From the start of this month, most energy retailers will be required to offer tariffs that offer three free hours of electricity a day. We examined three solar sharer offerings to see the devil in the details – how much additional customers will have to pay in daily utility fees and peak rates.
What is the Solar Sharer offer?
From July 1, 2026, retailers in New South Wales, southeast Queensland and South Australia will be required to offer at least one tariff with three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day. Free energy is limited to 24 kilowatt hours (kWh) per day. Nobody is forced to do this; You choose it.
The free window runs from 11am to 2pm in NSW and southeast Queensland and 12pm to 3pm in South Africa. You need a smart meter, but not solar panels. The offer is also open to renters and non-solar households.
For more details on how the scheme works, see our Solar Sharer Statement.
Three solar sharer plans compared
We compared AGL, Origin and Red Energy’s Solar Sharer plans to each company’s standard plan for a Sydney address in the 2000 postcode on the Ausgrid network (Origin owns SolarQuotes but has no involvement in our editorial content). We chose these companies because they are the most popular retailers in NSW with relevant plans (“the “big 3” retailers Energy Australia would have made the grade, but they did not meet the government’s deadline to introduce a solar sharer plan).
We compare Solar Sharer offerings to standard plans to provide an even rating across all companies. However, keep in mind that each retailer’s standing offer is not the best non-Solar Sharer offer available – it’s just the offer that will apply by default if you don’t choose a plan or if your old contract ends.
AGL: Solar sharing offer vs. permanent offer for residential properties
AGL Solar Sharers:
- Daily utility fee: 176.24c/day
- Peak tariff: 63.72 c/kWh
- Off-peak tariff: 27.56 c/kWh
- Free window (first 24 kWh/day): 0.00 c/kWh
- Solar feed-in tariff: 0.0 c/kWh
AGL Residential Standing Offer:
- Daily utility fee: 166.19c/day
- General use (single tariff): 33.14 c/kWh
- Solar feed-in tariff: 0.0 c/kWh
Here’s the difference: With the Solar Sharer plan, the utility rate is 6% higher, while the peak rate is 92% higher. Solar Sharer’s peak price is almost twice the flat rate. The off-peak tariff is 17% lower than the flat rate. The feed-in tariff does not change.
Origin Energy: Solar Sharer vs. Standard Plan
Origin Solar Sharer:
- Daily utility fee: 176.41c/day
- Peak price: 63.69 c/kWh (no seasonal breakdown)
- Off-peak tariff: 27.56 c/kWh
- Free window (first 24 kWh/day): 0.0 c/kWh, then 27.6 c/kWh above the upper limit
- Solar feed-in tariff: 3.0 c/kWh
Origin permanent offer:
- Daily utility fee: 166.21c/day
- Usage fee (individual tariff): 33.14 c/kWh
- Regulated load 1: 19.29c/kWh, plus 4.71c/day additional supply charge
- Regulated load 2: 23.0c/kWh, plus 8.88c/day additional utility charge
- Solar feed-in tariff: 3.0 c/kWh
Here’s the difference: The utility fee is 6% higher with Solar Sharer at 176.41c/day compared to 166.21c/day with the standard plan. The peak price is 92% higher than the flat rate. The off-peak tariff is 17% lower than the flat rate. The feed-in tariff does not change. Both plans pay 3.0 c/kWh to feed solar energy back into the grid.
Red Energy: Solar sharer vs. permanent offer
Red Energy Solar Sharers:
- Daily utility fee: 176.41c/day
- Peak tariff: 63.72 c/kWh
- Off-peak tariff: 27.56 c/kWh
- Free window: 0.00 c/kWh, then 27.56 c/kWh above the upper limit
- Solar feed-in tariff: 1.1 to 6.7 c/kWh exported, depending on the time of day
Permanent offer from Red Energy:
- Daily utility fee: 131.41c/day
- Peak tariff: 50.60 c/kWh
- Shoulder tariff: 35.28 c/kWh
- Off-peak tariff: 25.48 c/kWh
- Solar feed-in tariff: 1.1 to 6.7 c/kWh – the same levels as the Solar Sharer
Here is the difference: the supply price is 34% higher. The top rate is 26% higher. The off-peak tariff is 8% higher. The free window replaces the shoulder frequency. The feed-in tariff remains unchanged.
Who Should Consider a Solar Sharing Plan?
We asked SolarQuotes’ resident fact-checker Ronald Brakels what these numbers mean for someone deciding whether to switch.
“This is unlikely if you have a solar system because it provides you with cheap (free) electricity during the day and is only worth it if you don’t have a solar system if you can shift enough power to the middle of the day, which should definitely be possible,” he says. “But be aware of the 24kWh cap – and most households can only use around 15kW, so you can’t get too carried away.”
That’s the main point. If you already have solar panels, you’re probably using your own midday electricity for next to nothing. The Solar Sharer’s free window doesn’t add much value, but the higher peak tariff does come with additional costs.
It’s not that easy for every solar household, Ronald emphasizes:
“I have relatives with a measly 2.5kW solar system and they benefit from having a solar soaker schedule that charges 7c/kWh during the day because their solar system is not large and they use most of their electricity that day. So solar households can come out on top with cheap daytime power plans, but it definitely depends on the circumstances.”
Households without solar energy have the best reason to switch, as long as they can shift a sufficient portion of their daily electricity consumption to the free window. It helps to run the dishwasher, washing machine or heat the water between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
A home battery makes solar sharers worthwhile
A battery is the best way to benefit from these plans. You can charge it for free during the midday window and then use it to power your home during the evening peak. This way you avoid the higher premium price for the most part. Charging your battery from the grid while your solar system is powering the home will help you make the most of those three free hours.
Is it worth the extra cost for a larger battery? This depends on your dealer. Everyone sets their own peak rate, utility fee and free time slot. So the number of kilowatt hours you need to shift to break even varies from retailer to retailer.
Check your zip code
All information above is based on a Sydney address on the Ausgrid network. Tariffs, availability and even free opening hours can vary depending on the state and network. So don’t assume that the numbers above apply to your region.
Use Our electricity tariff comparison tool to search your zip code and check and compare solar sharer plans in your area. Note that these are currently only available in NSW, SA and Southern NSW. Similar plans are planned for Victoria in October.
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