Peter Lee was spending about $570 a quarter for power. Now he pays nothing. Peter is a science teacher in Glenquarry, a farming pocket about ten minutes from Bowral, and he had wanted solar for years. One thing held him back: the fear of getting ripped off. This is his story with Lenergy.
Here is what it covers:
Why a tech-minded homeowner waited years to go solar
How he found a solar company he could trust
What his 10.56kW solar and 31.2kWh battery system does
What install day was actually like
Whether he would recommend Lenergy
Why did a science teacher wait so long to go solar?
Peter is not new to the idea of solar. Far from it.
Being a science teacher, I vowed to build a house with solar energy. Since then I built two houses and didn’t put it in because of cost.
The technology was something he believed in. The price, for years, was the sticking point. When the numbers finally made sense, one worry remained.
My hesitation was possibly getting ripped off. There are a lot of organisations out there that tell you many things. My major concern was to actually get a company that worked.
How did Peter choose a solar company he could trust?
He did what most of us do. He went online.
I looked online, as we all do, and checked out some reviews. I didn’t actually speak to anybody who had experience with Lenergy. There were so many positive reviews. I just couldn’t ignore that.
Reviews are not the whole story. A long, consistent run of them tells you something though. For a careful buyer with no personal referral to lean on, it was enough to take the next step.
What was it like working with Lenergy?
For Peter, trust was built in the first meeting.
The first visit, when they came out, we sat outside and had a good chat. It was all very open. Whenever I asked a question, it was answered without hesitation. They didn’t seem to be hiding anything, and it all made sense.
His technical background mattered here.
I’ve got a technical background, so what was being said matched technically as well.
Then came the install.
They came on the day they said they were going to come. They turned up and did a great job. And they’re good people to have around too. They were just wonderful.
What does Peter’s solar and battery system include?
The system is built around a Sigenergy SigenStor, the battery Lenergy installs.
Solar: 10.56kW, made up of 24 × 440W Suntech Power Ultra V Pro mini panels
Inverter: one Sigenergy SigenStor-15T-32, three-phase, 15kW, to AS4777-2 2020
Battery: 32.24kWh total, 31.2kWh usable, LiFePO4
On a property this size, that combination does the heavy lifting through the day and stores the rest for the evening. Peter put it simply. His bill “has gone down to nothing because our system is over-supplying at the moment”. Sizing is what makes that possible, so it pays to understand how to choose a solar battery size for your own home.
The numbers behind that are easy to see. The chart below shows how much electricity Peter’s 10.56kW system is estimated to make on an average day in each month. Output sits around 60 kWh a day through the warmer months and eases to under 30 kWh in mid-winter, when the days are short and the Southern Highlands sees more cloud. Even in those leaner months the system makes enough on most days to cover his use and charge the battery, which is a big part of why his bill has dropped the way it has.
Would Peter recommend Lenergy?
He already has.
I already have. Definitely recommended to others, and we’ll do so again. For sure. They’re local as well, which is really helpful to us.
Peter’s story is one home, one system, one set of numbers. Yours will be different. If you are weighing up solar and a battery and want to start with the basics, read next: Is Your Home Ready for Solar Panels?
Here the story from the man himself below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a solar and battery system really reduce my power bill to zero?
It can, in the right conditions. Peter went from about $570 a quarter to nothing because his 10.56kW solar and 31.2kWh battery system over-supplies his home, covering daytime use and storing the rest for the evening. Your result depends on your usage, your system size and your tariff, so the numbers are different for every home.
How do I avoid getting ripped off when buying solar?
Peter’s worry is a fair one. The basics that protect you: check the installer is accredited with Solar Accreditation Australia, ask plenty of questions and see whether the answers hold up, read independent reviews, and get the system and warranty details in writing. A company that answers openly, like Peter found, is usually a good sign.
Does Lenergy install solar in the Southern Highlands and NSW?
Lenergy designs and installs solar, battery and EV systems across NSW and the ACT, including the Southern Highlands. Peter’s system is in Glenquarry, near Bowral, and he valued having a local team on the job.
What size solar and battery system did Peter get?
Peter’s system is a 10.56kW solar array (24 × 440W panels) paired with a Sigenergy SigenStor providing 31.2kWh of usable battery storage, run through a three-phase 15kW SigenStor inverter.
From 1st of July 2026, three hours of your power each day could cost nothing.
That is the promise of the Solar Sharer Offer. Free energy hours, every day, right in the middle of the day. No rooftop solar required.
The free window lands in the middle of the day, when most people are out at work. Leave the house running as usual and your bill barely moves. To get real value, you have to get smart about how and when you use your power.
So the real question is not what the offer is. It is what you do with those three hours.
This article covers:
How the Solar Sharer Offer works
The 5 best ways to use your free hours
How much you could save
Why a battery gets the most out of it
How does the Solar Sharer Offer actually work?
The Solar Sharer Offer gives you at least three free hours of electricity every day. It launches in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia.
The free window is 11am to 2pm in NSW and South East Queensland. In South Australia it runs 12pm to 3pm. That is when solar is flooding the grid and power is at its cheapest.
To get it, you need a smart meter and you need to opt in through your retailer. It is not switched on automatically. You do not need solar panels, and you do not need to own your home.
The free power is capped at 24 kWh a day. Use more than that and you simply pay normal daytime rates on the extra, with no penalty. You still pay your daily supply charge, and any power you use outside the window.
What are the 5 best ways to use your 3 free hours?
The trick is simple. Move your heaviest power use into the free window. Here are the five that pay off most.
1. Charge a home battery from the grid
A battery lets you grab free power at midday and use it at night, when rates are highest. You are not limited to what you can run in three hours. You store it and use it later. On cloudy or winter days, this is how you still fill up. Batteries such as Sigenergy SigenStor can be set to charge in the free window on its own, so you never have to think about it. Not every battery or inverter can do this so make sure to do some research on yours first.
2. Charge your electric vehicle
EVs are hungry, which makes them a great match. The result depends on your charger. A basic trickle charger might add only 6 kWh in three hours, around 10% of a typical EV. A fast three-phase home charger can push closer to 30 kWh, about half a charge or roughly 120 km of range.
3. Heat your hot water in the window
Hot water is one of the biggest single loads in most homes. Heating it at midday instead of in the morning or evening can save a lot. Check first though. If your hot water is on a controlled load tariff, your retailer may set the timing, so ask before you plan around it.
4. Run heavy appliances on timers
Your dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and pool pump all suit the free window. Use delay-start or smart settings to run them at midday, even when you are out. Running one dishwasher load in the window instead of at peak rates could save around $128 a year on its own.
5. Pre-heat or pre-cool your home
Run your heating or cooling hard during the free hours, then coast on it afterwards. A well-insulated home holds that comfort for hours. It is a simple way to use free power now and stay comfortable later for less.
How much can you actually save?
It depends on how much of your usage you can shift. The federal government’s own estimates give a rough guide:
Usage shifted into the window
Smaller home (1 person)
Larger home (5 people)
About 10%
~$150 a year
~$400 a year
About 20%
~$300 a year
$500–$790 a year
About 25–30%
~$400 a year
$800–$1,100 a year
The pattern is clear. The more load you move, the more you save. Bigger homes with more appliances, an EV or a pool have the most to gain.
Is the Solar Sharer Offer worth it for everyone?
No. The Solar Sharer Offer can help eligible households cut their bills, as long as they can move power use into the free window. The key is your daily routine.
Think about whether you can shift your energy use to the middle of the day. The more you move into the three-hour window, the more you could save on your energy bills. If you cannot shift much, you could end up worse off, because these plans often carry higher peak rates or supply charges. So compare the plan against your current one before you switch.
Why a battery gets the most out of it
In three hours it is easy to fall short of the full 24 kWh. You might run the dishwasher and a load of washing, but most homes will not get through the whole cap in one short window. A battery brings more flexibility. It can soak up power you would otherwise miss and let you use it whenever suits you.
Pair the Solar Sharer Offer with a battery and the free window becomes your cheapest source of stored power, day or night, and don’t worry you have not missed the battery rebate.
If you want the full background on free daytime power and who benefits most, read more here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Solar Sharer Offer and how do the 3 free hours work?
The Solar Sharer Offer gives eligible households at least three hours of free electricity a day, capped at 24 kWh. The window is 11am to 2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, and 12pm to 3pm in South Australia. You need a smart meter and you opt in through your retailer. No solar panels needed.
Which appliances should I run during my 3 free energy hours?
Your heaviest users give the best return: hot water, EV charging, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and pool pump. Heating or cooling your home in the window helps too. Use timers or smart settings so they run even when you are out. Check whether your hot water or pool pump is on a controlled load first.
Can I save even more by combining the offer with a home battery?
Yes, and it is the single best way to maximise it. A battery stores free midday power for use at night, so you capture far more of the 24 kWh cap than appliances alone can. The right size matters most.
When it comes to the energy efficiency your home gets scored on two things: how comfortable it stays without the assistance of air conditioning, and how much energy it uses.
That’s your NatHERS rating and it’s actually two separate scores. A new interest-free loan can now help you fund the assessment and more importantly, the upgrades that lift it.
This guide covers:
what a NatHERS rating actually measures, and the two parts that make it up
how the Whole of Home rating works, and why solar and battery system move the needle
how the score is calculated
how the NSW $15,000 interest-free loan can pay for the upgrades, and who qualifies
What is a NatHERS rating?
NatHERS stands for the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme. It is Australia’s main system for rating how energy efficient a home is. An accredited assessor runs your home through approved software and gives it a score. There are two parts:
Thermal star rating, out of 10. This looks at the building itself, things like insulation and orientation.
Whole of Home rating, out of 100 or more. This looks at the energy your home uses and produces across a year, including your solar and battery.
What does the Whole of Home rating measure?
