Solar Sharer Offer in NSW: How to Use 3 Free Hours of Power at Home

What This Article Covers

A quick overview before you dive in:

• What the Solar Sharer Offer is: an opt-in plan with three free hours of electricity in the middle of the day, from 11am to 2pm in NSW.
• Who can get it: households with a smart meter, with or without solar, but not homes supplied through an embedded network.
• The fine print: the 24 kWh limit in the free period, and why the rest of the plan's rates still decide whether it saves you money.
• How to move big loads into the free window, from EV charging and pool pumps to dishwashers, and where an electrician can help.

The Solar Sharer Offer in NSW gives eligible households three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, every day. It started on 1 July 2026, it's opt-in, and you need a smart meter, but you don't need solar panels. Whether it saves you money depends on how much of your power use you can move into that window, and on what the rest of the plan charges.

This guide from Impulse Electrical Enterprise, a Sydney electrician based in Strathfield, explains how it works and how to make the most of it, especially if you charge an electric vehicle at home. We're licensed and insured, and our director, Matthew Neil, supervises every job. We're not an energy retailer, so compare plans with your retailer or on the government's Energy Made Easy website before you switch.

What the Solar Sharer Offer Is

The Solar Sharer Offer is a type of electricity plan that retailers must offer in New South Wales, South East Queensland and South Australia. According to energy.gov.au, it gives eligible households three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, when solar power is abundant.

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) sets the details. Its Solar Sharer Offer fact sheet says:

• the free period in NSW is 11am to 2pm
• you can use up to 24 kWh free in that period each day, and use above that is charged at a separate rate
• it's an opt-in plan, so you have to choose it: you can't be moved onto it automatically
• retailers with more than 1,000 customers in the regions covered must offer it.

Who Can Get the Solar Sharer Offer

You can opt in if you're a household with a smart meter. Solar panels aren't needed: the free power comes from the grid, so renters and apartment owners can benefit too, as long as they have a smart meter and their own electricity account with a retailer.

Homes supplied through an embedded network, such as some apartment buildings, retirement villages and caravan parks where the building owner on-sells electricity, can't get it. If you're not sure whether you have a smart meter, check your bill or ask your retailer. If you don't have one, ask your retailer whether one can be installed, as smart meters are arranged through your retailer rather than booked with your own electrician.

The Fine Print: Is It Right for Your Home?

Free hours sound simple, but the plan still has its own rates for the other 21 hours of the day. The AER notes that if you shift some use into the free period but use more at other times, you could end up with a higher bill overall. Before you switch, look at:

• the peak, shoulder and off-peak rates outside 11am to 2pm, compared with your current plan
• the daily supply charge
• how much of your use you could realistically move to the middle of the day
• whether you're home during the free period, or have appliances that can safely run on a timer.

If you have solar panels, your panels may already cover much of your midday use. The offer can still help if your system is small, or if you have loads big enough to use more than your panels make.

How to Use the Free Hours at Home

The trick is to move your biggest loads into the 11am to 2pm window and keep them there. Most of these need nothing more than a timer or an app:

• Electric vehicle charging. An EV is often the biggest single load in a home. Set your car or your wall charger to charge between 11am and 2pm. A 7 kW single phase charger running for the full three hours uses about 21 kWh. That's close to the 24 kWh limit, which covers your whole home, so if other appliances run in the window too, set a lower charge limit or a shorter charging schedule.
• Dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. Use the delay start so they run in the free window. Only run the clothes dryer while someone is home, as Fire and Rescue NSW advises not to leave a dryer running when you're out, and clean the lint filter each time.
• Pool pump. Set its timer to run during the free hours, if that suits your pool's filtering needs.
• Cooling and heating. On hot days, running the air conditioner during the free period can cool the house down before the evening peak.
• Electric hot water. If your system is on an off-peak (controlled load) supply, it heats at times set by your network, so ask your retailer how that part of your bill works on the Solar Sharer Offer before changing anything.

All of these are settings you can change yourself. Don't open up a hot water system, switchboard or appliance to rewire a timer: that's electrical work for a licensed electrician.

If your electric storage hot water isn't heating properly at the times it should, we also do electric hot water repairs.

Getting the Most From It With an EV Charger

Charging an EV from a standard power point is slow, so a portable cable may not add much charge in a three hour window. A wall charger gets far more out of it. A single phase charger runs at up to about 7 kW, which can use most of the 24 kWh free limit in three hours. A three phase charger can run faster if your home has three phase power and your car can accept it, but the free limit stays at 24 kWh a day, so a faster charger mainly helps if your car is only home for part of the window. Our guide to charging an EV at home explains the difference.

We supply and install home EV chargers from Tesla, Ocular and Zappi, or install a compatible charger you've already bought. Single phase installation starts from $1,050 + GST, and the charger is extra if we supply it. Many EVs and app-controlled chargers let you set a charging schedule, so check your car's app or your charger's app. If your charger has an app, we set it up and show you how to use it when we install. You can get a quick idea of the cost for your home with our EV charger cost estimator.

Questions About the Solar Sharer Offer in NSW

Do I need solar panels for the Solar Sharer Offer?

No. You need a smart meter, but not solar. The free electricity comes from the grid during the middle of the day.

What time is the free period in NSW?

11am to 2pm, according to the AER's fact sheet for the offer that started on 1 July 2026. The times are in local time, so the window stays at 11am to 2pm during daylight saving. Check your retailer's plan details, as the AER sets the Default Market Offer, which includes the Solar Sharer Offer, each year from 1 July.

Is there a limit on the free electricity?

Yes. You can use up to 24 kWh in the free period each day. Use above that during the free period is charged at a separate rate set out in your plan.

Can I charge my electric car for free?

You can charge it during the free period, up to the 24 kWh limit for your whole home. A 7 kW wall charger running for three hours uses about 21 kWh, so if you're running other appliances in the window too, set a lower charge limit or a shorter schedule to stay under 24 kWh.

Want to Charge Your EV in the Free Hours?

If you're thinking about a wall charger so you can make the most of the free midday power, we can check your switchboard and give you a fixed price. Call us on 0481 228 836 or request a free quote.