Free
- When
- 11am-2pm every day, first 24 kWh
- Maximum
- 0c/kWh
Free electricity in NSW: the Solar Sharer Offer
Every NSW household with a smart meter can ask for free power from 11am to 2pm, up to 24 kWh a day, under the Solar Sharer Offer. The rest of the day costs more than on a standard plan, and each of the three NSW networks prices those other hours differently. Here is what applies on yours.
NSW price caps checked
11am-2pmfree on Ausgrid, Endeavour and Essential
24 kWhdaily free cap
$1,893-$2,530AER annual price, typical home, no shifting
Headline finding. A typical three-person Sydney home on the time-of-use reference plan that moves nothing saves $0 a year. Move the dishwasher, daily wash and dryer loads into the window and the Solar Sharer comes out $309 a year cheaper. The plan rewards what you move, not what you sign.
Three networks, three tariffs
The free window and the 24 kWh cap are the same across NSW. What differs is when your network's peak runs and what it charges, which decides whether the free hours pay off. Your network is on your bill. Rules that apply everywhere are on the Solar Sharer Offer page.
Ausgrid: a seasonal peak
Sydney (east, inner west, north), Central Coast, Hunter. Ausgrid's peak, 63.72c/kWh, runs 3pm-9pm only from November to March and June to August. In April, May, September and October there is no peak at all, and every hour outside the window is off-peak at 27.56c. That makes Ausgrid the most forgiving network if your evenings are heavy in spring and autumn.
| Charge | When | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 11am-2pm every day, first 24 kWh | 0c/kWh |
| Off-peak | all other hours, and above the cap | 27.56c/kWh |
| Peak | 3pm-9pm, Nov-Mar and Jun-Aug only | 63.72c/kWh |
| Above the cap | window use beyond 24 kWh a day | 27.56c/kWh |
| Supply | every day | 176.41c/day |
Off-peak
- When
- all other hours, and above the cap
- Maximum
- 27.56c/kWh
Peak
- When
- 3pm-9pm, Nov-Mar and Jun-Aug only
- Maximum
- 63.72c/kWh
Above the cap
- When
- window use beyond 24 kWh a day
- Maximum
- 27.56c/kWh
Supply
- When
- every day
- Maximum
- 176.41c/day
Ausgrid's standard time-of-use reference rates are 60.20c peak and 24.04c off-peak, with the same 176.41c/day supply.
Endeavour Energy: weekday peak, a 10am soak
Western Sydney, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Illawarra. Endeavour's peak, 48.75c, applies 4pm-8pm on working weekdays only; weekends and public holidays are off-peak. There is also a cheap solar soak hour, 10am-11am, at 14.19c, which is also the above-cap rate. The catch: Endeavour's Solar Sharer off-peak rate is 37.53c, higher than its flat-rate reference price of 33.73c, and it covers most of the day and night. On the standard time-of-use reference plan the soak runs 10am-2pm at 12.35c, so moving to the Solar Sharer swaps four cheap hours for three free ones and one cheap one.
| Charge | When | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 11am-2pm every day, first 24 kWh | 0c/kWh |
| Off-peak | all other hours, and weekends | 37.53c/kWh |
| Solar soak | 10am-11am, and above the cap | 14.19c/kWh |
| Peak | 4pm-8pm working weekdays | 48.75c/kWh |
| Above the cap | window use beyond 24 kWh a day | 14.19c/kWh |
| Supply | every day | 185.13c/day |
Free
- When
- 11am-2pm every day, first 24 kWh
- Maximum
- 0c/kWh
Off-peak
- When
- all other hours, and weekends
- Maximum
- 37.53c/kWh
Solar soak
- When
- 10am-11am, and above the cap
- Maximum
- 14.19c/kWh
Peak
- When
- 4pm-8pm working weekdays
- Maximum
- 48.75c/kWh
Above the cap
- When
- window use beyond 24 kWh a day
- Maximum
- 14.19c/kWh
Supply
- When
- every day
- Maximum
- 185.13c/day
Essential Energy: two peaks a day
Regional and rural NSW. Essential has a morning peak, 7am-10am, and a long evening peak, 3pm-10pm, both at 45.57c. That is ten peak hours every day of the year. Off-peak, 27.60c, covers only 10pm-7am, 10am-11am and 2pm-3pm. The daily supply charge, 272.22c, is the highest of any Solar Sharer network.
