Everything You Need to Know About 3 Hours of Free Power
Three Hours of Free Power is Coming from 1 July 2026
A new energy initiative is set to help Australian households make the most of abundant daytime solar energy – whether you have solar panels or not.
The Solar Sharer Offer (SSO), commonly referred to as the “Three Hours of Free Power” program, will commence on 1 July 2026 and give eligible households access to three hours of free electricity every day through participating electricity retailers.
Designed under the Australian Energy Regulator’s Default Market Offer (DMO), the initiative aims to encourage energy use during periods of high solar generation, helping reduce pressure on the grid while delivering real savings to households.
How Does the Solar Sharer Offer Work?
Eligible households can opt into an electricity plan that includes a dedicated free power window each day.
The free electricity period is fixed and cannot be changed by retailers:
- NSW & South East Queensland: 11:00am – 2:00pm
- South Australia: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Households can access up to 24kWh of free electricity per day during these periods.
Who Can Participate?
One of the biggest benefits of the Solar Sharer Offer is that it is available to almost everyone.
You can participate if you:
- Own your home
- Rent your home
- Live in an apartment
- Have solar panels
- Do not have solar panels
The key requirement is that your property has an active smart meter installed.
Which Areas Are Eligible?
The Solar Sharer Offer will initially apply to households within the Australian Energy Regulator’s Default Market Offer regions, including:
- New South Wales
- South Australia
- South East Queensland
How Can You Make the Most of Free Power?
The free electricity window creates a fantastic opportunity to shift energy-intensive activities into the middle of the day.
Some of the best ways to maximise your savings include:
Charge your home battery
Store free electricity during the day and use it when energy prices are higher in the evening.
Charge your EV
Take advantage of free daytime energy to reduce the cost of running your electric vehicle.
Heat your hot water
Schedule electric hot water systems to operate during the free power window.
Run appliances during free periods
Dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers and pool pumps can all be scheduled to run while electricity is free.
What Does This Mean for Solar and Battery Owners?
For households with solar and battery systems, the Solar Sharer Offer creates another opportunity to optimise energy usage and reduce electricity costs.
Battery owners may be able to charge their battery during the free electricity period and use that stored energy later in the evening, helping further reduce grid imports during peak pricing periods.
As energy tariffs continue to evolve, smart energy management and battery storage will play an increasingly important role in helping households maximise savings.
How do you get onboard?
The SSO forms part of the DMO( Default market offer) so to access this you can opt to an energy with your energy retailer.
SAE Group's Take
The Solar Sharer Offer is another positive step in Australia’s energy transition. By encouraging households to use electricity when solar generation is at its highest, the program helps reduce energy costs while making better use of renewable energy already being produced across the grid.
Start Saving Sooner
If you’re considering a battery, EV charger, smart hot water system or other energy-saving upgrades, now is a great time to start planning how you’ll make the most of these new free power periods.
Want to learn more about battery storage, EV charging or smart home energy solutions? Contact the team at SAE Group today.
