM). If your household does all its cooking, heating, and cooling late at night, the daytime savings might be swallowed up by expensive evening rates.
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Daily Supply Charges Still Apply: The "free" component only applies to the electricity you use (the usage charge). You will still pay the standard fixed daily connection fee just for being hooked up to the grid.
Pro-Tips to Maximize Your Savings
If you want to squeeze every cent of value out of these plans and push your power bills as close to $0 as possible, implement these lifestyle shifts:
The Automation Strategy: Do not rely on remembering to flip switches at 11:00 AM. Use the built-in delay timers on your dishwasher, washing machine, and clothes dryer to schedule them to run automatically during your state's free power block.
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Pre-Heat or Pre-Cool Your Home: Set your air conditioner or climate control system to run heavily during the free window. By cooling or warming the thermal mass of your home at midday, your system won't have to work nearly as hard during the expensive evening peak hours.
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Supercharge Your EV Transport Costs: If you own an Electric Vehicle or an e-bike, plug it in exclusively during the free 3-hour window. Shifting your vehicle charging to midday can save you over $600 to $1,100 a year on transport-related energy costs.
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Fill Up a Home Battery: If you have a home battery system (like an EcoFlow or Tesla Powerwall) but don't have enough rooftop solar panels to fill it up on cloudy days, you can use the free grid window to top the battery up completely for free, then discharge that power at night.
Sources: EcoFlow AU Blog | Amber Electric Grid Blog | GloBird Energy Sharer Solar Explainer
