The Solar Sharer Offer requires large retailers in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia to offer a standing plan with three free hours in the middle of the day from 1 July 2026. It needs a smart meter and is capped at 24 kWh a day. We explain the offer itself in what it is and who gets it. This page deals with what it does to a battery sale.
What changes for battery economics
A battery makes money in two ways: it stores your own surplus solar so you do not buy evening power, and, with the right plan, it buys cheap power and uses it later. Free midday hours affect both.
- Value of exports falls. If the customer’s midday power is free from the grid, the opportunity cost of exporting solar at a low feed-in tariff looks even worse, so storing it in a battery looks better.
- Grid charging becomes free. If the battery can charge from the grid during the free window, it fills at zero energy cost and discharges in the evening peak. That is the case for a larger battery.
- Solar sizing matters less. A customer with a small solar array can still fill a battery from the free hours.
- There are limits. The 24 kWh daily cap and the three-hour window cap the benefit, and network or supply charges still apply.
The catches to explain
- The plan is not automatic. The customer has to take the plan, and it may carry a higher daily supply charge or higher evening rates.
- Smart meter needed. No smart meter, no plan.
- Settings matter. Many batteries need the schedule configured, and some VPP programs control charging, which may conflict with a retailer plan. Read the VPP terms.
- Policy can move. The offer’s details can change, so quote the rules at the time of sale.
Sizing and quoting
Model three cases using the customer’s real usage: current plan, Solar Sharer plan without grid charging and Solar Sharer plan with grid charging. The federal discount applies the same way in each: for example a 10 kWh battery earns around 68 STCs at the 6.8 factor now, and about 57 at 5.7 from 1 January 2027. Use the battery STC calculator. For payback methods see battery payback and tariffs.
What this means for installers
In covered regions, ask each customer which plan they are on and whether their meter is a smart meter. Add a line about the plan to your quote template. The STC claim does not change: photos, CEC-listed model, VPP capability and the assignment form still decide your payment. See the battery submission guide, then battery STCs, pricing and how it works. Wider context: home electrification policy.