This is where solar and a battery earn their keep. The thermal rating only looks at the building fabric, things like insulation, windows and orientation. The Whole of Home rating goes further. It counts:
heating, cooling and hot water
lighting, cooking and plug-in appliances
pool and spa equipment, if you have it
your solar generation and battery storage
It adds up your predicted energy use, then subtracts what your solar produces. The result shows your real running costs and how much you lean on the grid.
How do solar and a battery change the score?
They lift it, often a lot. Here is how it works:
A score of 100 means a net-zero home, one that makes as much energy as it uses across the year.
A well-sized solar system paired with a battery can push the score past 100. That means your home produces more than it uses.
Solar offsets your daytime use. A battery stores the extra, so you draw less from the grid at night.
A well-insulated home needs less solar and battery capacity to hit a high score, so the two work together.
The rating is based on your home’s design and systems, not the way you live in it. An assessor uses approved software built on CSIRO research. It weighs:
your local climate zone
your appliance efficiency
your solar and battery system specs
One thing to remember. The rating is a prediction made before or during a build, not a meter reading taken after. How you use the home still shifts the real numbers.
What is the NSW interest-free loan?
The recently announced NSW Home Energy Saver loan offers eligible households up to $15,000 at 0% interest, with no fees, repayable over up to 10 years. You can use it to fund the upgrades that improve your rating. Eligible upgrades include:
rooftop solar
a household battery
the NatHERS assessment itself
heat pump hot water, reverse-cycle air conditioning, ceiling insulation and switchboard upgrades
To qualify, you need to be an owner-occupier or a landlord with combined household taxable income up to $210,000. Extra discounts are expected to be implemented for lower-income households and concession card holders are expected, and renters may access support with their landlord’s approval.
You apply through an approved lender after getting quotes from approved suppliers Brighte or Plenti. If upfront cost is the thing holding you back, this is built to solve exactly that.
Want to learn more about whether solar and a battery would be right for you? Read more about in our article Is Your Home Ready for Solar Panels?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a NatHERS rating and why do I need one?
It is an energy score for your home. The thermal part rates comfort out of 10 stars. The Whole of Home part rates your total energy use out of 100 or more, and counts your solar and battery. You usually need one for building approval on a new home or a major renovation.
How many stars do you need to pass a NatHERS assessment?
For many new homes, the current thermal minimum is 7 stars under the National Construction Code. Some areas also set a minimum Whole of Home score. Your assessor will confirm what applies to your address.
How much does a NatHERS assessment cost in Australia?
The standard cost ranges from around $350-$700, however, the cost depends on the home, the plans and the assessor. The NSW interest-free loan can cover the cost of the assessment itself.
The NSW Government has introduced the Home Energy Saver Scheme to help homeowners with the upfront cost of electrifying their homes. From 17 June 2026, eligible households can borrow up to $15,000 for solar and other energy upgrades at zero interest, then repay it over as long as ten years. Here is how the NSW $15,000 interest-free solar loan works, who qualifies, and how to apply.
What is the NSW Home Energy Saver loan?
The Home Energy Saver loan is an interest-free loan of up to $15,000 per property, funded by the NSW Government and delivered by two private finance providers, Brighte and Plenti. The key features are:
Up to $15,000 per property, with no interest charged.
No fees. No upfront fee, no monthly fee, and no penalty for paying it off early.
Up to ten years to repay, so you only ever repay what you borrow.
A loan, not a grant. Applications opened on 17 June 2026, with no closing date set.
One point matters more than people expect: you never handle the money yourself.
The finance provider pays your accredited installer directly.
Payment is released only once you and the installer both confirm the work is done.
You can bundle several upgrades into one loan up to the $15,000 cap.
If your project costs more, you pay the difference to the installer.
Who is eligible for the NSW solar loan?
To take the loan, you need to tick every box below:
You own the property, as either an owner-occupier or a landlord.
Your combined annual taxable household income is below $210,000.
You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
You pass the finance provider’s credit check.
The property is in NSW.
The property is not social housing or used for short-stay accommodation.
A couple of situations to note:
Renters cannot take the loan, though they may access a separate discount with their landlord’s permission.
Strata or apartment dwellers can apply, but you must get owners-corporation approval for the upgrade yourself.
What can you spend the loan on?
The scheme covers thirteen upgrade types:
Rooftop solar
A home battery
A switchboard upgrade
A heat pump water heater
A solar water heater
A reverse-cycle air conditioner
An induction cooktop
An EV level 2 charger
A DC ceiling fan
Ceiling insulation
Draught-proofing
Double glazing
A NatHERS home energy assessment
Each lender currently funds a narrower part of this list while more categories are added, so check what your provider offers before you commit. If solar is your first step, it helps to work out what size solar system you actually need before you ask for quotes.
One detail worth knowing: any federal or NSW incentives you qualify for are applied before the loan amount is worked out, which can reduce how much you need to borrow.
How do you apply for the NSW Home Energy Saver loan?
Pick a finance provider, either Brighte or Plenti.
Get quotes from approved suppliers.
Finalise your application on the provider’s website.
The step most people miss is that you can only apply through a program-approved, accredited vendor. The vendor refers you to the finance provider, who then sends you a unique link to finish the application. Often the easiest route would be to reach out first to a trusted local installer and take advantage of their experience to enter into the scheme.
If you are weighing up incentives, it is worth understanding how the federal and NSW battery rebates stack alongside this scheme.
Is the solar loan worth using?
Most loans for a solar and battery system currently start at around 8% interest. On a $15,000 loan repaid over ten years, that adds up fast. At 8%, you would pay roughly $182 a month and hand over close to $6,800 in interest on top of the $15,000 you borrowed. Under the Home Energy Saver loan you pay none of that. The $15,000 is all you ever repay, so the saving is close to $6,800 compared with a typical loan.
A solar and battery system is still the most effective way to bring down your electricity bills, and with the rebates available right now the value on offer to homeowners is excellent. Between the interest-free loan and existing federal and state incentives, there has rarely been a better time to consider a system. The smartest order is simple:
Who is eligible for the NSW $15,000 interest-free solar loan?
You need to own the property as an owner-occupier or landlord, have a combined annual taxable household income of up to $210,000, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and pass the finance provider’s credit check. The property must be in NSW and cannot be social or community housing or used for short-stay accommodation. Renters are not eligible for the loan, but they can access the separate $4,000 discount with their landlord’s permission.
How do I apply for the NSW Home Energy Saver loan?
Start by checking your eligibility through the loan guidelines or the NSW Energy Savings Finder, then choose your upgrade and a finance provider, Brighte or Plenti. You apply through a program-approved, accredited vendor, who refers you to the provider. The provider then sends you a unique link to complete the application. The loan money goes straight to your installer once the work is confirmed, so you never receive cash yourself.
Can I use the Home Energy Saver loan for both solar panels and a battery?
Yes. You can bundle several eligible upgrades, including rooftop solar and a home battery, into a single loan up to the $15,000 cap. If the combined cost is higher than $15,000, you pay the difference to your installer. For help sizing a system to your home and budget, see how to choose a solar battery size.
What’s actually holding your solar panels to your roof?
It’s called racking. The rails, brackets and roof interfaces that carry your panels through 25 years of Australian weather. Most homeowners never think about it. Until something goes wrong.
Choosing the right solar panel mounting system in Australia matters more than most homeowners realise, and Clenergy, ranked the number one solar mounting brand in Australia for 2025 by market analyst SunWiz, is built to get it right.
This guide covers:
what solar racking is and why it matters
how to choose a mounting system, and why Clenergy leads
the best racking for ColorBond, tile and other Aussie roofs
how racking handles harsh Australian conditions
what the warranty actually covers, now confirmed at 25 years
how to know your solar installation is done right
What Is Solar Racking and Why Does It Matter?
A typical solar racking setup consists of three parts:
solar mounting rails that run across the roof
brackets and clamps that grip each panel
roof interfaces that fix it all down through the tiles or metal sheet
If your panels are the engine, the racking is the chassis. It does the structural work and gets none of the glory. Skimp on it and the costs show up later:
water can leak in around each roof penetration
panels can shift or lift in strong wind
cheap solar panel brackets can corrode early near the coast
the extra solar system roof load needs hardware that can carry it
How to Choose a Solar Panel Mounting System in Australia
Nearly every solar installer in Australia has a go-to racking brand they trust. Ours is Clenergy, and here is why:
founded in Melbourne in 2007, now selling in more than 50 countries
ranked the number one solar mounting brand in Australia for 2025 by market analyst SunWiz
built from tough anodised aluminium racking and stainless steel
parts that click together, which Clenergy says can cut install labour by up to 40 percent
Why does installer-friendly hardware matter to you? For a few practical reasons:
less time on your roof means less mess and fewer mistakes
quality solar mounting hardware in Australia holds up over decades
a solar installer in Australia who knows the system fits it right the first time
What Solar Mounting System Is Best for ColorBond and Tile Roofs?
One of Clenergy’s biggest strengths is that the same system suits nearly every Australian roof. Only a small interface part changes to match yours. It covers:
ColorBond and other steel roofs, including Klip-Lok and corrugated profiles
tile roofs, including Roman, flat and slate, for solar tile roof mounting
all of these roof types are backed by the same 25-year Clenergy product warranty
A few things worth knowing when you roof mount solar panels in Australia:
on a ColorBond roof, the right solar brackets clamp to the ribs with minimal roof penetration
on tile, the interface lifts a tile and bolts into the rafter below, then seals
you can choose a flush mount for a clean look or a tilt mount to improve the angle
Roof angle changes how much power you make, so read our guide on roof orientation, pitch and shading before you settle on a layout.
