The Current

New South Wales

Is electricity free in New South Wales right now?

This page shows whether electricity is free right now on New South Wales's free-power plans, and how much of the electricity being made in New South Wales is renewable, today and tomorrow. Tap a ? to learn what each part means. New here? How to use this site

Solar Sharer Offer (the government offer)

Is it free right now?

This switch shows whether the Solar Sharer Offer's free hours are on right now. Switch up and "Free now" means it's between 11am–2pm today.

It only applies if you're on the Solar Sharer Offer. You choose it with your retailer, and you need a smart meter. Other plans have their own hours: see the list further down.

What it's for: knowing when to run big things, like the washing machine, dishwasher or EV charger, so they use free electricity.

○ Not free right now · free from 11am today

Free 11am–2pm every day (AEST), up to 24 kWh, if you've opted in. Some areas run on a different clock: see below. Other plans below have other hours. What does "free" mean?

Renewable now

Renewable now

About how much of the electricity being made in New South Wales right now comes from wind, solar (including rooftop panels) and hydro. It updates every 5 minutes, and this page refreshes itself to match.

It's an estimate from AEMO's data. It doesn't change your price.

What it's for: if you'd like to use electricity when more of it is renewable, this tells you how things stand right now.

67%

At 9:45am · rooftop solar as of 9am

Today 11am–2pm

Today 11am–2pm

How renewable the electricity made in New South Wales is during today's free hours (11am–2pm).

"Higher than 11 of the last 14 days" means today's share for these hours beats 11 of the past 14 days. "About usual" means it's middle of the range.

Before the hours start it's a forecast. While they're on, it's "so far". After, it's what happened.

What it's for: seeing at a glance whether today is a high-renewable day or a low one.

68% renewable · lower than 10 of the last 14 days

Forecast from AEMO's latest outlook; it updates every half hour.

Today 5pm–8pm

Today 5pm–8pm

How renewable the electricity made in New South Wales is during this evening's busy period (5pm–8pm), when most homes use the most power and prices are usually highest.

"Higher than 11 of the last 14 days" means today's share for these hours beats 11 of the past 14 days. "About usual" means it's middle of the range.

Before the hours start it's a forecast. While they're on, it's "so far". After, it's what happened.

What it's for: seeing at a glance whether today is a high-renewable day or a low one.

21% renewable · about usual for the last 14 days

Forecast from AEMO's latest outlook; it updates every half hour.

How renewable is the grid today?

The chart

Each point is a half hour today. The higher the line, the more of the electricity made in New South Wales came from wind, solar and hydro.

The solid line is what happened. The dashed line is AEMO's forecast for the rest of the day. The shaded bands are the free hours (11am–2pm) and the evening peak (5pm–8pm). The vertical line is now.

Hover or tap the chart to read a value, or open "Show as a table".

What it's for: spotting the best times today to run big appliances if you'd like more of your power to be renewable. It usually peaks in the middle of the day when solar is strongest.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow

AEMO's forecast for tomorrow's free hours and evening peak, compared with the last 14 days.

It appears from about 12:30pm (AEST), when AEMO's forecast first covers all of tomorrow, and it's updated every half hour after that.

What it's for: planning tomorrow, for example whether to save the washing for a high-renewable middle of the day.

Tomorrow's outlook appears from about 12:32pm AEST, when AEMO's forecast first covers the whole day.

Yesterday: forecast vs actual

Yesterday: forecast vs actual

What the forecast said the evening before, next to what actually happened.

What it's for: judging how much to trust the forecasts. They're usually within a few points; cloudy days are the usual miss.

  • 11am–2pm: no forecast recorded, actual 82%
  • 5pm–8pm: no forecast recorded, actual 15%

We keep the evening-before forecast so you can see how it did. Forecasts are recorded from 1 Oct 2026.

Free-power plans in New South Wales

Free-power plans

Plans in New South Wales with hours when electricity use costs 0c. Each one shows its free hours, any daily limit, what you need to get it, and the date we last checked it.

