Your Energy Bill Just Got a Lot More Interesting: Meet the Solar Share Offer
We often have prospects telling us that they are "sick of watching their neighbour's solar panels while paying through the nose for power" since they are renting, living in apartments or have too much shading on their roof for solar panels to be effective?
We've got some good news for them?
The Big Change Coming in July 2026
Australia produces more solar energy than we know what to do with. Seriously. Every sunny day, we're literally throwing away enough clean electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes simply because there's too much of it at midday and not enough people using it.
The government's solution? The Solar Sharer Offer. And it's elegantly simple:
You get three consecutive hours of completely free electricity every single day.
Zero. Nada. Nothing. For three full hours.
But Here's the Catch (Of Course There's a Catch)
Those three hours will be during the middle of the day; roughly between 10am and 2pm, depending on where you live. Why? Because that's when all those rooftop solar panels are pumping out power we can't store.
Think of it like this: Australia's electricity grid is like a bathtub. Every sunny day, millions of solar panels turn on the tap full blast. But nobody's home to use the water, so it just overflows down the drain. The government is essentially asking: "What if we gave you a really good reason to take a bath at lunchtime?"
Who Wins Big?
The folks we're most excited for:
1. Renters and apartment dwellers
For the first time ever, you can access solar power without needing to own your roof.
2. Electric vehicle owners
This is your moment. Plugging in for three hours during the free window is like getting fuel for your car at zero cost. If you're charging at home, you've just cut your transport costs dramatically.
3. Families with flexible schedules
Work from home? Part-time hours? Retired? You're in the perfect position to shift your power-hungry tasks to the middle of the day and watch your bills drop.
4. Large households
Big family with lots of laundry, dishwashing, and climate control needs? You have the most to gain; potentially $800–$1,100 a year in savings.
Your Action Plan: How to Actually Save Money
Here's the thing: just because power is free doesn't mean you'll automatically save. You need a game plan.
Priority 1: The Big Ticket Items
Move these power-hungry tasks into your free window:
- Electric vehicle charging (the single biggest saver)
- Washing machine and dryer
- Dishwasher
- Pre-cooling or pre-heating your home before the expensive evening hours kick in
Priority 2: Smart Timing
You don't need to run everything at once. Spread them out across the three hours to avoid overloading your home's circuits. Run the washing machine first, then the dryer, then charge the car.
Priority 3: Get Your Meter Sorted
You'll need a "smart meter" that can track your power use in 30-minute blocks. Most newer homes have these, but if you're unsure, check with your energy retailer. They provide you one for free. It’s cheaper for them than sending a “meter reader” out . Without one, you can't access the free power.
"Should I Still Get Solar Panels?"
Yes. Absolutely yes.
Here's why: those three free hours only cover the middle of the day. You still have 21 other hours when you're paying for power. A good rooftop solar system (typically 6 kW or larger) gives you coverage across the whole rest of the day and shields you from future price rises.
Think of the Solar Sharer Offer as a safety net, not a replacement. Solar panels are still your best long-term investment.
The Battery Question: Double-Dipping on Savings
Here's where things get clever.
If you combine a home battery with the Solar Sharer Offer, you can:
- Charge your battery for free during the midday window (when your panels aren't producing enough)
- Use that stored power during the expensive evening peak hours
Plus, right now there are government rebates covering around 30% of battery costs. So you're getting subsidised batteries and filling them with free electricity. That's what we call a winning strategy.
What About the Water Heater and Pool Pump?
Good question. In the first phase of the rollout, dedicated circuits for hot water and pool pumps won't automatically switch to the free window. But you can:
- Move them to your regular circuit and set timers
- Install smart switches that let you control when they run
We can help you figure out the best setup for your home.( Good Earth Group can help installing one for as low as $250)
The Reality Check
There's one important limit: 24 kilowatt-hours per day during the free window.
That sounds technical, but in real terms, it's generous. It's enough to:
- Fully charge an EV ( You’ll need a fast type 2 charger installed to achieve this)
- Run all your appliances
- Pre-cool your entire home (The effect here depends on how well your home is insulated)
- Do multiple loads of laundry
You'd really have to be running every major appliance simultaneously to hit that limit (especially if you don’t have 3 phase power in your home). For most families, it's a non-issue.
Why This Matters Beyond Your Bill
Every time you use power during that free window, you're:
- Using clean solar energy that would otherwise be wasted
- Reducing pressure on the grid during expensive evening peaks
- Helping Australia avoid billions in unnecessary infrastructure costs
- Making renewable energy work better for everyone
Your individual choices actually shape how well our energy system functions.
What You Need to Do Now
Step 1: Check if you have a smart meter. Contact your energy retailer if you're unsure.
Step 2: Start thinking about your daily routine. What could you shift to midday?
Step 3: If you're considering solar or batteries, talk to us. The economics have shifted, and there are better strategies now than even six months ago.
Step 4: Mark July 2026 in your calendar. When the offer goes live, you'll need to actively choose it, it won't happen automatically.
The Bottom Line
The Solar Sharer Offer isn't perfect, and it won't solve everything. But it's the first time that renters, apartment dwellers, and everyday households can access real solar savings.
It requires you to reshape some habits. To run the dishwasher at noon instead of after dinner. To plug in the car before lunch instead of overnight.
But if you're willing to let the sun dictate your schedule just a little bit, you could be looking at hundreds, even over a thousand dollars in annual savings.
Questions? Want to talk strategy?
The team at Good Earth Group is here to help you make sense of this and figure out the right combination of solar, batteries, and smart timing for your specific situation.
Because here's the thing about energy: it's not just about what you use. It's about when you use it. And starting July 2026, that "when" just became worth a whole lot more.
Get in touch: info@goodearthgroup.com.au
