A new energy scheme gives Australians three hours of free power a day – but there could be an expensive catch
Guardian AU
•Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:00:33 GMT
📰 What Happened
The Solar Share energy deal, which offers households in much of eastern Australia without rooftop solar three free hours of electricity in the middle of the day, had been switched on in July. It is available in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. Energy minister Chris Bowen announced the scheme last year to spread the benefit of cheap renewable power to more households, including those without solar or battery. Observers now warn that the deal on the documented supply and peak-use charges is much higher than other market offers.
🔍 The Backstory
The scheme fits within the government's broader push to shift households onto clean energy and reduce bills amid abundant daytime solar supply. It is designed to let non-solar homes draw on the cheap midday surplus of renewable generation. But a commonly regulated, price issue can place daily supply and network charges high while changing what deep power actually costs across the day. It sits in a political contest over whether the renewable build-out genuinely lowers bills in the way government claim.
🎯 Why It Matters
The deal tests whether the savings from abundant clean energy reach households that cannot afford solar panels or batteries. If daily supply and peak charges more than offset three free daytime hours, some households could end up paying more under the official plan. That would undermine one of the key promises of the transition. It also raises a broader question of whether 'free power' headline matters really deliver the long-term savings consumers expect.
The Solar Share energy deal, which offers households in much of eastern Australia without rooftop solar three free hours of electricity in the middle of the day, had been switched on in July. It is available in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. Energy minister Chris Bowen announced the scheme last year to spread the benefit of cheap renewable power to more households, including those without solar or battery. Observers now warn that the deal on the documented supply and peak-use charges is much higher than other market offers.
The scheme fits within the government's broader push to shift households onto clean energy and reduce bills amid abundant daytime solar supply. It is designed to let non-solar homes draw on the cheap midday surplus of renewable generation. But a commonly regulated, price issue can place daily supply and network charges high while changing what deep power actually costs across the day. It sits in a political contest over whether the renewable build-out genuinely lowers bills in the way government claim.
The deal tests whether the savings from abundant clean energy reach households that cannot afford solar panels or batteries. If daily supply and peak charges more than offset three free daytime hours, some households could end up paying more under the official plan. That would undermine one of the key promises of the transition. It also raises a broader question of whether 'free power' headline matters really deliver the long-term savings consumers expect.