How Solar Racking Holds Up to Australian Conditions
Australian weather is hard on rooftop hardware, from coastal salt to inland heat to cyclonic wind. Clenergy is built for it:
aluminium parts warranted for the full 25 years, even in harsh coastal air
a galvanised steel option for tougher environments
wind-rated solar mounting said to handle up to 88 metres per second
engineered to meet the AS/NZS wind load standard
Where you live changes what you need:
coastal homes in NSW face salt corrosion, so component choice matters
high-wind and storm-prone areas need properly rated, well-fixed racking
Two different warranties come up here, and it helps to keep them apart. First, your roof warranty:
every install needs roof penetrations or clamps, and poor workmanship there can cause leaks and put a roof or building warranty at risk
done correctly, by an accredited installer using proper flashing and sealing, your roof stays sound
always ask how your installer handles roof penetration and waterproofing
Second, the Clenergy product warranty:
Clenergy Australia warrants its PVezRack SolarRoof and SolarTerrace racking for 25 years, per the product warranty last updated 10 July 2024
aluminium and stainless steel components are covered for the full 25 years across all corrosivity categories
Category 1 and 2: low corrosion, think dry inland areas
Category 3: medium, general urban and suburban
Category 4: high, near the coast or industrial areas
Category 5: very high, beachfront and salt-heavy marine air
in the harshest coastal corrosivity zones, some galvanised steel and screw components carry shorter cover, so coastal homeowners should check which parts apply
cover holds only if the system is installed by an accredited installer and maintained as required, such as annual fastener checks
So the headline is simple: the official Australian warranty is 25 years for the core racking, with shorter cover only on specific steel parts in the most corrosive coastal categories. Ask your installer for the warranty document so you can see exactly what applies to your roof and your area.
Getting Your Solar Installation in Australia Right
A great solar installation in Australia comes down to the install as much as the gear. To know your solar racking is installed correctly:
check your solar installer is accredited with Solar Accreditation Australia
ask which racking brand and variant suits your roof, and ask for the warranty document
ask how they handle roof penetration, flashing and the roof load
look for neat, even rows of panels with tidy cable management
Is quality racking worth a little extra? For most homes, yes:
it is a small part of the total cost but carries a big share of the long-term risk
it matters most for coastal homes, complex roofs and long-term owners
the thing to avoid is cheap, unrated racking with no Australian standards compliance
Your racking is also the foundation for everything else on the roof. Whether you are adding solar battery storage in Australia now or planning EV charger installation down the track, it all sits on the mounting system.
If you are looking to find out whether your home is ready for a solar system, you can read more here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does solar racking last on an Australian roof?
Quality racking like Clenergy is built to outlast the panels. The official Clenergy Australia product warranty covers the racking for 25 years, and the aluminium and stainless parts are rated for the full term across every corrosivity category. In the harshest coastal zones, some steel components carry shorter cover, so check which parts apply to your address.
Does solar racking affect my roof warranty?
It can, if it is done badly. Every install needs roof penetrations or clamps, and poor workmanship there can cause leaks and put a roof or building warranty at risk. Done properly by an accredited installer with correct flashing and sealing, your roof stays sound. Always ask how your installer manages roof penetration and waterproofing.
What solar mounting system is best for ColorBond roofs?
For ColorBond and other steel roofing you want a system with brackets that clamp securely to the roof ribs and keep roof penetrations to a minimum. Clenergy’s Klip-Lok and corrugated interfaces are designed for exactly this, which is part of why it suits so many Australian homes. Your installer should match the right interface to your specific roof profile.
How do I know if my solar racking is installed correctly?
A few quick checks tell you a lot:
the installer can explain how they sealed every roof penetration
the installer is accredited with Solar Accreditation Australia
the rows of panels are neat and even, with tidy cable management
you have the racking warranty document and know what it covers
Is now a good time to install solar, or should I wait?
For most homeowners, the sooner your system is generating, the sooner it cuts your bills, so waiting rarely pays off. The main exception is if you plan to replace your roof in the next year or two. In that case, do the roof first, so the racking goes onto sound material and does not have to come off again later.
Petrol prices are out of your hands… a decision overseas, a supply issue, a spike in demand, the price goes up and you pay for it.
For most Australians, there’s not much they can do except watch the numbers climb every time they pull into a servo.
The BYD Shark 6 changes that. It is a plug-in hybrid ute. Most days, it runs on electricity. The petrol engine is just backup.
Charge that electric side off your roof, and the cost lands close to zero.
Here is what you are working with:
It runs on electricity first, then petrol when the battery drops
The electric battery is 29.58 kWh and covers around 80 km on its own, according to the (BYD Shark 6 specifications)
The average Aussie drives just 36.4 km a day
A 6.6 kW solar system makes far more than that drive needs
So most of your driving can run on sunshine your roof already caught. The petrol tank waits in reserve for the long hauls.
This article covers it all:
How the hybrid works and why solar suits it
How charging at home actually plays out
How many panels you need and how to set it up
How the free power window from July 2026 fits in
How the ute runs your tools and campsite
Where this idea makes less sense
By the end, you will know if you can charge a BYD Shark with solar at your place.
How Does the BYD Shark Hybrid System Work?
It is a plug-in hybrid. Two power sources. Used in order.
It runs on the 29.58 kWh battery first, driving like a pure EV for the first 80 km or so
When that runs low, a 1.5L turbo petrol engine takes over
The engine mostly works as a generator, not a direct drive
Combined range is around 670 km
That order is the whole trick. Your daily driving comes off the battery. That is the part you fill from your roof. Petrol only earns its keep on the longer trips.
The handover is smooth. No stalling. No grinding to a halt. The battery empties, the engine picks up. That range anxiety you get with a full EV? Gone.
It also explains why a hybrid beats a full electric ute on solar:
The 29.58 kWh battery refills from one good day of rooftop surplus. A big electric ute could take days
Most days you only use part of it, so you rarely start from empty
The petrol backup means you never have to oversize your solar for the odd road trip
Can You Charge a BYD Shark With Solar at Home?
Yes. For most homes, the sums work.
The Shark takes a single-phase AC charge at up to 7 kW through a standard Type 2 plug
A decent rooftop system nearly matches that in the middle of the day
Charge while the sun is high and you fill the ute with power you would otherwise sell back for cents
Run the daily maths:
A 6.6 kW system makes around 25 to 30 kWh on an average day, more in summer, less in winter
Your house takes a chunk, leaving maybe 13 kWh spare
The Shark uses around 13 to 14 kWh to cover the average 36.4 km drive [This is an inference based on battery capacity and real-world range, not a manufacturer-stated efficiency figure]
So a normal day’s drive fits inside a normal day’s spare solar. Petrol stays in reserve for anything more.
The honest catch? It gets tight on a 6.6 kW system once the house takes its share. Dishwasher, air con, kettle through the middle of the day. Your surplus shrinks fast.
Want to charge for free and run the house? Go 10 kW or larger. The bigger the array, the more days you fill the ute for nothing.
How Much Solar Do You Need to Charge a BYD Shark?
Two things decide it. System size. And a smart charger.
System size first:
A 6.6 kW array, around 15 to 18 panels, covers the average drive on a good day
A 10 kW system or bigger, with quality panels like AIKO, gives you proper surplus for the ute, the house, and a battery
The bigger the array, the less you touch the grid
How much solar you need comes down to how far you drive and how much your home uses by day. An empty house banks more spare power than one running appliances all afternoon. Same roof, different result.
Now the smart charger. This is the bit people skip.
A basic charger grabs power the second you plug in. Often from the grid. At full price
A home EV charger that talks to your solar only feeds the car when there is spare power
The Sigenergy AC EV Charger is a single-phase 7.4 kW unit. It can add about 20 to 25 km of range an hour. It dials its output up and down to match your panels in real time
That is the whole difference. Free sunshine, or a power bill. On a patchy day it eases off under clouds and ramps back up when the sun returns. You always sip the surplus.
The controls are built in. It is close to hands-off.
Find these on the touchscreen under Settings, then Energy:
Scheduled charging: set a start and finish time so it charges through the sun, roughly 9am to 3pm
Target charge level: set a lower target at home, so you lean on electric driving and let solar refill the battery instead of burning petrol
MAX EV mode: uses up the electric charge before the engine steps in, squeezing every solar kilometre
Strong regenerative braking: claws back energy when you slow down, stretching your range further
There is a battery bonus too. The Shark uses a lithium iron phosphate battery. It shrugs off frequent partial top-ups, which is exactly what daily solar charging is. No wear worries. BYD backs it with an 8 year or 160,000 km warranty. Daily solar top-ups sit well inside that.
One thing to watch. The Shark’s built-in scheduled charging is designed for BYD’s own AC gear. Pair that timer with a non-BYD charger and it can trip up. Running a third-party smart charger? Set the car to charge instantly and let the charger handle the solar matching.
How Does the July 2026 Free Electricity Window Help?
From 1 July 2026, the Solar Sharer Offerkicks in. Retailers with 1,000 or more customers must offer an opt-in plan with three hours of free electricity a day, lined up with peak solar.
The shape of it:
The window is 11am to 2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, 12pm to 3pm in South Australia
The daily cap is 24 kWh
This is confirmed by the Australian Energy Regulator’s Draft Default Market Offer 2026-27
For a Shark owner, this is your safety net on grey days:
Charge at 7 kW for the full three hours and you pull about 21 kWh
That fills most of the battery for nothing, even when the panels are quiet
Stack it on your rooftop surplus and free solar charging starts to look very doable
So the weather no longer holds you hostage. Cloudy day? The free window covers you. Sunny day? Your panels do the work and the window stays up your sleeve.
Our guide to the Solar Sharer Offer shows how to make the most of it.Pairing it with storage? We cover that in Can Getting an EV Actually Protect You From the Fuel Crisis? A good solar battery EV combination lets you stash cheap daytime power and charge the ute overnight for nothing. Handy if you are out driving while the sun is up.
Can the BYD Shark Power Your Tools and Campsite?
This is the fun part. The Shark has Vehicle-to-Load built in. It turns the ute into a mobile power station.
