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NSW, QLD and SA households can enjoy three hours of free electricity usage each day up to a cap on our Solar Sharer Offer. No solar panels required—simply shift some of your electricity usage into the free usage period to enjoy the benefits. See details below.
Plan features
The Standing Offer Solar Sharer is a standalone plan and requires you to switch plans to access this offer.
- You must opt in. You will not be automatically moved onto this plan
- A smart meter is required
- A daily supply charge and controlled load charges (if applicable) still apply
- Free electricity usage is capped. Any usage above the reasonable use cap will be charged
Basic Plan Information Documents are available online or upon request. A BPID is an information sheet that contains all the key details about a plan.
How it works
The Standing Offer Solar Sharer is a time-of-use electricity plan with a daily free usage period.
- Three hours of free electricity usage each day up to a reasonable use cap of 24 kWh per day calculated across your billing period
- NSW and QLD: 11:00am to 2:00pm
- SA: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
- No solar panels or battery required
- Available to eligible households in NSW, QLD and SA with a smart meter
- Non-usage charges like the daily supply charge, and usage charges for your controlled load (if applicable) still apply.
Free electricity explained
Electricity used during the free usage period is included at no cost for the usage component of your bill, up to a daily limit (reasonable use cap) of 24 kWh. If you go over the cap, applicable rates apply to the extra usage. Your cap is applied as an average of 24 kWh per day across your billing period, rather than a strict daily limit. That means if you use less on one day and more on another, it can balance out.
For example:
If you use 14 kWh one day and 34 kWh the next, that averages to 24 kWh per day - so all of that usage remains within the reasonable use cap for both days. If your usage during the free usage period exceeds this average over the billing period, any excess electricity will be charged at your applicable rates.
Is this plan right for you?
The Standing Offer Solar Sharer plan is best suited to customers who can shift some of their electricity usage into the free usage period.
Best suited for:
- Customers who are home during the day such as people working from home, retirees or shift workers
- Households willing to run appliances like washing machines or dishwashers during the middle of the day
- Customers without rooftop solar looking for a different way to benefit from daytime solar energy
May not be suited for:
- Customers who use most of their electricity in the evening or overnight
- Customers who are unable to change when they use electricity
If you don't shift your usage into the free usage period, you may pay more overall compared to other plans.
Pricing
The Standing Offer Solar Sharer applies time-of-use pricing, meaning the rates you pay depend on when you use electricity.
The free electricity usage period is available up to the reasonable use cap of 24 kWh per day. Any usage above this limit is charged at your applicable rates.
Actual rates vary by location and will be shown during the sign-up process. For Solar Sharer pricing in your network area, including controlled load if that applies to you, visit our pricing page.
What you'll see on your bill
Your bill will show:
- Electricity used during the Solar Sharer free usage period at no cost, up to the reasonable use cap
- Any usage in the free usage period above the 24 kWh daily cap charged at applicable rates
- Charges for electricity used outside the free usage period
- Your daily supply charge
- Controlled load charges (if applicable)
Your bill will look different to a flat rate plan because usage is shown across different time periods.
Get started
To learn more about the Standing Offer Solar Sharer or to check if it is right for you, call 133 466 or sign up online.
Important information
The Standing Offer Solar Sharer plan is best suited to customers who can shift usage into the free usage period. If you don’t shift your usage, you may pay more. Free electricity usage during the period is capped at 24 kWh per day. Usage above this cap will incur charges. The daily supply charge, usage charges for your controlled load (if applicable) and other fees still apply.
The Standing Offer Solar Sharer plan is a standalone electricity plan that gives eligible households three hours of free electricity usage each day (NSW & QLD: 11:00am to 2:00pm; SA: 12:00pm to 3:00pm).
It’s a time-of-use plan, which means rates vary depending on when you use electricity. To get the most out of this plan, you’ll need to shift some of your usage into the free usage window.
Electricity used during the free usage period is included at no cost for the usage component of your bill, up to a daily limit (reasonable use cap) of 24 kWh. If you go over the cap, applicable rates apply to the extra usage. Your free electricity usage is calculated as an average across your billing period, which could benefit you more than a strict daily limit.