"Free now" means that plan's free hours are on right now. Some plans have different hours depending on when you joined, so check your welcome pack or bill.

What it's for: finding your plan's free hours, or comparing plans if you're thinking of switching. We don't say which is cheaper: that depends on how you use power.

Checked against each provider's own documents on the date shown. Hours are local time (AEST).

  • Solar Sharer OfferAll retailers with 1,000+ residential customers

    ○ Not free now

    • Free 11am–2pm
    • Broken Hill (Essential Energy): free 11am–2pm Broken Hill time (today 11:30am–2:30pm AEST)
    • Essential Energy customers living in Queensland: free 11am–2pm Queensland time (today 11am–2pm AEST)

    Up to 24 kWh a day free. Above 24 kWh a day in the window, the retailer can charge up to 27.6c/kWh (Ausgrid), 14.2c (Endeavour) or 27.6c (Essential Energy). EnergyAustralia averages the cap over the billing period instead.

    Needs: A smart meter. Opt in with your retailer. Not available in embedded networks (e.g. many apartment blocks, caravan parks and retirement villages).

    • Started 1 Jul 2026. The hours don't change with daylight saving: always 11am–2pm local time. Prices are maximums, set until 30 Jun 2027.
    • Other hours cost more. Peak: Ausgrid 63.7c/kWh 3pm–9pm (Nov–Mar and Jun–Aug); Endeavour 48.7c 4pm–8pm on working weekdays; Essential Energy 45.6c 7am–10am and 3pm–10pm.
    • Daily supply charge: Ausgrid 176c, Endeavour 185c, Essential Energy 272c.
    • Some retailers also sell market plans with the same free hours (for example Diamond Energy, Kogan and Powershop). Check their fact sheets.
    • Controlled load (e.g. off-peak hot water) is never free, and the daily supply charge still applies.
    • Check your bill or your plan's fact sheet: windows can differ by join date and plan version.

    Source: aer.gov.au (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-09-30

  • ZEROHEROGloBird Energy

    ○ Not free now

    • Joined from 1 Jul 2026: free 12pm–3pm
    • Joined before 1 Jul 2026: free 11am–2pm

    Up to 50 kWh a day free. Above 50 kWh a day in the window: 30.8c/kWh (Ausgrid fact sheet).

    Needs: Solar, a battery and a smart meter (GloBird's VPP terms; a restricted plan).

    • Includes a $1/day credit for near-zero grid imports 6pm–9pm. Peak (Ausgrid) is 59.4c/kWh, 4pm–11pm.
    • Controlled load (e.g. off-peak hot water) is never free, and the daily supply charge still applies.
    • Check your bill or your plan's fact sheet: windows can differ by join date and plan version.

    Source: globirdenergy.com.au (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-09-30

  • FOUR4FREEGloBird Energy

    ○ Not free now

    • Joined from 1 Jul 2026: free 11am–3pm
    • Joined before 1 Jul 2026: free 10am–2pm

    Up to 50 kWh a day free. Above 50 kWh a day in the window, about 26c/kWh plus GST (Ausgrid).

    Needs: A smart meter.

    • Peak 4pm–11pm is about 52c/kWh plus GST (Ausgrid).
    • Controlled load (e.g. off-peak hot water) is never free, and the daily supply charge still applies.
    • Check your bill or your plan's fact sheet: windows can differ by join date and plan version.

    Source: globirdenergy.com.au (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-09-30

  • The Free 4 PlanOVO Energy

    ○ Not free now

    • Free 11am–3pm

    No kWh cap, but a fair use policy applies.

    Needs: A communicating smart meter. There's also a dearer Basic Free 4 Plan.

    • Replaced Free 3 (11am–2pm), which is closed to new customers.
    • The NSW listing was due for a new version on 1 Oct 2026; check the current fact sheet.
    • Controlled load (e.g. off-peak hot water) is never free, and the daily supply charge still applies.
    • Check your bill or your plan's fact sheet: windows can differ by join date and plan version.