Power comes from a 240V socket in the tray and a V2L adapter on the charge port
Enough to run power tools, a fridge, lights, and chargers at once
The battery needs to be above 15% to discharge
Run low while you use it? The petrol engine fires up on its own to keep the power flowing, as long as the ignition is on
That last point is the off-grid clincher. It is a hybrid. Your tools and your campsite do not go dark when the battery drains. The engine quietly tops it up. Petrol only when you need it.
So the power you charged for free off your roof can run a job site the next day. Or keep the fridge and lights going at camp.
One limit, straight up. In the Australian version, the Shark does Vehicle-to-Load. It powers your appliances directly. It does not do Vehicle-to-Home. So it cannot run your whole house in a blackout. Want that? A proper home battery like the SigenStor is the right tool. It teams up with solar to charge the ute too.
Why We Design Around Sigenergy
The real win is control. The Sigenergy charger, battery and solar run as one customisable system, using AI to read your home and conditions in real time, so you set the priorities and the smarts handle the rest, sending every spare kWh to the ute, the battery or the house exactly where you want it. That is why we now design exclusively around Sigenergy. One connected system, tuned to your home, getting the most from every drop of solar you make.
Who Is Solar EV Charging in Australia Right For?
This setup’s a no-brainer if:
You drive under about 80 km on a typical day
You live somewhere sunny
You have solar, or you are planning to install it
For that driver, an electric ute on solar in Australia can mean close to zero running cost day to day. Petrol only shows up on the long trips.
It is a weaker fit if:
You rack up big distances, because then the petrol engine does more of the lifting
None of that kills the idea. It just means going in with your eyes open.
Here at Lenergy we design solar, battery and EV setups for Aussie homes, and we can tell you whether your roof and your driving actually add up to free charging. Send us a message and we’ll give it to you straight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the BYD Shark still use petrol if I charge it with solar?
Only when you drive past the electric range. The Shark runs on its battery first, so a normal day under 80 km can be all electric and all solar. The petrol engine only steps in on the longer trips once the battery is low. Most owners burn very little fuel day to day.
Can I charge a BYD Shark with solar if I already have a 6.6 kW system?
Usually yes, on an average day, once you add a smart charger that only pulls the spare solar. The drive most Aussies do each day fits inside the surplus a 6.6 kW system makes. Want year-round room, or a battery too? A bigger system makes it more reliable.
Will daily solar charging wear out the battery faster?
No. The Shark runs a lithium iron phosphate battery, built to handle frequent partial top-ups exactly like daily solar charging. BYD covers it with an 8 year or 160,000 km warranty. Charging off the sun every day sits well inside normal use.
Is now a good time to set this up, or should I wait?
There is a solid reason to move before winter and before 1 July 2026. The Solar Sharer Offer hands you a daily free electricity window from that date. Have a smart charger ready and you jump on it straight away. Sort the solar and charger now and you charge on sunshine right through the next summer.
Three changes to the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme are coming on July 1st 2026. The major one raises the Home Energy Loan cap to $20,000, so if you’ve been putting off a home battery, this helps cover one.
The updates will also tighten EV eligibility and add e-cargo bikes to the scheme.
One thing that still trips people up: solar panels aren’t covered. The changes to the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme 2026 didn’t bring them back.
What are the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme changes from 1 July 2026?
New participants can borrow up to $20,000, up from $15,000. Existing customers stay capped at $15,000.
The EV price threshold drops to $60,000, so some dearer models no longer qualify.
Electric cargo bikes join the scheme from September 2026, with the final rules still being confirmed.
What is the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme?
The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme is a low-cost loan program that helps Canberra households pay for energy-saving upgrades. It offers a 3% fixed rate loan with up to a 10 year repayment term and no upfront fees, so you can spread the cost of a big upgrade over time.
The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme eligible products now include:
Battery storage
EV chargers
Reverse cycle heating and cooling
Hot water heat pumps
Electric stovetops
Ceiling insulation
You apply through an approved installer rather than directly, and you attend a short workshop first. The scheme supports home electrification across Canberra suburbs and the ACT’s plan to reach net zero emissions by 2045.
ACT Sustainable Household Scheme solar exclusion: is solar still covered?
Solar panels are no longer eligible under the standard scheme. They were removed in 2025, so you can no longer borrow for panels the way you once could. If you are wondering why solar panels are excluded from the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme, the short answer is that the scheme has shifted its focus toward storage and electrification, where the grid now needs the most help.
There is one exception. Concession card holders can still access solar support through the ACT Home Energy Support Program, which offers a zero-interest loan of up to $10,000 plus a rebate of up to $5,000. For everyone else, solar panels are excluded, even though batteries that store solar power are firmly in.
Can I still get a battery under the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme?
Yes. Battery storage is one of the most popular upgrades in the scheme, and demand has climbed fast. Battery applications jumped from around 10% of all applications to more than half in a single year.
The old $15,000 cap often forced a compromise on size. The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme $20,000 loan changes that. The extra headroom lets you size a battery to match your evening usage and add an EV charger under the same loan. A Sigenergy SigenStor battery is a strong fit here, and it pairs neatly with a home EV charger for households that drive electric. A Canberra battery storage loan in 2026 can now stretch across both.
How could a battery help your power bill?
Picture a Canberra home charging its battery from rooftop solar through the day, then running the fridge, lights and heating from stored power all evening. That shifts one of your biggest daily loads off the most expensive part of the day.
The scheme runs through approved installers, not direct applications, and you attend a short workshop first. The simplest path is to have a system designed around your home and budget, then apply with those numbers ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solar still covered under the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme?
No. Solar panels were removed from the standard scheme in 2025. Concession card holders can still get solar support through the ACT Home Energy Support Program.
What is the maximum loan under the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme?
From 1 July 2026 new participants can borrow up to $20,000. Existing scheme customers stay capped at $15,000.
What is the interest rate on the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme loan?
Most households pay a 3% fixed rate, with up to 10 years to repay and no upfront fees.
Does the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme cover EV chargers in 2026?
Yes. EV chargers remain an eligible product, alongside battery storage, heat pumps and other electric upgrades.
What is the ACT Home Energy Support Program?
It is a separate ACT program for concession card holders. It offers a zero-interest loan of up to $10,000 plus a rebate of up to $5,000, and it still includes solar panels.
Are electric cargo bikes covered under the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme?
They will be, from September 2026. Standard e-bikes are not included, and the final eligibility rules are still being confirmed.
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) wants to change how electricity network costs are charged to Australian households, shifting more of the cost into a flat daily charge you pay regardless of how much power you use. Solar and batteries still would remain the best option however this hits those who are smart with their energy consumption the hardest. This tariff reform could significantly decrease the value of your investment. Here is what this article covers:
What the AEMC tariff reform actually proposes
Whether this is actually a solar tax for Australian households
Who gets hurt the most
What it means for solar feed-in tariff changes and battery storage savings
What you should do before the final report lands in June 2026
What Is the AEMC Tariff Reform and Why Does It Matter?
At the moment, a large part of your electricity bill is based on how much power you use. Use more, pay more. Use less, pay less. For solar owners, that system works in your favour. Every unit of energy your panels produce and you use yourself is a unit you do not have to buy from the grid.
The AEMC wants to change that. Their proposal would:
Shift more of the grid’s costs into a higher flat daily charge. Think of this like a Netflix subscription, your daily power subscription fee is going up, whether you use power that day or not. (we detail this further below)
Reduce the portion of your bill that is based on how much power you use
Introduce dynamic pricing during peak demand periods (when lots of households draw power at the same time, typically weekday evenings, the cost per kilowatt-hour would rise. During quieter periods it would fall. The idea is to encourage households to shift their energy use away from busy times.)
The AEMC argues this is fairer because solar owners currently use the grid less, which means they contribute less to shared infrastructure costs. Households without solar end up covering more of those costs. The commission calls this a cross-subsidy and wants to fix it.
In April 2026, the AEMC released modelling claiming the reforms could deliver up to $6 billion in network savings over 15 years, per the AEMC media release published 23 April 2026. They say most households would save $40 to $80 per year on bills by 2040.
The public response was strongly negative. Over 2,700 submissions were received. The overwhelming majority opposed the proposal.
Should I switch to battery storage in Australia given these changes?
For most solar households, yes. Battery storage lets you self-consume more of your solar energy instead of exporting it at low feed-in rates or buying it back at high grid rates. If the AEMC reform proceeds and fixed charges increase, the value of self-consumption relative to grid dependence becomes even more important. Acting sooner rather than later also means your system builds up savings at current rates before any pricing changes take effect.
What Will Actually Change on Your Electricity Bill?
Every electricity bill has two basic charges. Understanding both is key to understanding why this reform hurts solar owners.
The first is the daily supply charge. This is a flat fee you pay every single day just to be connected to the grid. It does not matter if you use a lot of power or a little. You pay it regardless.
The second is the usage charge. This is what you pay per kilowatt-hour of electricity you actually draw from the grid.
Here is what the AEMC reform would do to each:
The daily supply charge goes up — significantly. Modelling by analyst Tristan Edis at Green Energy Markets suggests the network portion of this charge could increase by 350% to 500% depending on your state
The per-kWh usage charge goes down slightly, because some of that cost has shifted into the fixed charge instead
For a household without solar, those two movements can roughly cancel each other out. For a solar household, they do not:
A lower per-kWh rate means every unit of solar energy you use yourself saves you less money than it does today
The higher daily supply charge is there every day no matter how much your panels produce
The more self-sufficient your solar system makes you, the less the lower usage rate helps you and the more the higher fixed charge stings you
The bill below is a real example of what these two charges look like today. The hypothetical changes above have not happened yet, but this is exactly where you would see them if they did.
There is another group this reform quietly punishes.
Think about the household that turns the heater down and puts on an extra jumper in winter. The one that bought energy efficient appliances specifically to keep their bills down. The retiree who is home all day and watches every kilowatt-hour because they are on a fixed income. These households have done everything right. They use less, so they pay less. That is how the current system works.