Local time. Some Essential Energy areas keep South Australian or Queensland time. The window always starts at 11am local time, whichever time your area keeps.
| Charge | When | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 11am-2pm every day, first 24 kWh | 0c/kWh |
| Off-peak | 10pm-7am, 10am-11am, 2pm-3pm, and above the cap | 27.60c/kWh |
| Peak | 7am-10am and 3pm-10pm | 45.57c/kWh |
| Above the cap | window use beyond 24 kWh a day | 27.60c/kWh |
| Supply | every day | 272.22c/day |
Free
- When
- 11am-2pm every day, first 24 kWh
- Maximum
- 0c/kWh
Off-peak
- When
- 10pm-7am, 10am-11am, 2pm-3pm, and above the cap
- Maximum
- 27.60c/kWh
Peak
- When
- 7am-10am and 3pm-10pm
- Maximum
- 45.57c/kWh
Above the cap
- When
- window use beyond 24 kWh a day
- Maximum
- 27.60c/kWh
Supply
- When
- every day
- Maximum
- 272.22c/day
Worked examples, all three networks
Computed at build time by the calculator engine| Network | Current plan | Moved to the window | Current, per year | Solar Sharer, per year | Solar Sharer is |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid6,361 kWh a year | Time-of-use reference | Nothing | $2,682 | $2,682 | about the same |
| Ausgrid6,361 kWh a year | Time-of-use reference | 3.1 kWh a day | $2,571 | $2,262 | $309 a year cheaper |
| Ausgrid6,361 kWh a year | Flat-rate reference | 3.1 kWh a day | $2,715 | $2,262 | $452 a year cheaper |
| Endeavour Energy6,361 kWh a year | Time-of-use reference | Nothing | $2,808 | $2,809 | about the same |
| Endeavour Energy6,361 kWh a year | Time-of-use reference | 3.1 kWh a day | $2,517 | $2,359 | $159 a year cheaper |
| Endeavour Energy6,361 kWh a year | Flat-rate reference | 3.1 kWh a day | $2,821 | $2,359 | $462 a year cheaper |
| Essential Energy9,295 kWh a year | Time-of-use reference | Nothing | $4,097 | $4,097 | about the same |
| Essential Energy9,295 kWh a year | Time-of-use reference | 3.1 kWh a day | $3,975 | $3,666 | $309 a year cheaper |
| Essential Energy9,295 kWh a year | Flat-rate reference | 3.1 kWh a day | $4,247 | $3,666 | $581 a year cheaper |
Ausgrid6,361 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Time-of-use reference
- Moved to the window
- Nothing
- Current, per year
- $2,682
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $2,682
- Solar Sharer is
- about the same
Ausgrid6,361 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Time-of-use reference
- Moved to the window
- 3.1 kWh a day
- Current, per year
- $2,571
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $2,262
- Solar Sharer is
- $309 a year cheaper
Ausgrid6,361 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Flat-rate reference
- Moved to the window
- 3.1 kWh a day
- Current, per year
- $2,715
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $2,262
- Solar Sharer is
- $452 a year cheaper
Endeavour Energy6,361 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Time-of-use reference
- Moved to the window
- Nothing
- Current, per year
- $2,808
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $2,809
- Solar Sharer is
- about the same
Endeavour Energy6,361 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Time-of-use reference
- Moved to the window
- 3.1 kWh a day
- Current, per year
- $2,517
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $2,359
- Solar Sharer is
- $159 a year cheaper
Endeavour Energy6,361 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Flat-rate reference
- Moved to the window
- 3.1 kWh a day
- Current, per year
- $2,821
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $2,359
- Solar Sharer is
- $462 a year cheaper
Essential Energy9,295 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Time-of-use reference
- Moved to the window
- Nothing
- Current, per year
- $4,097
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $4,097
- Solar Sharer is
- about the same
