Briefly
- Households in New South Wales, South Australia and parts of Queensland will be able to access free electricity during a daily three-hour window.
- Eligible households will need to register through their energy retailers.
Some Australians in the country’s east will soon be able to get three hours of free electricity a day as part of the Federal Government’s solar power proposal.
Starting on Wednesday, the scheme is designed to give more households access to solar energy when it is most abundant during the day. The scheme will be available to renters and homeowners living in New South Wales, South Australia and south-east Queensland, all of which are subject to the Default Market Offer (DMO).
The DMO, set by the Australian Energy Regulator, is the maximum price that energy retailers can charge individuals and small businesses under a standing electricity supply contract. Other states and territories have their own systems.
Who is eligible?
Households do not need to have their own rooftop solar array to be eligible for the program, but they do need to live in one of the three areas and have a household smart meter installed. They also need to use a retailer that is required to offer a Solar Sharer offering—anyone in DMO regions with more than 1,000 customers—and not ship through the embedded network.
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Small businesses were excluded from the Solar Sharer offer.
When are the free electricity hours?
Eligible households will be able to receive up to 24 kWh of free electricity during a three-hour window each day. For New South Wales and South East Queensland the window is 11am to 2pm AEST. In South Australia the window will be from 12:00 to 15:00 ACST.
The offer is not automatic. Eligible households will need to register through their energy retailer.
How to Make the Most of Your Free Energy Hours
Back in January, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Solar Sharer’s proposal was to “make sure we make the most of our huge solar generation.”
“This will provide direct bill savings to households who sign up and will be able to move energy consumption into the zero cost electricity period, as well as taking pressure off evening peak demand, reducing network and system security costs,” he said.
On its website, Australia’s energy department says households eligible for the Solar Sharer Offer can take advantage of it by scheduling a three-hour daily window.
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He suggests using larger appliances during power outages “when it is safe and practical to do so.” This may include heating and cooling, clothes dryers, washing machines, dishwashers and electric vehicle chargers.
This also involves scheduling regular household chores, such as laundry or washing dishes, during this period.
Will other states and territories follow?
In Victoria, where DMO does not apply, the State Government has announced it will roll out the Midday Energy Saver program from October.
The scheme will offer a free electricity window from 11am to 2pm every day. Victorians interested in accessing the scheme will need to contact their retailers to register by 1 October.
The State Government estimates a household could save between $139 and $429 a year by taking advantage of the scheme, while electric vehicle owners who charge their cars during the free energy period could save an additional $674.
The federal government also says it is considering making the Solar Sharer Offer or equivalent “available in other regions.”
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