This means lower usage on one day can offset higher usage above the cap on another. For example:
If you use 14 kWh one day and 34 kWh the next, that averages to 24 kWh per day - so all of that usage remains within the reasonable use cap for both days.
No. You don’t need a rooftop solar system. The plan is designed so customers without a solar system can benefit from solar energy available from the grid.
You may be eligible if you:
- Are a residential customer
- Have an eligible smart meter
- Live in NSW, QLD or SA
Yes. An eligible smart meter is required so your electricity usage can be measured during the free usage period.
No. You must actively opt in. You won’t be switched automatically.
Yes, renters can sign up if they meet the eligibility criteria and are authorised to sign up for their rental property.
It depends on how you use electricity.
You’re more likely to benefit if you:
- Are home during the day (e.g. if you work from home, a retiree or shift worker)
- Can run appliances during the free usage period (washing machines, dishwashers, EV charging)
If you mostly use electricity in the evening or overnight, this plan may not be suitable
Yes. To get the most benefit, you’ll need to shift some of your usage into the free usage period.
Important:
- Savings are not automatic
- If you don’t change your usage, your bill could be higher compared to being on other plans
This plan may not be ideal. Plans without a free middle of the day window may better suit your usage.
It’s free up to 24 kWh per day only for the usage component of your bill and is calculated as an average across your billing period.
Any usage above this limit is charged at applicable usage rates.
Yes. You will still pay:
- Any applicable fees and non-usage charges such as the daily supply charge
- Charges for usage outside the free usage period
- Any applicable controlled load usage charges
Rates outside the free usage period may be higher than your current plan, especially during peak times.
That’s why it’s important to consider your total usage across the day, not just the free usage hours.
Your bill will show:
- Free usage (during the Solar Sharer period)
- Usage above the reasonable use cap with applicable rates
- Time-of-use charges for other periods (outside the free usage period)
No. The Solar Sharer offer is a standalone plan. You’ll need to switch from your current plan to the Standing Offer Solar Sharer plan.
It’s different:
- If you already have a rooftop solar system, this plan is unlikely to provide benefits, given your system will be generating electricity during the free usage period
- The Solar Sharer offer gives you free electricity usage during set times, without installation of a rooftop solar system
You should compare plans based on your actual usage across the day not just the free usage period.
Important: estimates generally won’t assume you’ll change your behaviour because they are usually based on historical usage.
Yes. You can switch plans at any time, according to Standing Offer terms and conditions.
The free usage period is regulated and consistent, so all eligible customers across a state get the same benefit based on location.
Your free electricity usage limit or reasonable use cap is applied as an average of 24 kWh per day across your billing period, rather than a strict daily limit. That means if you use less on one day and more on another, it can balance out.
For example:
If you use 14 kWh one day and 34 kWh the next, that averages to 24 kWh per day - so all of that usage remains within the reasonable use cap for both days. If your usage during the free usage period exceeds this average over the billing period, any excess electricity usage will be charged at your applicable rates.
The reasonable use cap is applied as an average of 24 kWh per day across your billing period, rather than a strict daily limit.
This means your usage during the free usage period is added up over the billing period and compared against your total allowance. Lower usage on some days can offset higher usage on others.
If your total usage during the free usage period stays within your total allowance for the billing period, it will be included at no cost. If it exceeds your total allowance, the additional usage will be charged at your applicable rates.
For example:
If you use 14 kWh one day and 34 kWh the next, that averages to 24 kWh per day - so all of that usage remains within the reasonable use cap for both days. If your usage during the free usage period exceeds this average over the billing period, any excess electricity will be charged at the applicable rates.
If you’re an Energy Australia customer, you can check your electricity usage in My Account, where it’s shown in hourly intervals. This helps you see how much electricity you use during the Solar Sharer free usage period.
If you’re not yet a customer, you can review your recent electricity bills or meter data, if available, to estimate how much energy you use during the middle of the day.
If your usage during those hours is consistently high, you may be more likely to exceed the 24 kWh per day over your billing period. Reviewing your usage can also help you identify opportunities to shift more usage into the free usage period.