2 Three ‘Free’ Hours of Power Could Leave You Worse Off The Australian Government’s new Solar Sharer Offer sounds appealing: three hours of free electricity every day. But for households in South East Queensland, it is important to look beyond the word “free” before changing electricity plans. Introduced from 1 July 2026, the Solar Sharer Offer is available to eligible households in South East Queensland with a smart meter, whether they own or rent their home and whether they have rooftop solar or not. The free electricity period is 11am to 2pm every day. The idea is to encourage households to use more electricity when solar power is plentiful during the middle of the day. This could work well for people who are at home and can run their washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, pool pump, air-conditioning or other appliances during those three hours. However, there is a catch. The electricity is not free for the rest of the day. Solar Sharer plans have But if most of your electricity use happens in the evening - perhaps cooking dinner, watching television, using heating or cooling, or running appliances after work - the higher rates outside the free period could outweigh the benefit of those three free hours. The important message is don’t choose an electricity plan simply because it advertises free power. Look at the entire plan, including the daily supply charge and the rates charged at other times. Before switching, check your recent electricity bills and consider when your household actually uses the most power. Then compare the Solar Sharer Offer with other plans available in your area. Where to Find More Information The Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy service is a free, independent comparison service for Queensland households. Visit https://www. energymadeeasy.gov.au/ and enter your postcode to compare electricity plans. You can also contact your electricity retailer and ask whether the Solar Sharer Offer is available to you and whether it is likely to suit your household’s usage pattern. Remember: free electricity for three hours doesn’t necessarily mean a cheaper electricity bill. It’s the total cost of the plan that matters. different rates for electricity used outside the free period, and these can be higher than the rates on other electricity plans. You will also continue to pay the plan’s daily supply charge. There is also a daily limit of 24 kilowatt-hours of free electricity during the three-hour window. While this is a substantial amount for most households, electricity used outside the free period is charged at the applicable rates. For many people, particularly retirees and others who spend much of the day at home, the offer could be worth considering. If you can regularly shift a reasonable amount of your electricity use from the morning or evening into the 11am - 2pm window, there may be savings.
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