What’s right: Australia to offer three hours of free solar power daily

Australia is gearing up to launch a major initiative called the “Solar Sharer” scheme, which will guarantee households in certain states at least three hours of free electricity each day — even for those without rooftop solar panels.

The plan, set to begin in July 2026 in New South Wales, South Australia, and southeast Queensland, is built on a simple premise: there’s so much solar power being generated in the middle of the day that supply often exceeds demand, and wholesale prices sometimes fall to zero or even go negative. By encouraging people to shift appliance use and EV charging into that midday window, the government intends to maximise clean power use, ease strain on the grid, and deliver cost-of-living relief.

To qualify, households will need a smart meter and must actively select a plan that includes the free-power window. While the scheme is designed to benefit renters and those without solar installations, some critics warn that the pricing structure outside the free hours could shift costs elsewhere.

If successful, this scheme represents a win-win: making renewables more accessible and ensuring excess solar generation doesn’t go to waste — that’s what’s right with the world.