The Current

Plans

Every free-power plan

Every free-power plan

Every plan we know of with hours when electricity use costs 0c, in each state we cover. Each shows its free hours, any daily limit, what you need to get it, and the date we last checked it.

Use the filters to narrow the list: by state, plans that are free right now, the government offer or retailers' own plans, and plans that don't need a home battery.

What it's for: finding your plan, or seeing what's out there if you're thinking of switching. We don't say which is cheaper: that depends on how and when you use electricity.

Free hours, daily limits and conditions for each plan, checked against each provider's own documents. Hours are local time in each state.

Showing 4 of 27 plans. Clear filters

Victoria

  • Midday Power SaverAll Victorian retailers with 1,000+ home customers

    ○ Not free now

    • Free 11am–2pm

    Up to 24 kWh a day free. Above 24 kWh in the window, the retailer can charge up to the solar-soak rate (18.6–19.8c/kWh, by network).

    Needs: A smart meter. Opt in with your retailer; no solar needed.

    • Started 1 Oct 2026. Prices are maximums, set until 30 Jun 2027.
    • From 1 Jul 2027 the Essential Services Commission may change the hours and the cap for each network area.
    • Peak 4pm–9pm is 39.8–49.8c/kWh, depending on your network.
    • 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: gazette.vic.gov.au (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-09-30

New South Wales

  • 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

Queensland

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

    ○ Not free now

    • South East Queensland (Energex area) only: free 11am–2pm

    Up to 24 kWh a day free. Above 24 kWh a day in the window, the retailer can charge up to 8.1c/kWh.

    Needs: A smart meter, in South East Queensland (the Energex network). Opt in with your retailer. Not available in regional Queensland (Ergon) or in embedded networks.

    • Started 1 Jul 2026. 11am–2pm Queensland time all year (Queensland has no daylight saving). Prices are maximums, set until 30 Jun 2027.
    • Other hours: 48.9c/kWh 4pm–9pm, 26.4c 9pm–11am, 8.1c 2pm–4pm.
    • Daily supply charge: 178c.
    • 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

South Australia

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

    ○ Not free now

    • Free 12pm–3pm

    Up to 24 kWh a day free. Above 24 kWh a day in the window, the retailer can charge up to 19.7c/kWh.

    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. Always 12pm–3pm local Adelaide time; it doesn't change with daylight saving. Prices are maximums, set until 30 Jun 2027.
    • Other hours cost more: 58.8c/kWh 6am–10am and 4pm–midnight, 35.2c midnight–6am, 19.7c 10am–12pm and 3pm–4pm.
    • Daily supply charge: 180c.
    • Some retailers also sell market plans with the same free hours (for example Diamond Energy). 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

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.