Solar Sharer Plans: Free Electricity, Hidden Traps, and Who Actually Wins
Australia’s energy grid is undergoing a massive shift. With rooftop solar generating record amounts of electricity during the day, energy regulators and state governments have introduced new standing offers: the federal Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) and Victoria’s Midday Power Saver.
These plans offer a compelling headline feature: 3 hours of free electricity every single day (typically between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM) capped at up to 24 kWh per day.
However, “free” electricity does not automatically translate to a lower power bill.If signed up without understanding the fine print, households can end up paying significantly more than they would on a standard flat-rate plan.
How Solar Sharer Plans Work
Solar Sharer and Midday Power Saver tariffs operate on a modified Time-of-Use (TOU) framework.
The Free Window:Electricity drawn from the grid between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM is charged at $0.00 per kWh (up to a daily limit of 24 kWh).
The Catch:Retailers want to make the same money from each client, regardless of how expensive generation actually is. The will recoup the “cost” of this free power by increasing usage rates during other periods—especially during evening peak hours.
Daily Supply Charges:Fixed daily supply fees still apply every day.
Plan Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons / Limitations
$0/kWh Midday Power: Free electricity up to 24 kWh daily between 11 AM and 2 PM.
Opt-In Only: You must manually contact your retailer; switch is not automatic.
Why These Plans Can Be More Expensive
Energy retailers do not give away electricity for free out of charity.To balance the $0/kWh midday window, retailers structure the surrounding Time-of-Use rates with a premium price tag.
For example, on the Powercor network in the Macedon Ranges (such as Gisborne), rates are around:
If a household consumes most of its power preparing dinner, running heating/cooling, and watching TV between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM without shifting daytime usage, the 43.81¢/kWh peak penalty will quickly wipe out any midday savings.
Who Benefits Most from Switching?
Electric Vehicle (EV) Owners: Drivers who can plug in at home between 11 AM and 2 PM can pull up to 24 kWh of free range daily (~120–150 km of driving).
Home Battery Owners: Households with smart batteries can grid-charge their battery at 0¢/kWh during midday and discharge that stored energy during the 43.81¢ peak evening period.
Work-From-Home & Automation Power Users:People who are home during the day or use automated appliance timers for dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, heat pumps, and pool pumps.
Takeaway for Non-Solar Homes: Without actively shifting heavy appliances (like hot water and washing machines) into the 11 AM–2 PM window, a non-solar home will pay more on a Solar Sharer plan. However, if 30–40% of daily consumption is successfully shifted, savings can exceed $900/year.
Scenario B: 10 kW Solar System + 24 kWh Battery (25 kWh / day total usage)
Tariff Setup
System Strategy
Daily Cost
Annual Cost
Standard Flat Rate
Solar charges battery; battery powers evening/night; minor grid import in winter; average 9 kWh/day solar export.
$1.21
$442
Solar Sharer Plan
Battery grid-charges for free between 11 AM–2 PM; stored power runs the house all night; 100% of solar generation (20+ kWh/day) is exported to grid.
$0.38
$139 (-$303 vs standard)
Takeaway for Solar + Battery Homes: The combination of a 10 kW solar array and a 24 kWh battery unlocks maximum savings on a Solar Sharer plan. By grid-charging the battery at $0.00/kWh during midday, grid usage for the remaining 21 hours drops to zero. Meanwhile, excess solar generation is exported back to the grid for feed-in credits rather than being stored, reducing net electricity costs to under $140 per year.
With a sufficiently sized solar system and careful energy use, the Solar Sharer plans will only really make a significant difference in winter when there isn’t enough total generation in the day to charge the battery and provide enough for the home at night.
Scenario B: 6.6 kW Solar Only System
Don’t Bother: Your midday energy will come primarily from the solar panels anyway so the free power won’t be of much use to you (maybe in winter). Without a battery to store excess, you will be paying a premium for all grid energy used outside of the free window. Speak to us about adding a battery to your existing system.
FAQs
Q: Do I need solar panels to get a Solar Sharer plan?
No.Solar Sharer offers are designed so non-solar households, renters, and apartments can benefit from cheap daytime solar energy feeding into the grid.
Q: Is a smart meter mandatory?
Yes.Retailers require a smart meter to measure electricity consumption in 30-minute intervals to bill the 11 AM–2 PM window at $0.00/kWh.
Q: What happens if I use more than 24 kWh during the free period?
Any consumption exceeding 24 kWh within the 3-hour window is charged at the retailer’s lowest off-peak rate, not peak rates.
Q: Will daylight saving time change the free 11 AM–2 PM window?
No.The free window remains fixed at 11 AM–2 PM local standard time year-round to maintain consistency.
Q: Should I automatically switch to a Solar Sharer plan?
Not without checking your usage history first.If you are away from home during the day, cannot automate your appliances, or lack a home battery/EV, a low flat-rate market offer will generally deliver cheaper annual bills than a Solar Sharer plan.
Alan is an award winning solar designer that has been working in the solar industry since 2007. He has extensive knowledge of all things solar from his experience working in off-grid, grid connected and large scale solar systems.