Under the AEMC’s proposed changes, that careful behaviour is worth less:
A larger share of your bill is fixed, so using less saves you less
The financial reward for buying that efficient washing machine or turning the heater down shrinks
The household that uses twice as much power as you gets a bigger benefit from the lower per-kWh rate than you do
It hits anyone who has been careful with their energy use and in doing so, quietly removes the incentive to stay that way. If using less saves you little more than using a lot, why bother? The reform does not just fail to reward efficiency. It indirectly encourages the opposite.
Is This a Solar Tax? Here Is What the AEMC Solar Tariff Reform Means in Practice
The word ‘solar tax’ is not the AEMC’s language, and technically it is not a tax. What it is, is a significant increase to the flat daily charge on your bill. Unlike your usage charge, that flat rate is not something your solar system can reduce.
The AEMC’s own modelling suggests the impact is modest:
Solar payback period stretches by about three months, from roughly 4.4 years to 4.7 years
A 10kW solar and 20kWh battery system still accumulates around $27,000 in savings over 10 years
Independent analyst Tristan Edis put the damage much higher:
A median household in the Ausgrid network would lose $558 per year in bill savings from their solar and battery system
On average, the financial benefit of a solar and battery system would be reduced by roughly a quarter to a third
For many households that would push the payback period beyond the typical 10-year battery warranty period
Are They Taxing Solar in Australia? Who Gets Hit the Hardest
Solar and battery owners
If you have invested in a solar and battery system, the AEMC tariff reform hits you in two ways:
The value of self-consuming your solar drops as more of your bill moves into a fixed charge
The AEMC’s dynamic pricing means drawing from the grid during peak periods costs more and if your battery is not fully charged, you have no way to avoid it
Dynamic pricing only delivers savings if your devices respond to price signals automatically. For most households it is just a higher bill at the times when people actually need power
Low-usage and low-income households
The impact is not limited to solar owners. Any household that uses relatively little electricity would face higher bills under the fixed-charge model. That includes:
Retirees in smaller homes
Renters who cannot install solar and already manage their usage carefully
Apartment dwellers with limited appliances
Households that have worked hard to cut their consumption
A fixed charge takes the same dollar amount from everyone, regardless of how much power they use. Low-usage households pay proportionally more. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) found potential annual increases of $127 to $217 or more for low-income and low-usage profiles before any protections are applied.
The AEMC’s modelling includes a character called ‘Nina the Florist’, a small business with modest electricity consumption. Her bill could be up to $810 higher per year by 2040. The commission points to consumer protections as a safeguard, but critics argue those protections are not guaranteed.
The death spiral risk
There is a broader structural problem. If wealthier households respond to higher fixed charges by maximising their battery storage and cutting grid use:
The pool of customers paying for shared grid costs shrinks
The remaining customers, with fewer options, carry more of the load
That pushes costs up further and drives more households to reduce their grid use
The cycle keeps going
Without a per-kWh pricing signal to moderate behaviour, overall electricity consumption could rise, meaning more infrastructure is needed, not less.
What the Solar Feed-In Tariff Reform Means for Energy Companies Charging Solar Owners
Australia’s peak renewable energy industry body, the Smart Energy Council, released a statement in April 2026 calling for the AEMC to pause the reform. Their core argument is that energy companies charging solar owners more, while also reducing what those owners earn through solar export tariffs, sends completely the wrong signal for the energy transition.
Their key concerns:
The modelling raises more questions than it answers
Households that invested in solar based on the current rules would be penalised
The AEMC assumes retailers will not pass higher network costs on to customers in full, which the Smart Energy Council says has no real-world basis
The AEMC expects more Australians to invest in solar and batteries while proposing rules that make those investments financially less attractive
Nexa Advisory analysed all 2,700 public submissions and found the vast majority opposed the fixed-charge approach. Nexa CEO Stephanie Bashir described it as a backward step that would undermine home battery programs and slow solar uptake across the country.
The Clean Energy Council and multiple consumer advocacy groups made similar arguments. No one in the industry is keen on this reform.
What Should You Do Given These Price Changes?
The AEMC’s final report is due in June 2026 and has not yet been released. With electricity prices rising and feed-in tariffs continuing to fall, the direction of travel is clear.
If you already have solar or a battery:
Your savings are not about to collapse overnight
Changes would be phased in gradually over several years
Maximise self-consumption now — use more of your solar directly rather than exporting it
If you are thinking about installing solar or a battery:
The financial case for acting now is stronger than acting later
Systems installed today lock in savings at current rates before any changes take effect
Government battery rebate programs are available now and may not last
You can monitor the AEMC project page at aemc.gov.au for the final report when it is released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AEMC tariff reform actually a solar tax?
The AEMC does not call it a tax, but the effect on solar owners is similar. Shifting more of the bill into a fixed daily charge reduces the financial reward for self-consuming solar energy. Your system still saves you money, but less of it. Critics including the Smart Energy Council have described the reform as penalising households that invested in solar based on the current rules.
How much could my solar savings actually be reduced?
Independent modelling by analyst Tristan Edis at Green Energy Markets found that a median household in the Ausgrid network would lose $558 per year in bill savings from their solar and battery system. On average, the financial benefit of a solar and battery system would be reduced by roughly a quarter to a third. For many households that would push the payback period beyond the typical 10-year battery warranty period.
Why is my solar bill still high if I have panels?
There are a few reasons. Feed-in tariffs have been falling for years, so if you export power to the grid you earn less than you used to. The cost of electricity you import from the grid has also risen sharply, so any gap in your solar coverage costs more to fill. And if your household uses power in the evenings after the sun goes down, you are drawing from the grid at higher time-of-use rates. A battery system addresses all three of these problems by letting you store and use your own solar energy rather than depending on the grid.
When would any changes actually appear on my bill?
Not before 2030 at the earliest. According to the AEMC’s own distributional impact analysis and media release, both published 23 April 2026, the modelled transition begins in FY2030 and extends over ten years, with the full impact modelled out to 2040. Before any bill changes occur, the June 2026 final report still needs to be published, followed by a separate rule change determination process. The rule change process alone typically takes one to two years after the final report.
There are now federal government grants for sports clubs covering solar panels, batteries, LED lighting, and other energy upgrades, worth between $25,000 and $100,000 per club. Round 1 of the sports club energy grants 2026 program opens on 11 June and closes on 8 July, giving clubs less than four weeks to apply. If your club wants to be in the running, preparation needs to start now.
Energy bills are one of the biggest overhead costs for community sporting clubs. Lighting fields and courts, running canteens, heating and cooling change rooms all add up fast. These grants for community sporting clubs are designed to help reduce energy bills for sports clubs and make facilities more resilient to the extreme weather events that have been cancelling games and damaging infrastructure across the country.
This article explains:
what the program covers
who is eligible
how much your club could receive
and what you need to do to get an application across the line.
What Are the Government Sports Club Energy Grants Available in 2026?
Game On: Teaming Up for Climate Action is a federal program administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). It has a total pool of $35.3 million in community sports club grants across two funding rounds, with $17.6 million available in Round 1.
The program is part of a broader $50 million, four-year government commitment to help community sport decarbonise and adapt to climate risk. It sits alongside the $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund (which targets local government facilities) and can be combined with the Cheaper Home Batteries Program and Clean Energy Finance Corporation financing. That means the total value of solar and battery grants available to a club could go well above $100,000.
According to the DCCEEW program page, up to 500 clubs nationally are expected to benefit across both rounds.
How Much Sports Club Solar Funding Can Your Club Access?
Individual clubs can apply for sports club solar grants between $25,000 and $100,000. The grant can cover up to 100% of eligible project costs, so clubs are not required to match the funding dollar for dollar.
Clubs can also apply as a consortium, which significantly increases the ceiling for local sports club funding:
2 to 10 clubs applying together can access up to $1 million total (up to $100,000 per club)
11 to 20 clubs can access up to $2 million total (up to $100,000 per club)
If your club shares grounds with another club, or if you are affiliated with a regional sporting association that could coordinate a joint application, the consortium pathway is worth serious consideration. One important caveat: clubs that participate in Round 1 as a consortium member are locked out of applying in Round 2, so make sure the consortium is the right fit before committing.
Which Community Sports Clubs Are Eligible for These Grants in Australia?
To be eligible for these community sports club grants in Australia, a club must be a not-for-profit organisation with a focus on grassroots participation. According to the DCCEEW program guidelines, clubs need:
An Australian Business Number (ABN)
An Australian bank account
A proper legal structure such as an incorporated association
Affiliation with a state or national sporting body
For-profit entities, unincorporated groups, and venues where gaming or licensed operations are the primary function are generally excluded, though there are some carve-outs in the guidelines worth checking if your club runs a bar or bistro as part of a broader community facility.
Does Your Sport Get Priority Funding?
More than 50% of the total federal grants for sports clubs is reserved for clubs from 11 priority sports codes:
AFL, cricket, soccer, basketball, netball, rugby league, tennis, golf, athletics, gymnastics, and surf lifesaving
Clubs from other sports are still eligible for solar grants for sporting clubs, but they compete in a separate pool for the remaining funding. If your club is in a priority code, your application has a structural advantage, which is another reason to get moving before Round 1 closes.
What Energy Upgrades for Sports Clubs Does the Grant Cover?
The grant is focused on building energy efficient sports facilities through electrification, renewable energy, and climate resilience upgrades. According to Smart Commercial Energy, a solar energy advisory firm that has analysed the program guidelines in detail, eligible projects for grants for club facility upgrades include:
Solar PV systems (typically 30 to 70kW for club facilities)
Battery storage systems
LED lighting upgrades
Heat pumps, HVAC, and insulation
Switchboard upgrades and roof strengthening to support solar
Shade structures, drainage, and rainwater harvesting
EV charger grants for clubs are also available through this program, covering the cost of EV charging infrastructure
Disaster-resilient features and climate risk assessments
Why Sports Club Battery Grants Are Worth Pursuing Alongside Solar
Sports clubs have a different energy usage pattern to most buildings. The heaviest demand hits at night, when field and court lighting is running for training sessions and games. A solar-only system helps with daytime usage in the canteen, office, and refrigeration, but it does not solve the evening load problem on its own.
