Next year, Australia will claim another piece of energy history (something we’ve been pretty good at over the years). Starting in July 2026, millions of Australian households will be able to receive three hours of completely free electricity every day. And they don’t even need to have solar panels on their rooves to do so.
As part of the Federal Government’s retail energy market reforms, a new regulated electricity offer, Solar Sharer, will be introduced next year through the Default Market Offer, requiring retailers to offer free electricity to households for at least three hours in the middle of the day when solar generation is at its peak.
We think it’s a great idea, but guess what? Eligible households can already access free electricity during the day via GloBird Energy’s FOUR4FREE plan.
What is the Solar Sharer scheme?
Solar Sharer is a groundbreaking initiative that addresses a uniquely Australian challenge: we have so much energy being collected via rooftop solar that wholesale electricity prices often become negative during sunny midday hours when demand is usually not very high compared to later in the afternoon and evening.
Australia has over four million rooftop solar installations, accounting for greater combined capacity than the entire fleet of remaining coal-fired power stations across the country.
However, this abundance creates a daily surplus where the grid generates far more electricity than households consume during daylight hours. Peak generation in the middle of sunny days can drive electricity prices into negative territory due to oversupply.
Rather than letting this clean energy go to waste, the government has come up with the Solar Sharer program, designed to share the benefits with all Australians. GloBird has offered plans with free power for hours during the solar window for many years now.
We’re not saying they got the idea from us, but we like to think we are the inspiration. Next, they will be insisting on a locally based customer service team to keep jobs in Australia (OK, enough gloating).
Solar Sharer is about inclusivity
Unlike previous solar incentives that primarily benefited homeowners who could afford rooftop panels, the Solar Sharer Plan extends benefits to renters and apartment residents as well.
Whether you own a family home, live in a unit, rent an apartment, or have solar panels, all you need to be eligible for sharing the benefits of abundant solar energy is to reside in a participating region.
If you do live in one of the participating regions, the only requirements to join the Solar Sharer scheme are having a smart meter and being on the default offer.
Of course, it will only make sense to households that are able to shift their usage patterns to within the windows where electricity is free, but it will be well worth doing so.
Where will Solar Sharer be introduced?
The Solar Sharer program will initially launch across New South Wales, South Australia, and southeast Queensland from July 2026. The government will consult with other states to potentially extend the offer to other jurisdictions by 2027.
While the exact hours haven’t been finalised, the hours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. are the most likely candidates, because that’s when solar generation hits its peak.
The idea of soaking up that good energy is a good thing; it may shift usage patterns to align with supply, which has to help. That’s exactly what the FOUR4FREE plan does. And it might just save you heaps.
How to take advantage of Solar Sharer
The key to making the most of the Solar Sharer program, just like FOUR4FREE, is shifting your electricity use to the middle of the day as much as possible.
Here’s how households can benefit:
Run major appliances during free hours: Customers can use appliances, run air conditioners or swimming pool cleaners, and charge their electric vehicles and home batteries at home during the day for free.
Use smart scheduling: Modern appliances often have timers, making it simple to set your dishwasher, washing machine, or pool pump to run during the free electricity window.
Charge home batteries: If you have a home battery system, fill it up during the free period and use that stored energy during evening peak hours when rates are higher.
Charge your EV: For electric vehicle owners, midday charging means powering your car at zero cost.
The Solar Sharer scheme is about more than individual savings
The bigger picture behind the concept of the Solar Sharer program is that it will lower costs for the system as a whole by reducing peak demand in the evenings, with flow-on effects throughout the system that minimise expensive peak electricity prices and reduce the need for costly network upgrades.
We think that it will also be good for the environment, just like our FOUR4FREE plan is, because using lots of power during the period when all that excess solar is entering the grid, between 10 am and 2 pm, means the electricity you use in that window is more likely to be from a renewable source.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen captured the program’s dual benefit perfectly when he stated: “Free daytime power for families across Australia is proof that what’s good for the planet is good for your pocket”.
Will the Solar Sharer offer reduce overall bills?
The Australian Energy Regulator will oversee the Solar Sharer program to ensure customers receive fair pricing outside of the free power periods.
This regulatory framework prevents retailers from increasing rates applicable at other times to offset the free electricity hours.
Analysis from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action showed that a single-person household could save around 9% on their bill by moving 10% of their energy use to the free hours.
The actual savings will vary based on how much energy use you can shift to the free period.
Our own analysis of the savings for GloBird Energy customers who have signed up for the FOUR4FREE indicates that many have been able to save significantly more than 10% month after month.
Australia continues to set an example
Australia’s solar success story, now including this innovative scheme, could inspire similar programs globally. More than one in three Australian homes has solar panels on their roof, thanks to installations costing about $840 per kilowatt of capacity before rebates, which is roughly a third of what U.S. households pay.
The Solar Sharer program represents a practical solution to renewable energy abundance: rather than curtailing solar generation or letting prices crash, it encourages consumers to use clean energy when it’s most available. It’s a win for household budgets, a win for the electricity grid, and a win for the environment.
For Australians in participating states, the message is simple: start thinking about how you can shift your electricity use to the middle of the day, ensure you have a smart meter installed, and get ready to enjoy your free solar power from July 2026.
Enjoy free energy now
Meanwhile, check out GloBird’s FOUR4FREE plan to see if you’re eligible. If you are, you can start saving now.
To summarise, between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm every day, residential customers with an eligible smart meter are charged an electricity usage rate of $0 for the standard usage circuits.
Just like the Government’s Solar Sharer scheme, our FOUR4FREE aims to reduce our reliance on energy later in the day when solar is less prevalent in the overall grid energy mix and overnight when it’s not in the mix at all.