The Solar Sharer Offer comes out of the Default Market Offer (DMO) reforms. Its aim is to pass some of the surplus midday solar on the grid to households as free electricity.
The basics
At the time of writing the offer started on 1 July 2026. It applies in the DMO regions: New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland. Retailers with more than 1,000 customers in those regions must offer eligible households and small businesses with smart meters free power for at least three hours in the middle of the day, when solar generation peaks. For the full explanation, see the Solar Sharer explained. Check DCCEEW and the Australian Energy Regulator for current details.
What it does not do
It is not a rebate and it does not create certificates. It does not change STC eligibility, the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, or the deeming period. It is a pricing structure from your retailer.
Effect on solar and batteries
- Solar. If you can use more power at midday on a free tariff, rooftop solar’s self-consumption value falls because your grid power is free at that time. But you still need solar for the rest of the day and for sunny hours outside the free window.
- Batteries. Free midday power can make charging a battery from the grid cheap, so batteries can have a new value for evening use. Time-of-use tariffs and VPP programs matter more. See battery payback and time-of-use tariffs and is a battery worth it with the rebate.
- Installers. Customer questions will rise. Be ready to explain that the offer does not replace the STC discount and does not change the January 2027 step-downs.
What to tell customers
Your payback depends on tariff, usage and the price of the system. Use the STC calculator and battery calculator for the rebate side and a bill comparison for the tariff side. The STC factor still falls from 6.8 to 5.7 on 1 January 2027, so the sensible comparison is both together. See should I install solar now or wait.
Check eligibility
Eligibility depends on your location, your retailer and your meter. Not every retailer plan will look the same, and the free window may be set within a range of hours. Ask for the plan’s fact sheet and compare the evening and overnight rates, since a free midday window can be offset by higher rates at other times.
What this means for installers and you
The rebate and the retail offer are separate levers. Installers can plan certificate sales with a published rate; Energy Merchants’ rate is on pricing, and STC trading explains the process. The market and policy hub tracks related changes.