In a world dominated by increases in energy prices on a regular basis, getting free electricity for anyone has become extremely rare, like spotting a white horse in the wild. However, that is exactly what Australia plans to do in 2026: offer up to three hours of free power to a few select states in the land down under. Australia has long relied on the conventional energy sector, such as oil and gas, to supply sufficient energy for its populace. However, following a wave of solar expansion over the past few years, Australia’s solar power sector has grown so much that it is now able to offer free electricity for a select few.
Australia has slowly embraced the solar power sector, leading to astonishing levels of capacity
Seems obvious, doesn’t it, that Australia, a nation bathed in sunlight for the majority of the year, would turn to the untapped potential of solar power. However, that reality has only recently become the norm, as for many years the traditional oil and gas sector has dominated the Australian energy landscape. The reality of the modern-day energy market in the nation is changing, as one in three Australian households now has rooftop solar power installed.
The Australian government recently announced that people living in three states will start receiving up to three hours of free power, starting in 2026. The states that are set to get the boost in energy supply are New South Wales, South Australia, and the southeastern part of Queensland. That’s just to start, with plans to add more regions in the future as solar capacity increases.
Australia’s cost of solar power is far cheaper than in the United States or Europe
Due to the exceedingly warm embrace that Australians have shown for the solar power sector, prices in the land down under are far cheaper than in the United States. With average costs for solar installations about $840 (U.S.) per kilowatt of capacity, the costs are nearly a third of what the US charges.
“Now we’re at the level where we can share more of that power with more Australians.” – Chris Bowen, minister for climate change and energy
The Solar Sharer plan in Australia is set to offer up to three hours of free power
Crucially, those Australians who do not have rooftop solar panels installed will not be exempt from the free electricity offer, but they do need a smart meter installed to reap the benefits of the Solar Sharer Plan. The plan assists those who live in apartments and can not install rooftop panels, whether they want to or not. The move by the Australian government aligns with global trends, as Europe is set to get a substantial investment in solar power soon.
Although the Australian government has not stated exactly which three hours of the day will come with free electricity from solar power, expectations are that the period between 11 am and 2 pm is the most likely candidate. Another requirement is that customers will have to opt in to the new Solar Sharer Plan.
“The free electricity hours help us with the grid at night too because that means transferring the use of power from nighttime — when power is more expensive because it’s being run more by coal and gas — to the middle of the day when its being run by renewable energy.” – Chris Bowen, minister for climate change and energy
Australia is not the first to offer free electricity to the population
Notably, the UK also has a similar scheme that sees Octopus Energy offering customers an Agile plan that occasionally gives customers free electricity, the keyword there being occasionally. The plan in the UK is a step in the right direction, but pales in comparison to the Australian Solar Sharer Plan that aims to make the offer of free electricity a consistent and regular occurrence in the nation. The embrace of solar power in Australia is a far cry from the grid strain concerns playing out in Europe, as it sees the solar sector growing.
