Words by Ashley Bradshaw, Energy Consumers Australia acting general manager – advocacy and policy
The Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) – an initiative designed to help consumers harness Australia’s abundant solar energy and possibly lower their bills – is now in full swing.
Launched on July 1 and hailed by Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen as an “uniquely Australian electricity offer”, the scheme aims to spread the benefits of the clean energy transition.
It requires participating retailers to offer up to 24kWh of free electricity to opt-in customers in the middle of the day, capitalising on our often-plentiful solar generation. The program is open to households and apartments across NSW, south-east Queensland, and South Australia – with or without solar panels – provided they have a smart meter.
While the SSO is new regulation, retail plans offering free power during the day isn’t entirely new. Retailers like OVO Energy, GloBird, and Origin have offered similar midday free-energy windows in recent years.
Still, the Federal Government estimates a typical two-person household could save hundreds of dollars annually by shifting power-hungry appliances, like washing machines and dishwashers, into this window.
ECA acting general manager – advocacy and policy Ashley Bradshaw. Image: Energy Consumers Australia
With a similar program launching in Victoria on October 1, now is an opportune time to examine the SSO’s potential and its limitations.
As the independent national voice for consumers, Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) welcomes the SSO’s ambition. Helping households cut costs, harness excess renewable generation, and exercise greater control over their energy usage is commendable.
However, the SSO is not a silver bullet.
ECA’s analysis indicates that while the SSO offers value to households capable of shifting their usage, those who can’t may be better off on a standard flat-rate plan. Retailers must communicate this transparently; consumers shouldn’t sign up expecting automatic savings only to see their bills rise.
Our May 2026 research revealed that less than a third of eligible Australians were aware of the SSO, but roughly half expressed interest in joining once informed. Low awareness presents a hurdle, but the underlying appetite is clear.
Furthermore, consumer energy literacy remains generally low. Expecting busy Australians to understand complex usage patterns and shifting their load is unrealistic for many. Our research has found that almost 6 in 10 Australians want a basic, passive relationship with their energy provider – they just want a fair price and reliable service.
Our research has also found one in 10 Australians households never review their power plan, and a quarter say they review their power plan less than once a year. For those consumers who review their plans less than annually, 30 per cent state it is too hard to compare plans, 26 per cent believe switching is not worth the effort and 20 per cent say it takes too much time.
For the SSO to build lasting trust and deliver real value, policymakers and retailers must explicitly clarify who benefits and how, and tailor this communication to meet the needs of customers.
Ultimately, the SSO is a positive step forward, but it cannot stand alone. We need governments to complement it with broader structural reforms including national minimum energy efficiency standards for renters, alongside targeted support for renters, apartment dwellers and low-income households to electrify.
We also need a national consumer duty that requires energy companies to demonstrate they are acting in the interests of consumers and promoting good outcomes for customers.
This feature appeared in the September edition of Energy.