"The Solar Sharer plan will be available to everyone in New South Wales, South Australia, and in the southeastern part of Queensland to start; more regions will be added later. Households won't have to have solar on their rooftops to qualify, though they will need a smart meter installed. The plan will help those who live in apartments or don't have a suitable rooftop to benefit from their neighbors' panels, Bowen said."
"Although the government hasn't said which hours in the middle of the day will qualify, the hours between 11 am and 2 pm are the most likely candidates. Customers will have to opt-in to the new plan, which is meant to encourage people to shift their energy use to peak solar production hours. Smart appliances can help people make the most of this by allowing them to time when EVs charge or loads of laundry run."
The Australian government will provide electricity customers in New South Wales, South Australia, and southeastern Queensland with up to three hours of free electricity per day starting July 2026. The Solar Sharer plan will be available to all households in those regions, including renters and apartment dwellers, provided a smart meter is installed. Participation requires customers to opt in and aims to shift consumption to peak solar production hours—likely between 11 am and 2 pm—by using timed smart appliances and EV charging. The initiative leverages widespread rooftop solar installations, reduces nighttime reliance on coal and gas, and lessens need for grid-scale batteries.
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