Are Solar Sharer plans worth it? We've examined how free daytime electricity comes with higher peak rates and daily charges.
Energy retailers in New South Wales, South-East Queensland, and South Australia became required on July 1, 2026, to offer at least one electricity plan featuring three free hours of power in the middle of the day. The voluntary scheme caps free energy at 24 kilowatt-hours per day and operates from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in New South Wales and South-East Queensland, and from midday to 3 p.m. in South Australia. Participating households require a smart meter, but solar panels are not mandatory, making the program accessible to renters and non-solar consumers alike.
A comparison of Solar Sharer options from AGL, Origin, and Red Energy against default residential plans for a Sydney postcode on the Ausgrid network highlights significant variations in supply charges and peak rates. EnergyAustralia failed to meet the government deadline to introduce a comparable plan. While AGL and Origin both feature a daily supply charge of 176.24 cents and 176.41 cents respectively—reflecting a 6 percent increase over their standard offers—their peak rates surge by 92 percent to roughly 63.7 cents per kilowatt-hour. Red Energy reports a 34 percent increase in its daily supply charge to 176.41 cents and a 26 percent rise in its peak rate to 63.72 cents.
SolarQuotes fact-checker Ronald Brakels noted that households with solar panels are unlikely to benefit from the arrangement because they already generate inexpensive daytime power, though exceptions exist for systems with very small capacities. Conversely, households without solar systems may find the plans advantageous if they successfully relocate heavy energy consumption, such as running washing machines or dishwashers, into the designated free window.
Integrating a home battery system offers a clear pathway to maximize the value of Solar Sharer tariffs. Consumers can utilize the midday free window to charge their batteries completely without cost, subsequently drawing from stored energy to cover needs during high-priced evening peak periods and avoiding steep usage charges.
Because rates, network availability, and free window hours fluctuate significantly by location, the evaluated figures apply specifically to the Ausgrid network in Sydney. Similar tariff structures are scheduled for introduction in Victoria in October, while consumers in eligible regions can utilize local comparison tools to evaluate specific postcodes.
Originally reported by SolarQuotes on Jul 23, 2026.
