If you’ve been hearing about three hours of free power a day and “Solar Sharer” on the news, it can be a bit confusing to work out what it means if you live in Melbourne.
The federal government’s Solar Sharer scheme will give eligible households in some states up to three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, starting in July 2026. The idea is simple: use more energy when the grid is overflowing with cheap solar, and less in the expensive evening peak.
Victoria isn’t in the first wave of that scheme because it uses the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), not the national Default Market Offer. But that doesn’t mean Melbourne households are stuck waiting. GloBird Energy already has solar share-style plans that reward you for using more power in the sunny part of the day.
This guide explains how Solar Share works in Melbourne right now, who it suits, and how plans like FOUR4FREE and ZEROHERO can fit into your options.
What “Solar Share” Really Means
Solar Share means time-of-use plans that give you free or cheaper electricity in the middle of the day, when solar generation is high.
The federal Solar Sharer scheme is the clearest example:
- Energy retailers in NSW, SA and south-east QLD will be required to offer a plan with around three free hours each day, likely between 11am and 2pm.
- You must opt in and have a smart meter.
- You only really save if you can shift usage (washing, air con, dishwashers, EV charging) into that free window.
The goal is to:
- Use up excess solar that currently goes to waste in the middle of the day.
- Ease pressure on the grid during the evening peak.
- Share more of the benefits of renewables with people who don’t have rooftop solar.
Melbourne isn’t included yet, but the federal government has said it wants to work with other states to potentially extend Solar Sharer nationally by 2027. In the meantime, Victorians can look at retailer-run “free hours” deals that follow the same logic.
Is Solar Sharer Available in Melbourne?
Short answer: not yet, at least not the official government scheme.
The Solar Sharer rules are tied to the Default Market Offer (DMO), which covers NSW, SA and south-east QLD.
Victoria uses the VDO, regulated by state authorities, so it’s outside the first rollout.
However, many retailers across the country already offer free-energy or “solar share” style deals, even in states not covered by Solar Sharer.
That’s where GloBird’s Melbourne products come in.
How Solar Share Works in Melbourne Right Now
In Melbourne, Solar Share is less about a government-mandated plan and more about retailer offers that reward daytime use.
Plans like FOUR4FREE and ZEROHERO are built around:
- A cheaper or free daytime window (roughly late morning to early afternoon).
- Higher rates during the evening peak, when power is most expensive.
- A requirement for a smart meter so your usage can be measured by time.
If you can flex your routines—running more appliances between 10am and 2pm rather than at dinner time—you can piggyback off the same logic as Solar Sharer and potentially cut your bill.
GloBird’s FOUR4FREE Plan in Melbourne
FOUR4FREE is a simple, solar share-style plan that works across multiple Victorian distribution networks (AusNet, CitiPower, Jemena, Powercor, United Energy).
Key features:
- Four hours of off-peak usage every day, typically from 10am–2pm.
- Peak rates at all other times.
- Fixed time periods set by GloBird, so the 10am–2pm window doesn’t change with your local network’s default off-peak times.
You still pay for electricity outside the off-peak window, so the trick is to move as much controllable usage as you can into those four hours.
GloBird’s ZEROHERO Plan for Battery Owners
If you have (or are planning to install) a home battery, GloBird’s ZEROHERO plan goes a step further. It’s a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) product aimed at customers in VIC and other states who want to earn more from their battery.
ZEROHERO gives eligible battery customers a free grid charging window in the middle of the day and rewards them for using little or no grid power during the evening peak, so they can charge up when energy is cheap and avoid buying it when it’s most expensive.
Conclusion
Melbourne might not be in the first wave of the federal Solar Sharer scheme, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck on old-school plans. Retail offers like FOUR4FREE and ZEROHERO already let you:
- Push more of your usage into solar-rich daytime hours,
- Ease off the grid during the evening peak, and
- Potentially shave real dollars off your bill—especially if you can be flexible or have a battery.
Solar Share in Melbourne is ultimately about timing, not just technology. If your life can bend towards the sun a little—using more power when it’s plentiful and cheap—you’re in a good position to benefit from these plans today, and from the broader Solar Sharer changes that may arrive in Victoria in the coming years.
Image Source
https://unsplash.com/pt-br/fotografias/paineis-solares-pretos-e-brancos-0GbrjL3vZF4