Solar Sharer Plans: Free Electricity, Hidden Traps, and Who Actually Wins
Australia’s energy grid is undergoing a massive shift. With rooftop solar generating record amounts of electricity during the day, energy regulators and state governments have introduced new standing offers: the federal Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) and Victoria’s Midday Power Saver.
These plans offer a compelling headline feature: 3 hours of free electricity every single day (typically between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM) capped at up to 24 kWh per day.
However, “free” electricity does not automatically translate to a lower power bill. If signed up without understanding the fine print, households can end up paying significantly more than they would on a standard flat-rate plan.
How Solar Sharer Plans Work
Solar Sharer and Midday Power Saver tariffs operate on a modified Time-of-Use (TOU) framework.
The Free Window: Electricity drawn from the grid between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM is charged at $0.00 per kWh (up to a daily limit of 24 kWh).
The Catch: Retailers want to make the same money from each client, regardless of how expensive generation actually is. The will recoup the “cost” of this free power by increasing usage rates during other periods—especially during evening peak hours.
Daily Supply Charges: Fixed daily supply fees still apply every day.
Plan Pros & Cons
Why These Plans Can Be More Expensive
Energy retailers do not give away electricity for free out of charity. To balance the $0/kWh midday window, retailers structure the surrounding Time-of-Use rates with a premium price tag.
For example, on the Powercor network in the Macedon Ranges (such as Gisborne), rates are around:
Standard Flat Rate: ~28.22¢ / kWh anytime.
Solar Sharer Tariff: 0¢ / kWh (11 AM–2 PM), ~19.39¢ / kWh (Solar Soak 2 PM–4 PM), ~24.62¢ / kWh (Off-Peak 9 PM–11 AM), and ~43.81¢ / kWh (Peak 4 PM–9 PM).
If a household consumes most of its power preparing dinner, running heating/cooling, and watching TV between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM without shifting daytime usage, the 43.81¢/kWh peak penalty will quickly wipe out any midday savings.
Who Benefits Most from Switching?
Electric Vehicle (EV) Owners: Drivers who can plug in at home between 11 AM and 2 PM can pull up to 24 kWh of free range daily (~120–150 km of driving).
Home Battery Owners: Households with smart batteries can grid-charge their battery at 0¢/kWh during midday and discharge that stored energy during the 43.81¢ peak evening period.
Work-From-Home & Automation Power Users: People who are home during the day or use automated appliance timers for dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, heat pumps, and pool pumps.
Real-World Comparison: Gisborne (Powercor Network)
To see how the numbers play out, consider two homes in Gisborne on the Powercor network consuming an average of 25 kWh per day.
Rates used for analysis:
Standard Flat Rate Plan: $1.38/day supply + 28.22¢/kWh flat usage.
Solar Sharer / Midday Power Saver Plan: $1.38/day supply, 0¢ free window (11 AM–2 PM), 19.39¢ solar soak (2 PM–4 PM), 43.81¢ peak (4 PM–9 PM), 24.62¢ off-peak (9 PM–11 AM).
Scenario A: No Solar Panels (25 kWh / day total usage)
Takeaway for Non-Solar Homes: Without actively shifting heavy appliances (like hot water and washing machines) into the 11 AM–2 PM window, a non-solar home will pay more on a Solar Sharer plan. However, if 30–40% of daily consumption is successfully shifted, savings can exceed $900/year.
Scenario B: 10 kW Solar System + 24 kWh Battery (25 kWh / day total usage)
Takeaway for Solar + Battery Homes: The combination of a 10 kW solar array and a 24 kWh battery unlocks maximum savings on a Solar Sharer plan. By grid-charging the battery at $0.00/kWh during midday, grid usage for the remaining 21 hours drops to zero. Meanwhile, excess solar generation is exported back to the grid for feed-in credits rather than being stored, reducing net electricity costs to under $140 per year.
With a sufficiently sized solar system and careful energy use, the Solar Sharer plans will only really make a significant difference in winter when there isn’t enough total generation in the day to charge the battery and provide enough for the home at night.
Scenario B: 6.6 kW Solar Only System
Don’t Bother: Your midday energy will come primarily from the solar panels anyway so the free power won’t be of much use to you (maybe in winter). Without a battery to store excess, you will be paying a premium for all grid energy used outside of the free window. Speak to us about adding a battery to your existing system.
FAQs
Q: Do I need solar panels to get a Solar Sharer plan?
No. Solar Sharer offers are designed so non-solar households, renters, and apartments can benefit from cheap daytime solar energy feeding into the grid.
Q: Is a smart meter mandatory?
Yes. Retailers require a smart meter to measure electricity consumption in 30-minute intervals to bill the 11 AM–2 PM window at $0.00/kWh.
Q: What happens if I use more than 24 kWh during the free period?
Any consumption exceeding 24 kWh within the 3-hour window is charged at the retailer’s lowest off-peak rate, not peak rates.
Q: Will daylight saving time change the free 11 AM–2 PM window?
No. The free window remains fixed at 11 AM–2 PM local standard time year-round to maintain consistency.
Q: Should I automatically switch to a Solar Sharer plan?
Not without checking your usage history first. If you are away from home during the day, cannot automate your appliances, or lack a home battery/EV, a low flat-rate market offer will generally deliver cheaper annual bills than a Solar Sharer plan.
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