From 1 July 2026, a new electricity plan called the Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) became available across parts of Australia. It promises free electricity for three hours every day and has attracted significant attention from households looking to reduce their power bills. However, many Victorian homeowners are asking the same question: does the Solar Sharer Offer actually apply in Victoria?
The short answer is no. The SSO is not available in Victoria. It only applies in New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland. Homeowners in Melbourne, Shepparton and Traralgon cannot access this plan through their electricity retailer.
However, that does not mean Victorian homeowners are missing out. The combination of solar panels, the Solar Victoria Rebate, the VEU Program and the federal battery rebate delivers far greater long-term savings than a three-hour free electricity window. This guide explains the SSO clearly, confirms its geographic limits and outlines the better alternatives available to Victorian households right now.
What Is the Solar Sharer Offer (SSO)?
The Solar Sharer Offer is a new type of regulated electricity plan introduced by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) from 1 July 2026. It is designed to help households benefit from Australia’s abundant daytime solar energy – even if they do not have solar panels installed on their own roof.
The core feature of the SSO is a three-hour period in the middle of every day when electricity is completely free. During this window, eligible customers can use up to 24 kilowatt-hours at no cost. Outside this free period, electricity is charged at time-of-use rates, which are generally higher than standard flat rates.
The SSO is an opt-in standing offer. Customers must actively choose it – your retailer will never automatically place you on this plan. Retailers with more than 1,000 customers across eligible regions are required to offer it, but you must request it to access it.
The SSO encourages households to shift energy use – such as running dishwashers, washing machines, dryers and EV chargers – to the middle of the day when solar generation peaks across the national grid. This reduces pressure on the grid during evening peak periods and makes better use of Australia’s growing solar capacity.
How Does the Free Electricity Period Work?
The free three-hour window happens at the same time every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays. The times do not change for daylight saving, keeping things predictable for customers.
| State / Region | Free Period | SSO Available? |
| NSW and South East Queensland | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | Yes |
| South Australia (Adelaide) | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Yes |
| Victoria (Melbourne, Shepparton, Traralgon) | No free period | No – not available |
Outside the free period, electricity is charged at time-of-use rates including peak, shoulder, solar soak and off-peak rates. These can be significantly higher than standard flat-rate plans – an important consideration for households that cannot reliably shift usage to the midday window.
What Is the 24kWh Reasonable Use Limit?
The free electricity during the SSO window is not unlimited. A daily cap of 24 kilowatt-hours applies during the three-hour free period. To put this in context, 24 kWh is approximately what an average five-person household uses across an entire day. For most households, this cap is more than sufficient for three hours of daytime usage.
If you exceed 24 kWh during the free window, the additional usage is charged at the reasonable use rate. This equals the cheapest off-peak or solar soak rate on the plan – not the higher peak rate. So even if you exceed the cap, the cost remains relatively low.
Which States Can Access the Solar Sharer Offer in 2026?
The Solar Sharer Offer is only available in regions where the Default Market Offer (DMO) applies. The DMO is a price cap set by the AER that protects customers from excessive electricity prices. Not all Australian states fall under the DMO framework.
| State / Territory | DMO Region? | SSO Available? |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Yes | Yes |
| South East Queensland | Yes | Yes |
| South Australia (Adelaide) | Yes | Yes |
| Victoria (VIC) | No – uses VDO | No – SSO not available |
| Western Australia | No | No |
| Tasmania | No | No |
| ACT / NT | No | No |
Victoria operates under its own framework called the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), set by the Essential Services Commission rather than the AER. Because Victoria uses the VDO rather than the DMO, it falls outside the SSO eligibility framework entirely.
Does the Solar Sharer Offer Apply in Victoria?
No. The Solar Sharer Offer does not apply in Victoria. Homeowners in Melbourne, Shepparton, Traralgon or anywhere else in Victoria cannot access the SSO through their electricity retailer.
The reason is straightforward. Victoria’s electricity market is regulated under the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), administered by the Essential Services Commission (ESC) rather than the AER. The SSO was created under the AER’s DMO framework. Since Victoria operates differently, the SSO simply does not exist here.
Victorian retailers are not required to offer the SSO and will not launch SSO plans for Victorian customers. No action is required – you will not be offered the SSO and cannot opt in to it.
However, Victorian homeowners are not at a disadvantage. Victoria has access to some of Australia’s strongest solar incentives – including the Solar Victoria Rebate, the VEU Program and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program – which together deliver far greater long-term savings than the SSO. These are covered in detail in the next sections.
Who Is the Solar Sharer Offer Best Suited For?
The SSO is not for everyone – even in eligible states. Its value depends almost entirely on how much electricity use you can shift to the middle of the day. For households that cannot change their usage patterns, the SSO may actually result in higher bills than a standard plan.
The SSO is likely to suit you if you work from home during the day, have an electric vehicle you can charge at midday, use smart appliances with delay-start functions, or have a large household that consumes significant energy during daylight hours.
