Three hours of free power a day: is solar or a battery still worth it?
Most households in NSW, south-east Queensland, SA and Victoria can now choose a plan with three free hours of electricity every day. Here is who it helps, who it costs, and what it means if you have, or want, solar panels or a battery.
The short answer
- Already have solar? The free hours overlap the time your panels make the most power, so they usually add little, and power at night can cost more.
- Have or want a battery? This is where it pays: fill the battery free at midday, then run the house through the dearer evening.
- Neither? It suits homes that can run the dishwasher, washing, pool pump, hot water or an electric car between 11am and 2pm.
How the free-power plans work
- NSW, SA and south-east Queensland: the Solar Sharer Offer, from 1 July 2026[1].
- Victoria: the Midday Power Saver, from 1 October 2026[2].
- Free window: 11am to 2pm, or 12pm to 3pm in South Australia[1][2].
- You need a smart meter, and you have to ask for it: no one is moved onto it automatically[1][2].
- Not available in WA, the NT, Tasmania, the ACT or regional Queensland[1].
The catch: the other 21 hours
The free window is paid for elsewhere on the bill. Power outside it is charged at time-of-use rates that may be higher than on a normal plan, and the daily supply charge still applies[1]. The regulator set those rates 1 to 4 cents per kWh above the standard time-of-use rate, depending on the region[3]. Victoria says its rates outside the window rise slightly too[4].
If you cannot move much of your use into the window, a different plan may be cheaper[2].
If you already have solar
- Your panels already cover most of your midday use, so free grid power at that time saves little.
- The power you still buy in the evening and overnight may cost more.
- The official pages do not say what feed-in tariff these plans pay. Ask the retailer before you switch, and compare the whole bill.
If you have, or want, a battery
Victoria's government says battery and electric car owners can use the free window to charge them[4]. Fill the battery at no cost at midday, and it covers the evening, the part of the day these plans make dearer.
- Check the battery can be set to charge from the grid on a timer. Not every setup does this by default.
- On the Solar Sharer Offer, free use is capped at 24kWh a day; above that you pay the plan's cheapest rate[1]. One retailer averages the cap over the billing period[5].
- With solar as well, the free window matters most on cloudy days and in winter, when the panels alone won't fill the battery.
If you have neither
Victoria estimates a saving of $149 to $428 a year for a home that moves 5% to 30% of its use into the window, and more for an electric car owner[4]. A house that is empty all day and uses most of its power in the evening may pay more[1].
Solar panels cut the cost of every daylight hour, not just three of them. A battery is what carries cheap daytime power into the evening.
Why two quotes for the same job can be thousands apart
Installers price the same system very differently. These are the installed price ranges our calculator works from, before rebates: the low end is what a competitive installer charges, and the high end is what a poor quote looks like.
| System | Competitive quote | Poor quote |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6kW solar system | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| 10kWh battery | $7,650 | $13,500 |
| About 15kWh battery | $12,100 | $18,000 |
- The gap usually comes from margin, the brand of panel, inverter or battery, and extras such as a switchboard upgrade or backup circuit, not from a better install.
- Get at least two or three quotes, and ask for each to be itemised: hardware brands and models, size, rebates taken off, and anything extra.
- Compare batteries on price per usable kWh, not the headline price.
Free hours, solar, a battery, or all three?
The free window changes which upgrade is worth it, and the answer depends on when your house uses power. Two minutes of questions shows what solar and a battery would save on your roof and your usage. No installer sees anything unless you ask.
Run my numbers, freeCommon questions
Is the 3 hours of free power real?
Yes. The Solar Sharer Offer started on 1 July 2026 in NSW, SA and south-east Queensland, and Victoria's Midday Power Saver from 1 October 2026. Both are opt-in plans that need a smart meter.
Is free power worth it if I have solar panels?
Often not much. Your panels already supply most of your midday use, and power at other times can cost more. Check the feed-in tariff the plan pays and compare the whole bill.
Can I charge my battery for free?
Victoria's government says battery owners can use the free window to charge them. Check your battery can charge from the grid on a timer. On the Solar Sharer Offer, free use is capped at 24kWh a day.
Does free power replace solar?
Not for most homes. It covers three hours; solar covers every daylight hour. A battery carries free or solar midday power into the evening.
Sources
- Energy Made Easy (Australian Energy Regulator), The Solar Sharer Offer (SSO): what you need to know. Read 4 November 2026 (page last updated 30 June 2026).
- Essential Services Commission (Victoria), Midday Power Saver now available, 1 October 2026. Read 4 November 2026.
- Australian Energy Regulator, 2026-27 Default market offer: final determination, May 2026. Read 4 November 2026.
- Seniors Online (Victorian Government), Turn sunshine into savings with the Midday Power Saver, reviewed 27 August 2026. Read 4 November 2026.
- EnergyAustralia, Standing Offer Solar Sharer. Read 4 November 2026.