Essential Energy9,295 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Time-of-use reference
- Moved to the window
- 3.1 kWh a day
- Current, per year
- $3,975
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $3,666
- Solar Sharer is
- $309 a year cheaper
Essential Energy9,295 kWh a year
- Current plan
- Flat-rate reference
- Moved to the window
- 3.1 kWh a day
- Current, per year
- $4,247
- Solar Sharer, per year
- $3,666
- Solar Sharer is
- $581 a year cheaper
"Moved" means dishwasher, one wash a day and three dryer loads a week shifted out of the 4pm-9am hours into the window, applied to both plans. Usage is the AER benchmark for a three-person home in the network's climate zone. No solar. Reference plans are the AER caps; a discounted market plan would make the Solar Sharer look worse.
Which retailers offer it in NSW
We hold 19 Ausgrid retailer plans from the government plan feed. Almost all sit at the maximum prices above; only AGL, CovaU, Kogan Energy, Origin Energy and Powershop undercut them on any rate, mostly by a few cents a day on supply. Endeavour and Essential retailer rows are not in our register yet; the same maximums apply there. Every row is in the retailer register, and you can check every plan on Energy Made Easy.
Solar homes in NSW
Feed-in tariffs on NSW Solar Sharer plans are mostly 0-3c. IPART's 2026-27 benchmark for midday exports is only about 3-4c anyway, but evening exports are worth far more, so a battery changes the maths. See feed-in tariffs and batteries and free power.
Before you opt in
- Confirm you have a smart meter. See smart meters.
- Find your current rates on your bill and run them through the calculator.
- List the loads you can really move to 11am-2pm, and check none is on controlled load.
- Ask your retailer for its Solar Sharer Offer, or use the eligibility checker first. Comparing the wider market? See compare electricity in NSW.
General information only, not financial advice. We are not a retailer.
Common questions
Is there free electricity in NSW?
Yes. Since 1 July 2026 every NSW retailer with more than 1,000 residential customers must offer the Solar Sharer Offer: free power from 11am to 2pm every day, up to 24 kWh, for homes with a smart meter. You have to opt in. It applies on all three NSW networks: Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy.
How do I know if I am on Ausgrid, Endeavour or Essential Energy?
Your network (distributor) is printed on your bill, usually near your NMI. Broadly, Ausgrid covers eastern, inner west and northern Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter; Endeavour covers Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Illawarra; Essential Energy covers regional and rural NSW.
Does free power in NSW change with daylight saving?
No. The window is 11am-2pm local time all year. Some Essential Energy areas keep South Australian or Queensland time; there the window still starts at 11am local time.
Which NSW retailer has the cheapest Solar Sharer Offer?
In practice they are the same. Almost every Ausgrid plan we hold is priced at the regulated maximum; the few that undercut do so by a few cents a day on supply. The bigger question is whether the plan beats your current one, which the calculator answers.
Sources
- AER, Default Market Offer 2026-27 final determination (Solar Sharer and time-of-use tariff caps, annual prices), checked 17 October 2026
- ACCC and AER, joint compliance bulletin (Essential Energy local time), checked 17 October 2026
- AER, Solar Sharer Offer fact sheet, checked 17 October 2026
- AER, residential load profiles and household benchmarks used in the worked examples, checked 17 October 2026
- AER Energy Made Easy plan data (CDR product feed), Ausgrid retailer plans, checked 17 October 2026
- IPART, time-of-day solar feed-in tariff benchmarks 2026-27, checked 17 October 2026