Adding a battery means the energy generated during the day gets stored and used when the club actually needs it most. For clubs with large evening lighting loads, combining solar and battery grants in Australia through this program can make a much bigger dent in the energy bill than solar alone. It can even keep the lights on when a blackout hits.
What the Sports Club Energy Grants Cannot Pay For
There are some clear exclusions. The grant will not cover:
Staff wages or administration costs
Routine maintenance or repairs
Cosmetic items
Sporting equipment
Any work that has already started before the grant agreement is signed
That last point is critical. Do not start any works before you have a signed grant agreement in place, or the costs will be ineligible.
What Is the Timeline for Sports Club Energy Efficiency Grants in Round 1?
Round 1 opens: 11 June 2026
Round 1 closes: 8 July 2026
Assessments: August 2026
Approvals: September 2026
Grant agreements signed: November 2026
Projects must be completed by: March 2028
The application window is narrow, just under four weeks. That is not enough time to scramble for quotes and paperwork once the portal opens. Clubs that are ready on day one are in a much stronger position than those still gathering information in the final week.
How Do You Apply for Sports Club Energy Grants Australia?
Knowing how to apply for sports club grants is half the battle. Applications are submitted through GrantConnect (grants.gov.au). The Final Guidelines will be published there when Round 1 opens on 11 June. Per the DCCEEW program page, draft guidelines are already available, so clubs can review these now to understand the assessment criteria and start preparing.
Strong applications for community facility energy upgrades address three things clearly:
Energy impact: how much will this upgrade reduce your sports club electricity savings compared to current bills?
Community benefit: how do the savings flow back into your club through lower registration fees, more junior programs, or better equipment?
Project feasibility: can your club actually deliver this, and do you have the quotes and site authority to prove it?
To be ready before the portal opens, start pulling together:
At least four recent energy bills
Proof of site authority such as a lease or land ownership documents
Letters of affiliation from your state or national sporting body
Professional quotes from accredited installers
Consortium support letters if applicable
The DCCEEW is also engaging Program Support Providers, third-party organisations funded by the government to help clubs through the process. Contact the program team at GameOn@dcceew.gov.au to find out more.
Energy upgrades through this program deliver three clear benefits for community clubs:
Lower energy bills.
Energy costs for a typical club can run into tens of thousands of dollars a year
A solar and battery system sized at 30 to 70kW can make a serious dent in that figure
More money for what matters.
Savings can go back into junior programs
Better equipment for members
Lower registration fees for families
Better resilience.
Improved insulation, backup battery power, drainage, and shade structures all help
Talk to Lenergy Before You Apply
Here at Lenergy we design solar, battery and EV setups for Australian facilities and we can help your club build a strong, grant-ready proposal with the right system design and accredited quotes. Send us a message and we can help work with you to get the job done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a small community club with limited admin capacity still apply for these grants?
Yes. The program does not require a full-time administrator to manage the process. The DCCEEW is working with Program Support Providers specifically to help clubs that do not have dedicated staff for grant applications. Getting an energy audit and professional quotes from an accredited installer does most of the technical heavy lifting, and the application itself is submitted through GrantConnect. The key is starting early because the application window is short and the preparation work takes time.
Our club leases its grounds from the council. Can we still apply?
Possibly, but you will need to establish site authority. The grant guidelines require applicants to demonstrate that they have the right to carry out the proposed works on the site. For clubs on leased council land, that typically means getting written permission from the council as the landowner. This is worth sorting out before the portal opens on 11 June, because it can take time to get the right sign-off from a local government.
What happens if our club misses Round 1?
Round 2 of the program is expected to run in the 2027 to 2028 financial year, with a further $17.6 million in community facility energy upgrades funding available. Missing Round 1 is not the end of the road. That said, clubs that apply in Round 1 and are successful get their projects underway much sooner and the savings start from an earlier date. If you are close to ready, it is worth pushing to get your application in for Round 1 rather than waiting.
Is now a good time for our club to act on sports club energy grants 2026?
Yes. The application window opens in less than two weeks from the time of writing and closes just four weeks after that. Only 500 clubs nationally will receive funding across both rounds combined, and Round 1 has $17.6 million to allocate. Clubs that have their energy bills, quotes, and supporting documents ready before 11 June are in the strongest position. If you have not already reached out to an accredited installer for a quote and site assessment, that is the most important thing you can do right now.
If you’ve been worried about an AGL price increase in July 2026, or bracing for another energy price hike in Australia, here’s the good news: for most Australians, electricity prices are actually going down this July, not up. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) confirmed its final decision on 26 May 2026, and benchmark electricity prices are falling in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia. Victoria is also cutting prices. Western Australia is the one exception.
After several years of rising bills, this is a real shift. The main reason prices are dropping is that home batteries and large-scale battery storage have flooded the market, cutting the cost of electricity at the wholesale level. Renewables now make up more than half of Australia’s national grid generation.
This article covers exactly what’s changing from 1 July 2026 by state, by retailer, and in plain terms. You’ll learn why bills are falling in most places, what’s still going up inside your bill, what the new Solar Sharer Offer is, and whether going solar and battery is still worth it when prices are heading down.
Is There an AGL Price Increase in July 2026 — or Are Bills Actually Falling?
For most customers of AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia, there is no electricity bill increase in July 2026. The opposite is true in most states.
These three retailers are required by law to cap their standard “standing offer” prices at or below the AER’s Default Market Offer (DMO), a benchmark price the regulator sets every year. When the DMO falls, their standard prices must follow.
Here’s what’s changing by state from 1 July 2026:
NSW: Bills falling by approximately $58–$226 per year depending on your area
South East Queensland: Bills falling by approximately $216 per year, the biggest drop of any DMO state
South Australia: Mixed. Flat-rate customers may see a small rise of around 1.4%. Time-of-use customers fare better
Victoria: Bills falling by approximately $84 per year, set by Victoria’s own regulator rather than the AER
Western Australia: Bills rising by 2.75% on the fixed daily supply charge, the one state going the other way
One important thing to know: fewer than 10% of households are actually on a standard standing offer. Most people are on a market offer, which is a competitive plan their retailer sold them. The DMO drop doesn’t automatically change what you pay, but it does reset the reference point retailers use to price their plans. If you haven’t reviewed your plan recently, now is a good time to compare energy providers in Australia and see if you’re getting a fair deal.
Why Is There No Major Energy Price Hike in Australia This Year?
The short answer: batteries and renewables have made electricity cheaper to produce.
Wholesale electricity, which is the raw cost of generating power before it reaches your home, fell 44% year-on-year in the final quarter of 2025. Renewable energy hit a record 51% of national grid generation in that same period. Large-scale batteries are now helping set the wholesale price in roughly one third of all trading intervals, replacing expensive gas and coal generators that used to run every evening when demand peaked.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen credited home batteries directly, saying they are “flattening the peak” by storing cheap solar power during the day and releasing it at night. That means gas and coal plants get called on less often, which saves everyone money.
So why did anyone think electricity rates in 2026 might go up? Because one part of your bill, network charges, did go up almost everywhere. Network costs cover the poles, wires and infrastructure that carry electricity to your home. They make up 39–54% of a typical bill. Here’s what network costs did in 2026–27:
Ausgrid (NSW): up approximately 10%
Endeavour Energy (NSW): up approximately 11%
Energex (SE QLD): up approximately 12%
SA Power Networks: up approximately 10%
AusNet Services (VIC): down approximately 9%, the national exception
Network costs going up while overall bills go down sounds contradictory. It’s not. The wholesale price fell so sharply that it more than covered the network increases in most states. In South Australia, the network rise ate up more of the savings, which is why SA customers on flat-rate plans see a smaller benefit or a small rise.
The AER also changed the rules this year so the DMO must be based on “efficient costs”, meaning the lowest network tariffs available to retailers. That means retailers can no longer inflate the benchmark with padded estimates.
What Is the Solar Sharer Offer — and Should You Switch?
From 1 July 2026, AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia are all required to offer a tariff called the Solar Sharer Offer to eligible customers. It’s opt-in, and you need a smart meter to access it.
Here’s how it works:
Free electricity for three hours every day during peak solar generation hours
In NSW and SE QLD: free from 11am to 2pm
In SA: free from 12pm to 3pm
24 kWh daily cap on the free electricity, with normal rates applying after that
Available to anyone with a smart meter, regardless of whether you have solar panels
The catch is that this offer doesn’t save you money automatically. The savings only show up if you shift your usage into the free window by running your dishwasher, EV charger, air conditioner or hot water system between 11am and 2pm using an appliance timer.
For solar households without a battery, the benefit is limited. Your panels are already covering most of your midday power use, so the free grid electricity doesn’t add much. For households with a battery, it’s a different story. A battery can store up to 24 kWh of free electricity even on a cloudy day and discharge it in the evening when rates are higher. That’s where the real value is.
Victoria and WA don’t have the Solar Sharer Offer yet, but Victoria is expected to get it soon. Similar free-midday plans are already available in Victoria for smart meter holders who want to get started early.
What Other Changes Are Coming to Your Bill From July 2026?
Beyond the price changes and the new Solar Sharer Offer, several new consumer protections take effect from 1 July 2026 for all AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia customers:
Retailers can only raise prices once per year, with mid-contract increases no longer allowed
Account establishment fees are being removed
Special meter read fees and re-energisation fees are being eliminated
Retailers must offer at least one free payment method
New tariff caps have been introduced, limiting not just annual costs but individual line items like daily supply charges and usage rates
That last change matters if you want to compare energy providers in Australia. For the first time, you can compare AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia on a like-for-like basis. Supply charge versus supply charge. Usage rate versus usage rate. Previously, the way retailers structured their pricing made direct comparison difficult.
