Bowen unveils ‘Solar Sharer’ plan offering free daytime power for homes
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The news: The federal government has announced a new energy offer that will require retailers to offer free solar electricity to households regardless of whether they have solar panels.
The context: The new regulated electricity offer, named 'Solar Sharer', will initially be rolled out in NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia from July next year.
It will require retailers to offer free electricity for at least three hours in the middle of the day when solar generation is at its peak.
Customers who sign up to the Solar Sharer offer through their energy retailer will need to have a smart meter and be able to move their energy use into windows where electricity is free to get the bill savings.
If they choose to take up this offer they will be able to use appliances, run air conditioners or swimming pool cleaners and charge their electric vehicles and home batteries at home during the day for free.
Through the Solar Sharer offer, the government aims to cut power bills for customers, as well as for the system as a whole by lowering peak demand in the evenings. A lower evening peak has flow-on effects throughout the system, minimising expensive peak electricity prices and reducing the need for costly network upgrades and interventions to ensure grid stability.
The government will consult with other states with a view to extending the offer to other jurisdictions by 2027.
What they said: “Our Solar Sharer Offer means more Australians can be part of our world-leading rooftop solar take-up,” said minister for climate change and energy Chris Bowen.
“People who are able to move electricity use into the zero cost power period will benefit directly, whether they have solar panels or not and whether they own or rent, and the more people take up the offer and move their use, the greater the system benefits that lower costs for all electricity users will be.”
The source: DCCEEW media release
