From global conflicts to trade disruptions, ordinary Aussies are feeling the pinch with the rising cost of living — that includes electricity, which has trended up in the past few years.
But what if I told you there were ways to keep the lights on for a few hours for free? Energy retailers are offering innovative energy plans with ‘free electricity’ windows. However, while signing up sounds like a no-brainer at first glance, saving isn’t always guaranteed. Here’s what you need to know.
Free electricity explained
Free electricity has recently come into vogue, with the Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) debuting in July 2026. The Victorian equivalent, the Midday Power Saver, was made available on October 1, 2026.
Both are default offers, meaning the rates are capped, and the free electricity is restricted to 24kWh per day over three set hours.
However, free electricity isn’t entirely new, with energy retailers offering their own market offers with ‘free electricity’ for some time now. What sets them apart is their lack of restrictions:
- Set with features like discounts and rates often lower (but not always) than default offers.
- Retailers can offer as much as free electricity at the hours they want.
Because of this, their market offers typically (but not always) offer greater value and flexibility than their regulated counterparts.
What free electricity plans are available?
If you’re keen to climb aboard the free electricity train, here are some of the free electricity market offers available (at the time of writing):
Retailer | Plan name | Free electricity hours (daily) | Daily usage limit | Available states |
OVO Energy | The Free 4 Plan | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Four hours) | Uncapped (Fair use restrictions may apply) | NSW, VIC, SE QLD, SA |
GloBird Energy | FOUR4FREE | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Four hours) for all plans after 1 July 2026 | 50 kWh/day | NSW, VIC, SE QLD, SA |
ZEROHERO | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Three hours) for all plans after 1 July 2026 | 50 kWh/day | NSW, VIC, SE QLD, SA | |
Red Power5 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Five hours) | 15kWh/day | VIC | |
ActewAGL Energy (for EVs only) | evEnergySaver plan | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM on weekends (Two hours) Subsidised EV charging rates between 12:00 AM - 6:00 AM | Uncapped (fair use restrictions may apply) | ACT |
CovaU Energy | SolarMax | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Three hours) | 50 kWh/day | NSW, VIC, SE QLD, SA |
Powershop (for EVs only) | EV Day Plan | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Four hours) | Uncapped (fair use restrictions may apply) | NSW, VIC, SE QLD, SA |
Source: OVO Energy, GloBird Energy, Red Energy, ActewAGL Energy, CovaU Energy, Powershop, Synergy official websites. Last updated October 2026.
While it’s tempting to simply pick the plan with the most free electricity or the largest free period, each plan comes with different rates and conditions. It’s especially important to read each plan’s price breakdown and weigh your options carefully.
How much can I save on a free electricity plan?
How much you could save on a free electricity plan is impacted by the amount of electricity use you defer to the free electricity window. In short, your ability to save correlates with your willingness to adjust your energy habits.
Electricity use during peak periods, such as the evening, usually attracts the highest rates. Shifting peak period power use to the free hours could save you the most. All free electricity plans follow a time-of-use tariff, where electricity costs vary with the time of day.
But to compensate for the free electricity period, these plans often feature higher peak-period rates compared to non-free electricity plans. If the free electricity plan attracts higher rates than your existing plan, you still run the risk of spending more than you save.
To accurately calculate your savings potential, you’ll need to map out your running energy use throughout the day. Generally, your provider’s official app (if they have one) conveniently breaks down your daily power use in real time.
From there, you can start crunching the numbers, comparing the electricity rates between your existing and free electricity plans. All of this information can be found on a Basic Product Information Document (BPIDs) or, in VIC, Energy Fact Sheets.
Is the free electricity plan worth it?
Yes, provided it offers you the potential to slash your power bills compared to what you’re paying now. But before signing on the dotted line, ask yourself these qualifying questions:
- Are you at home during the free electricity window?
- If yes, are you willing to lift-and-shift your energy use from peak periods to the free periods?
- If not, do you have a solar battery that you can set to charge during the free window? That way, you can bypass the restricted hours to power your home in the evening.
- If not, can you program energy-intensive appliances like your washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher to run during the free period?
If the answer to each question is a resounding no, you stand a better chance of saving by simply comparing and switching to an electricity plan with cheaper rates.
You can use our rates table to compare energy plans and shop around for one that best suits your needs and preferences.