If you’re thinking about whether to switch energy provider in Australia, the new tariff caps make it significantly easier to work out which plan is actually cheaper for your usage pattern. The government’s free comparison tool at energymadeeasy.gov.au is the place to start.
Should You Still Go Solar and Battery Even If Electricity Rates in 2026 Are Falling?
The Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program currently provides approximately 30% off the upfront cost of an eligible home battery system. According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the rebate works out to:
$2,440 off a 10 kWh battery
$4,438 off a 20 kWh battery
$6,463 off a 30 kWh battery
The scheme is uncapped and not means-tested. There’s no income limit and no national cap on how many systems can claim it. The rebate does decrease every six months though. The current rate applies from May to December 2026. From January 2027, the discount steps down so acting now means you will be able to get the highest discount possible.
Falling wholesale prices don’t make batteries less valuable. They make batteries more valuable, because the energy system is increasingly built around rewarding households that can store cheap daytime solar and avoid expensive grid power in the evenings. The new Solar Sharer Offer reinforces this by handing battery owners up to 24 kWh of free midday electricity every day to store and use later.
Here at Lenergy we design solar, battery and EV setups for Aussie homes. Wondering whether the battery rebate still applies at the full rate for your situation? Send us a message and we’ll give it to you straight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my power bill going up in July 2026?
For most Australians, no. Benchmark electricity prices are falling in NSW, South East Queensland, Victoria and, for many tariff types, South Australia. Western Australia is the exception, with a small increase to Synergy’s fixed daily supply charge. Whether you personally see a lower bill depends on your state, your tariff type, and which plan you’re on with your retailer. If you’re on a market offer that hasn’t been updated recently, your plan may not reflect the new lower benchmark automatically. That’s a reason to compare energy providers in Australia and check whether switching saves you more.
Why are electricity prices falling if I keep hearing that network costs are rising?
Both things are true. Network charges, which cover the cost of poles and wires, went up 10–12% in most states. But wholesale electricity costs fell 44% year-on-year as renewable energy hit record levels and large-scale batteries started replacing gas and coal in peak periods. The wholesale fall was large enough to outweigh the network rise in NSW, QLD and VIC. In SA, the network increase absorbed more of the savings, which is why flat-rate SA customers may see a small rise instead. The network cost pressures are real and ongoing. Households with solar and batteries reduce how much grid power they use, which insulates them from those rises regardless of what the headline rate does.
What is the Solar Sharer Offer and do I need a battery to use it?
The Solar Sharer Offer is a new tariff that AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia must offer from 1 July 2026 to customers with smart meters. It provides three hours of free grid electricity per day, from 11am to 2pm in NSW and SE QLD and from 12pm to 3pm in SA, with a 24 kWh daily cap. You don’t need a battery to access it, but the savings are limited without one. If you have a battery, it can store up to 24 kWh of free electricity even on overcast days and use it in the evening when rates are higher. Without a battery, the benefit comes from shifting appliance use such as EV charging, hot water and dishwashers into the free window using timers.
Is the federal battery rebate still worth it when electricity prices are going down?
Yes. The rebate is based on the upfront system cost, not on the current electricity rate. It provides around $2,440 to $6,463 off a typical home battery depending on size. The discount decreases every six months, with the rate stepping down from January 2027. Only one rebate is available per property. Falling electricity prices and the new Solar Sharer Offer both increase the value of battery storage, because the grid now rewards households that store cheap daytime power and avoid peak-rate grid electricity at night. Acting in 2026 captures both the higher rebate and the better-structured tariff environment.
Is now a good time to switch energy provider in Australia?
It is worth reviewing your plan immediately. The AER’s own data shows that customers still on a standing offer could save up to 13% by moving to a competitive market offer. New tariff caps from July 2026 make it easier than ever to compare energy providers in Australia on a fair basis. Use the government’s free tool at energymadeeasy.gov.au to compare AGL rate changes against what Origin, EnergyAustralia and other retailers are offering in your area. If you haven’t reviewed your plan in the last 12 months, there’s a reasonable chance a better option exists.
Australia’s hailstorms can and do destroy solar panels, but most systems come through storm season without any damage at all. The risk is real in certain parts of the country and at the more extreme end of the scale. With the right panels and a bit of forward planning, it is a risk you can manage before it ever becomes a problem.
If you live in southeast Queensland, inland NSW, or anywhere along Australia’s hail corridor, this is worth reading before storm season arrives.
This article covers what the Australian testing standards require, what real storms have shown about how panels hold up, why some hail damage does not show up for months, and what to do before and after a major event.
Do Solar Panels Have to Be Hail-Resistant in Australia?
Yes. Every solar panel sold in Australia must meet a standard called IEC 61215. This requires panels to survive being hit by 25mm hailstones travelling at roughly 83 km/h, across multiple points on the panel surface. A 25mm stone is about the size of a 50-cent coin. This has been thoroughly tested in real world situations and it means panels are built to handle the kind of hail most Australians see in a typical storm.
The problem is that some parts of Australia get storms that go well beyond that. In November 2025, two supercell storms hit southeast Queensland and produced hailstones up to 9cm across. According to ABC News, those two storms alone generated 28,250 insurance claims. In the town of Pratten near Toowoomba, nearly every property reported damaged solar panels.
Standards Australia has acknowledged that updating the national minimum standard is a multi-year process. Many manufacturers have not waited. They have moved ahead voluntarily by testing their panels to a tougher standard called the Swiss VKF HW4, which uses 40mm hailstones at significantly higher impact energy.
AIKOpanels were among the first in the world to pass the VKF HW4 standard. They use 3.2mm tempered glass, compared to the 1.6mm glass in some standard panels. In a high-risk area, that extra thickness makes a real difference.
Where in Australia Is Hail Risk Highest?
Not every part of the country carries the same risk. The areas where severe hail is most likely include:
Southeast Queensland, particularly the Darling Downs, Lockyer Valley, and Brisbane’s western suburbs
Inland NSW, including the Hunter Valley, Central Tablelands, and the New England region
Parts of Victoria, including Melbourne’s outer eastern and northern suburbs during spring and early summer
The ACT, which recorded a damaging hailstorm in January 2020
The 2020 Brisbane event produced hailstones as large as 140mm. The November 2025 storms produced similar conditions.
If your home is in or near any of these areas, choosing panels that go beyond the IEC minimum is the sensible call.
What Happens When Hail Hits a Solar Panel?
The damage you can see
Large hailstones can crack or shatter the glass, break the solar cells inside, dent the aluminium frame, and in extreme cases rip panels off the roof entirely. If this happens:
Turn off the AC isolator first, then the DC isolator
Do not go up on the roof while the system is live
Check for cracked or smashed panels from ground level only
Call a licensed technician before doing anything else
Voltage can still be present in a damaged system and poses a real safety risk.
The damage you cannot see
This is the part most homeowners miss. When hailstones hit a panel hard enough, they can crack the solar cells inside without breaking the glass on the surface. The panel looks perfectly fine. The inverter might not show any fault for days or even weeks.
Over time, those internal cracks cause problems:
Hotspots form, which are areas of concentrated heat in the damaged cells
Power output drops gradually
The backsheet can burn in serious cases
Moisture can get in and speed up the deterioration
The only reliable way to find this kind of damage is through a specialist inspection called electroluminescence (EL) imaging, which shows the internal cell structure. A visual check from the ground will not find it.
If your area has been through a significant storm and your output has dropped in the weeks after, that is worth getting checked properly.
Does Home Insurance Cover Solar Panel Hail Damage?
In most cases, yes. Solar panels are generally treated as part of the building structure and covered under standard home and contents policies. That said, policies vary, so before storm season it is worth checking:
That hail is listed as a covered peril in your policy
What the replacement value limit is and whether it reflects current system costs
Whether the policy pays full replacement cost or a depreciated value
Take photos of your panels before storm season. Write down the make, model, and serial numbers, and keep a record of your installer. A well-documented claim is a much faster and smoother process.
One thing insurance does not cover is gradual performance loss from microcrack damage that builds up over time. There is no single storm event to point to, so there is no claim to make. The protection against that kind of slow damage is choosing quality panels upfront and getting an inspection after any significant storm.
What Should You Do After a Hailstorm?
Right after the storm
Shut the system down: AC isolator off first, then DC
Do a visual check from the ground only
Look for cracked or shattered panels
If you see damage, call a licensed solar technician before anything else
If the panels look fine, check your inverter for fault codes or error lights
Most modern monitoring apps show you exactly what the system is doing. The mySigenapp for Sigenergy systems shows live output and flags faults directly.
In the days after
Keep an eye on your daily generation compared to what you were producing before the storm. Most apps give you a clear history. If output has dropped noticeably under similar weather conditions, that is a sign something needs a closer look.
If you experience an intense hailstorm and notice a significant drop in how much your solar system generates in the following days, it is worth booking a professional inspection even if everything looks normal. The cost of an inspection is well below the cost of finding out a year later that your panels have been silently degrading.
How Do You Choose Hail-Resistant Solar Panels?
In hail-prone areas, the question is not just whether a panel meets the IEC minimum. Every panel sold in Australia has to. The question is how much further it goes beyond that.
When comparing panels, look for:
Certification to the Swiss VKF HW4 standard or an equivalent enhanced hail rating
Glass thickness of 3.2mm or above
Specific certification details on the panel model being quoted, not just the brand name
AIKO panels were among the first in the world to achieve VKF HW4 certification. For homes in southeast Queensland, inland NSW, and parts of Victoria, that level of certification provides real protection in the storms that matter.
It is also worth thinking about how panel resilience connects to the rest of your system. If you have a solar battery at home, its value depends entirely on your panels working. A storm that takes out your array also takes out your backup power.
Talk to Lenergy
Here at Lenergy we design solar, battery, and EV setups for Aussie homes. Not sure which panels are the right fit for your roof and your risk profile? Send us a message and we’ll give it to you straight.