The SSO is unlikely to suit you if most of your electricity use happens in the morning or evening, if you cannot shift when you run large appliances, if your usage is already low, or if you live in Victoria where the SSO is unavailable regardless of your situation.
Will the SSO Actually Save You Money?
The SSO sounds compelling at first glance. However, the reality depends on a careful comparison of rates both inside and outside the free window.
Outside the free period, electricity on an SSO plan is charged at elevated time-of-use rates including peak, shoulder, solar soak and off-peak rates. These are generally higher than standard flat-rate plans. Therefore, if you use significant electricity in the morning or evening, you may pay more overall on the SSO than on a standard plan – despite the free window.
Example: A household uses 20 kWh per day – 3 kWh during the free midday window and 17 kWh in the morning and evening. They save on those 3 kWh but pay elevated peak rates on the remaining 17 kWh. If the SSO peak rate is 45 cents per kWh versus 32 cents on a flat-rate plan, the household may pay significantly more overall despite the headline of free electricity.
The AER recommends comparing the whole plan – not just the free electricity headline – before switching to an SSO. Use the Energy Made Easy comparison tool at energymadeeasy.gov.au to model your actual usage patterns against available plans in your state.
Solar Sharer Offer vs Solar Panels: Which Is Better?
This is the most important comparison for any homeowner considering energy savings in 2026. The SSO gives you three hours of free grid electricity per day. Solar panels, however, generate free electricity for six to eight hours every day and can earn you a feed-in tariff for excess energy exported back to the grid.
| Feature | Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) | Solar Panels (Own System) |
| Free electricity hours | 3 hours per day | 6 to 8 hours per day |
| Available in Victoria? | No | Yes – all of Victoria |
| Upfront cost | $0 (plan change only) | $3,500 to $9,000 after rebates |
| Government incentives | None | Solar Victoria + STC + VEU |
| Feed-in tariff earnings | No | Yes – earn from excess solar |
| Works during evenings? | No – higher rates apply | Yes – with battery storage |
| Long-term savings (25 yrs) | Variable – plan dependent | $30,000 to $60,000+ |
| Suits renters? | Yes – with smart meter | Landlord approval needed |
| Available in Adelaide SA? | Yes | Yes |
| Available in Sunshine Coast? | Yes (SE QLD only) | Yes |
For most homeowners – particularly in Victoria where the SSO is unavailable – solar panels represent a fundamentally stronger investment. A 6.6 kW solar system in Melbourne after rebates typically costs between $3,500 and $5,500. That system will generate free electricity for 25 or more years, reduce bills by 50 to 80 percent and earn a feed-in tariff on excess energy. No electricity plan change can replicate those returns.
What Can Victorian Homeowners Access Instead of the SSO?
Victorian homeowners have access to a suite of government incentives that are more valuable over the long term than the SSO. Here is a clear overview of what is currently available in Melbourne, Shepparton and Traralgon in 2026.
Solar Victoria Rebate
Eligible Victorian homeowners can receive up to $1,400 off the upfront cost of a solar panel installation through the Solar Victoria Rebate. An interest-free loan of up to $1,400 is also available alongside the rebate to help spread the remaining cost.
From 1 July 2026, eligibility requires a combined household income of $150,000 or less. You must be an owner-occupier with a property value under $3 million and must not have previously claimed a Solar Homes panel rebate at the same address. The system must be installed by a CEC-accredited solar installer.
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Program
The VEU Program provides upfront discounts on heat pump hot water systems, reverse cycle air conditioning and ceiling insulation. Unlike the Solar Victoria Rebate, the VEU Program has no income test and is open to all Victorian homeowners and businesses.
For solar homeowners, combining the VEU Program with federal STCs and the Solar Victoria hot water rebate can deliver a $0 upfront heat pump hot water system. That system then runs almost entirely on free solar energy during the day – delivering the same benefit as the SSO’s free window, but for the life of the appliance rather than just while you are on a particular electricity plan.
Federal Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
Federal STCs are the primary national solar incentive and apply across all states including Victoria. They are applied as an upfront discount by your CEC-accredited installer at the point of sale with no separate application required from you.
For a standard 6.6 kW solar system installed in Melbourne in 2026, the STC discount is worth approximately $2,500 to $3,500. This scheme steps down by one deeming year on 1 January each year until it ends in 2030. Installing now captures a higher value than waiting.
Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides a subsidy of approximately $330 per usable kilowatt-hour on eligible home battery systems. This program has no income test and is available to all Victorian homeowners regardless of income or property value.
Adding battery storage to your solar system means you store excess daytime solar energy and use it in the evening – effectively delivering your own version of the SSO’s free energy benefit, but available all evening rather than just three midday hours. With brands like Sungrow, GoodWe, Fox ESS and Sigenergy available through Grow Savings, there is a battery system to suit every household size and budget.
What Can Adelaide and Sunshine Coast Homeowners Do With the SSO?