    Source: pages.ovoenergy.com.au (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-09-30

  • 4FreeFlow Power

    ○ Not free now

    • Free 11am–3pm

    Up to 32 kWh a day free. Up to 8 kWh an hour and 32 kWh over the 4 hours; excess at the normal rate.

    Needs: A smart meter.

    • Described as a "4Free Credit" rather than a plain 0c rate.
    • Controlled load (e.g. off-peak hot water) is never free, and the daily supply charge still applies.
    • Check your bill or your plan's fact sheet: windows can differ by join date and plan version.

    Source: flowpower.com.au (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-09-30

  • SolarMaxCovaU

    ○ Not free now

    • Free 11am–2pm

    Up to 50 kWh a day free. Above 50 kWh a day in the window, the off-peak rate applies (about 25.5c/kWh plus GST, Ausgrid).

    Needs: A smart meter and no controlled-load tariff.

    • CovaU's plan data lists this window in Queensland time (AEST). If so, it's 12pm–3pm on the clock during daylight saving. Check with CovaU.
    • The NSW listing was due for a new version on 1 Oct 2026; check the current fact sheet.
    • Controlled load (e.g. off-peak hot water) is never free, and the daily supply charge still applies.
    • Check your bill or your plan's fact sheet: windows can differ by join date and plan version.

    Source: covau.com.au (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-09-30

Free hours don't mean a cheaper bill: these plans often charge more at other times. We don't say what you'd save. Check your bill or plan.

Questions

What does "free" mean?

Some electricity plans charge 0c per kWh for the electricity you use during set hours, usually around the middle of the day, when solar panels produce the most. In New South Wales, the government's Solar Sharer Offer makes 11am–2pm free every day for customers on it.

"Free" only covers that usage charge:

  • You still pay the daily supply charge.
  • There's usually a daily cap (24 kWh on the Solar Sharer Offer). Above it, you pay a rate per kWh.
  • Controlled-load circuits, often off-peak hot water, aren't included.
  • Other hours usually cost more than on a typical plan, especially in the evening peak.
Do I get free power automatically?

No. You need to be on a plan with a free window. The Solar Sharer Offer needs a smart meter, and you opt in with your retailer. Retailers' own plans have their own hours and conditions, listed above.

If you're on an ordinary plan, the 11am–2pm window doesn't apply to you. Your bill or your plan's fact sheet shows what you're on.

Will it make my bill cheaper?

It depends on when you use electricity. The regulators warn that you may not pay less on the Solar Sharer Offer, because the other hours cost more.

If you can move things like washing, the dishwasher, a pool pump or EV charging into the free hours, you may come out ahead. If most of your use is in the evening, you might not. We don't estimate savings: compare your bills, or ask your retailer.

What does "% renewable" mean?

It's our estimate of how much of the electricity generated in New South Wales came from wind, solar (including rooftop panels) and hydro. We work it out from AEMO's 5-minute data.

It's about what's generated in the state, not the exact mix reaching your home: electricity flows between states. Batteries aren't counted as renewable, because they store electricity rather than make it. It has nothing to do with your price; it's there so you can see how each day compares.

What does "higher than 11 of the last 14 days" mean?

We compare the renewable share for the same hours with each of the previous 14 days. "Higher than 11 of the last 14 days" means today's 11am–2pm had a bigger renewable share than on 11 of those days.

When it isn't clearly higher or lower (fewer than 10 of the 14 days either way), we say "about usual".

How accurate are the forecasts?

Today's later hours and tomorrow come from AEMO's half-hourly forecast, which is updated through the day. A forecast for all of tomorrow is available from about 12:30pm (AEST).

When we tested the evening-before forecast over 12 days, it was usually within 2 to 5 percentage points. Cloudy middays were the usual miss. We show yesterday's forecast next to what happened.

Where does the information come from?

Grid data comes from AEMO's NEMweb, which is public and updated every 5 minutes. Plan details come from each plan's own documents, checked on the date shown with the plan.

The Current is independent. It isn't run by AEMO, the government or any retailer.