FAQ
Will my solar panels survive a hailstorm?
Most panels handle typical hail without damage. Australian standards require all panels to survive 25mm hailstones at 83 km/h, and many modern panels perform well above that. The risk increases significantly above 35 to 40mm, and parts of southeast Queensland, inland NSW, and Victoria regularly see stones larger than that. In those areas, choosing panels certified to the Swiss VKF HW4 standard provides a meaningful step up in protection.
Can hail damage solar panels without cracking the glass?
Yes. Hailstones can cause microcracks in the silicon cells beneath the surface without breaking the glass itself. These are invisible to the eye and may not trigger inverter faults straight away. Over time, the cracks spread and form hotspots, reducing power output and in serious cases creating a fire risk. The only reliable way to detect this damage is through electroluminescence imaging by a qualified technician.
Does my home insurance cover hail damage to solar panels?
In most cases, yes. Solar panels are generally treated as part of the building structure and covered under home and contents policies. Check that your policy lists hail as a covered peril, confirm the replacement value limit reflects current system costs, and document your system with photos and serial numbers before storm season. Gradual performance degradation from microcrack damage is not covered by insurance claims.
Is now a good time to upgrade to hail-resistant panels?
If you are planning a new system or replacing an existing one, building in hail resistance from the start makes practical sense, particularly in high-risk regions. The cost difference between a standard-rated and a premium-rated panel is modest compared to the cost of replacing a system after a severe event. With federal battery rebates currently available, combining a quality panel with battery storage is worth looking at now.
From 1 July 2026, energy retailers in NSW, South Australia, and South-East Queensland must give households at least three hours of free electricity every day. No solar panels required. No need to own your home. You just need a smart meter and to opt in through your retailer to have access to free daytime electricity .
The scheme is called the Solar Sharer Offer. It works by passing on the benefit of cheap midday solar power, which has always existed on the wholesale market but never made it to your bill, directly to households. Since it was first announced in November 2025, one significant change has been made to the design. This article covers what that change is, how the scheme works in practice, and how to get the most out of it.
What Is the Solar Sharer Offer?
Australia has more than 4.3 million rooftop solar installations. On a clear midday, those systems push so much electricity into the grid that the market cannot absorb it at normal prices. Wholesale electricity rates go negative. However, households on standard tariffs never see any of that benefit.
The Solar Sharer Offer changes that. From 1 July 2026, energy retailers must provide at least three hours of free daytime electricity per day, timed to coincide with peak solar output. The free window will sit around midday, with the exact hours tailored to local conditions. As a rough guide, expect something like 11am to 2pm or noon to 3pm.
To access it:
You need a smart meter (most Australian homes already have one)
If you do not have one, most retailers will install it at no charge
You opt in through your energy retailer when the scheme launches
Which States Are Included in the Solar Sharer Offer from July 2026?
The July 2026 launch covers three states:
New South Wales
South-East Queensland
South Australia
These are the states governed by the federal Default Market Offer framework. Victoria is under consultation, with some reports pointing to a possible expansion from October 2026. Other states are expected to follow by 2027.
If you are in Victoria, the ACT, or another state not yet covered, check with your retailer. Several retailers including AGL, Red Energy, GloBird Energy, and OVO Energy have already been offering similar free daytime electricity plans voluntarily, so an equivalent option may already exist on the market for you.
What Changed After the Public Consultation?
When the Solar Sharer Offer was first announced, the headline was simple: three hours of free daytime electricity every day, no strings attached. Then the government ran a public consultation from November to late November 2025, receiving 76 submissions from retailers, network businesses, consumer groups, and state governments. One significant change came out of that process.
Per the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), a reasonable use cap of 24 kWh per day was added to the scheme. The government’s stated reason is to keep the Solar Sharer Offer financially sustainable for retailers and fair for everyone on the grid.
To put 24 kWh in perspective:
It is roughly the total daily electricity use of an average five-person household, based on residential consumption benchmarks published by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) in December 2020 and cited by DCCEEW in setting the cap level
Running a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, air conditioning, hot water, and more during the free window would get you close
Most households will not reach it on a typical day
The regulations for the scheme were finalised and published on 5 March 2026 as amendments to the Electricity Retail Code.
Does the 24 kWh Cap Affect Solar Households?
For most homes with rooftop solar, the cap is not something you will notice. On a sunny day, your panels are already covering a big chunk of your midday electricity use, which means you are drawing less from the grid during the free window than you might expect.
The situations where you might approach the cap are:
Cloudy winter days when your panels are generating less than usual
Charging a large home battery and an EV from the grid at the same time
Households with very small solar systems running high loads during the window
Even if you do exceed the cap, you just revert to standard daytime rates for the remainder of that period. You are not penalised, and daytime rates are still cheaper than evening peak rates, so shifting your load to midday is still worth doing.
For households without solar who were hoping to charge a large battery heavily during the free window, the cap matters more. The scheme was not designed for that kind of use, and the cap reflects that.
How Much Can Free Daytime Electricity Actually Save You?
TThe DCCEEW published savings estimates in their consultation outcomes paper on 23 January 2026. The range depends on how much of your energy use you can move into the free window:
Shift 10% of your energy use (one major appliance per day): save $100 to $190 per year
Shift 20% (add a dryer or set your hot water to heat during the day): save $300 to $790 per year
Shift 25 to 30% (also add a pool pump, EV charging, or dishwasher): save $400 to $1,100 per year
These are modelled estimates based on average tariff rates and household usage profiles. Your actual savings will depend on your current plan, your household size, and how consistently you can shift load into the free period each day.
What Does the Solar Sharer Offer Mean for Homes With Solar and Batteries?
This is where free daytime electricity becomes most useful for households that have already invested in solar and battery storage.
During the free window, you can charge your home battery from the grid at no cost. On days when your solar is not generating as much as usual, shorter winter days or overcast mornings, the Solar Sharer Offer lets you top up your battery without paying for it. That stored energy then powers your home through the late afternoon and evening, when grid electricity is at its most expensive.
For households with an EV, the free window is a straightforward charging opportunity. If your car is at home during the day, scheduling it to charge during the free daytime electricity period rather than overnight cuts a real cost out of your weekly routine.
Systems like the Sigenergy home energy platform can automate this scheduling so your battery and EV charging prioritise the free window without you having to manage it manually. That kind of automation is what makes the Solar Sharer Offer most powerful in practice.
Who Gets the Most Out of Free Daytime Electricity?
The scheme works best for people who are home during the day or who have appliances that can be set on a timer. That includes:
People who work from home
Retirees
Parents or carers at home during the day
Households with smart appliances that can be scheduled
If you are out of the house all day and have no smart devices, the benefit is more limited. Without automation, the free daytime electricity window passes without much use. A programmable hot water system or EV charger can still capture it while you are out, but you need that capability in place first.
Until now, renters and apartment dwellers have largely been locked out of the benefits of Australia’s solar boom. The Solar Sharer Offer changes that. You do not need panels on your roof or your name on a mortgage. Free daytime electricity is available to anyone with a smart meter who opts in through their retailer, which means renters and apartment dwellers can engage with the energy market in a meaningful way for the first time.
How to Sign Up and Make the Most of the Solar Sharer Offer
When the scheme launches on 1 July 2026, contact your energy retailer to opt in. Before then, do two things:
Confirm your home has a smart meter. If it does not, contact your retailer now to arrange installation
Check whether your high-draw appliances, hot water system, pool pump, washing machine, EV charger, can be set to run on a timer during the free window
Once you are enrolled, treat the free window as a daily resource. The households that save the most will be those who actively schedule their energy use around it rather than signing up and forgetting about it.
Here at Lenergy, we design solar, battery, and EV setups for Australian homes. If you want to understand how the Solar Sharer Offer fits into the picture for your place, whether you already have a system or are thinking about getting one, we can work through the numbers with you and tell you straight what makes sense. Getting the most from free daytime electricity is partly about the policy and partly about having the right setup in place to capture it. Send us a message and we’ll give it to you straight.
FAQ
How does the Solar Sharer Offer work for renters?
Renters can access free daytime electricity under the Solar Sharer Offer as long as their home has a smart meter. You do not need rooftop solar or to own the property. Contact your energy retailer to opt in once the scheme launches on 1 July 2026. The main practical limitation for renters is that smart appliances and schedulable devices, such as programmable washing machines or EV chargers, make a bigger difference than the scheme alone. Even without those, running high-draw appliances manually during the free window delivers real savings over a year.
Will the free daytime electricity window be the same every day?
The window will be at least three hours long each day and will sit during peak solar generation periods, typically around midday. Exact hours may shift slightly by season or region and will be confirmed by your retailer when you sign up. The design allows for adaptability over time per the DCCEEW’s stated principles, but the window is not expected to change frequently once established.
Is now a good time to invest in solar and batteries given the Solar Sharer Offer?
The Solar Sharer Offer strengthens the case for solar and battery storage rather than replacing it. Free daytime electricity covers part of the day. A solar and battery system gives you free or near-free electricity across a much larger portion of your day, and lets you use the free window to top up storage at no cost on low-generation days. If you were already considering solar and batteries, the Solar Sharer Offer adds another layer of value on top of what the system itself delivers.
What happens when I go over the 24 kWh daily cap?
Once you exceed the cap during the free window, additional electricity reverts to your standard tariff rate for that period. There is no penalty and no interruption to supply. The transition is seamless. For most households, particularly those with solar, reaching 24 kWh of free daytime electricity drawn from the grid within a three-hour window is unlikely on an average day.
Do I need to do anything before 1 July 2026 to be ready?
Two things are worth doing now. First, confirm whether your home has a smart meter. If it does not, contact your retailer to arrange installation ahead of the launch date. Second, if you have schedulable appliances, hot water systems, pool pumps, or EV chargers, check whether they can be set to a specific time window and familiarise yourself with how to do it. When the Solar Sharer Offer launches, you want to be capturing free daytime electricity from day one.