Grow Savings also serves homeowners in Adelaide, South Australia and on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland – both of which are eligible SSO regions. For customers in these areas, the SSO may be worth exploring alongside a solar panel installation.
Adelaide homeowners access the SSO free window from 12pm to 3pm ACST daily. South Australia averages 5.0 to 5.5 peak sun hours per day. Combining the SSO with solar panels and battery storage creates a powerful combination – solar generates free electricity all morning, the SSO covers grid usage at midday, and a battery stores excess energy for the evening.
Sunshine Coast homeowners in South East Queensland access the SSO from 11am to 2pm AEST. The Sunshine Coast averages 5.2 to 5.5 peak sun hours per day – among the highest in Australia. Solar panels are an extremely strong investment here regardless of the SSO. For renters or homeowners who cannot install solar, the SSO still provides a meaningful bill reduction when usage is shifted to the free window.
For Adelaide and Sunshine Coast homeowners who already have solar or are planning to install it, comparing the SSO against your current plan is worthwhile – but should never replace the decision to go solar. Over a 25-year system lifespan, solar panels deliver savings that no electricity plan change can replicate.
The Bottom Line for Victorian Homeowners in 2026
The Solar Sharer Offer is a genuine innovation for eligible households in NSW, South Australia and South East Queensland. However, Victorian homeowners in Melbourne, Shepparton and Traralgon cannot access it – and in most cases, they do not need to.
Victoria’s combination of the Solar Victoria Rebate, the VEU Program, federal STCs and the Cheaper Home Batteries Program creates one of the strongest solar incentive stacks available anywhere in Australia. A well-sized solar system installed today will deliver decades of free electricity – not just three hours per day, but all day, every day the sun shines.
For Adelaide and Sunshine Coast homeowners, the SSO can complement a solar installation but should never replace the decision to go solar. The financial case for solar panels in both SA and QLD is among the strongest in the country.
Grow Savings is a CEC-accredited solar installer in Melbourne and serving Regional Victoria, Adelaide SA and Sunshine Coast QLD. We offer a completely free solar audit and energy consultation to assess your property, identify all applicable rebates and recommend the right system for your needs.
Book your free solar audit today at growsavings.com.au and start generating your own free electricity – all day, every day.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Solar Sharer Offer
What is the Solar Sharer Offer in simple terms?
The Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) is a regulated electricity plan that includes three hours of completely free electricity every day during the middle of the day. It is designed to encourage households to shift energy use – like running appliances and charging EVs – to times when solar energy is most abundant on the national grid. It is opt-in, meaning you must actively choose it through your retailer.
Does the Solar Sharer Offer apply in Victoria?
No. The SSO is not available in Victoria. It only applies in regions covered by the Default Market Offer – specifically New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland. Victoria operates under the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), a different regulatory framework, which excludes it from the SSO entirely.
Can Melbourne homeowners get the Solar Sharer Offer?
No. Melbourne homeowners cannot access the Solar Sharer Offer. However, Melbourne homeowners can access the Solar Victoria Rebate, the VEU Program and federal STC incentives – which together deliver stronger long-term savings than the SSO for most households.
Is the Solar Sharer Offer better than installing solar panels?
For most homeowners, solar panels deliver significantly greater long-term savings. Solar panels generate free electricity for six to eight hours per day rather than three, earn a feed-in tariff on excess energy, and reduce electricity bills by 50 to 80 percent over 25 or more years. The SSO offers no upfront cost but also no asset, no tariff earnings and limited savings for households that cannot shift daytime usage.
Do I need a smart meter for the Solar Sharer Offer?
Yes. You need a smart meter (also called an interval meter) to be eligible for the SSO. Smart meters record your electricity use in 30-minute intervals, allowing your retailer to apply the free period accurately. If you do not have a smart meter, you would need to arrange installation before accessing an SSO plan.
Can Sunshine Coast homeowners access the Solar Sharer Offer?
Yes. South East Queensland, which includes the Sunshine Coast, is an eligible DMO region. Sunshine Coast homeowners with a smart meter can opt in to the SSO through their retailer. The free window runs from 11am to 2pm AEST. Solar panels remain a stronger long-term investment, but the SSO is worth comparing against your current plan.
Can Adelaide homeowners access the Solar Sharer Offer?
Yes. South Australia is an eligible DMO region. Adelaide homeowners with a smart meter can opt in to the SSO through their retailer. The free window runs from 12pm to 3pm ACST. Grow Savings serves Adelaide homeowners with solar and battery installation – contact us to see how solar and the SSO can work together for your home.
What happens if I use more than 24 kWh during the free period?
If you exceed the 24 kWh daily cap during the SSO free window, additional usage is charged at the reasonable use rate –Â equal to the cheapest off-peak or solar soak rate on the plan, not the higher peak rate. For most households, 24 kWh over three hours is far more than enough and exceeding this cap is unlikely under normal circumstances.