From 1 July 2026, eligible households in New South Wales will be able to access a new free daytime electricity period through the Australian Government’s Solar Sharer Offer.
For many homes, this could mean three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, when solar generation is high and energy demand on the grid is lower. But there is one important catch: to access the offer, your home will need a smart meter and an eligible electricity plan.
If your home still has an old analogue meter, an outdated meter box or an older switchboard, now is a good time to check whether your electrical setup is ready.
At True Local Electricians, we are licensed Level 2 electricians servicing Sydney, the Sutherland Shire, St George, the Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Camden and Liverpool. We can complete electrical switchboard upgrades, meter box upgrades and smart meter installation work so your home is ready for modern energy plans, solar, EV charging and the upcoming free electricity period.
The new free electricity period is part of the Solar Sharer Offer. It is designed to help more households benefit from the large amount of solar power being generated during the middle of the day.
In NSW, the free electricity period is expected to run from 11am to 2pm each day for eligible households on a participating electricity plan.
This could be useful for running appliances during the day, including:
The offer may be especially valuable for people who work from home, retirees, families, shift workers and anyone who can move more of their electricity usage into the middle of the day.
Yes. To access the free electricity period, your home will need a smart meter.
A smart meter records electricity usage in shorter time intervals, which allows your electricity retailer to apply time-based plans, including free daytime electricity windows. Older analogue meters generally cannot measure usage in the same way, which means they are not suitable for these types of electricity offers.
If your home has an older meter, ceramic fuses, an asbestos meter panel, no main switch, limited switchboard space or outdated consumer mains, you may need electrical upgrades before a smart meter can be safely installed.
In many older Sydney homes, the issue is not just the meter. The switchboard itself may not be ready for a smart meter installation.
A switchboard upgrade may be needed if your property has:
A smart meter upgrade is often the perfect time to modernise the entire switchboard. This helps improve electrical safety, creates room for future upgrades and ensures your home is ready for newer energy plans.
True Local Electricians are Level 2 electricians in Sydney, which means we are authorised to carry out specialised electrical work that standard electricians cannot perform.
Our Level 2 electrical services include:
This means we can handle the complete electrical side of preparing your home for the free electricity period, rather than only replacing part of the switchboard.
A smart meter does not automatically reduce your bill by itself. The saving comes from how you use electricity and which electricity plan you choose.
Once you have a smart meter, you may be able to access electricity plans with different rates at different times of the day. From 1 July 2026, eligible NSW households may be able to access the Solar Sharer Offer, which includes a free daytime electricity window.
To get the most value, you may need to shift more energy use into the free period. For example, you could set timers for your dishwasher, washing machine, pool pump or EV charger so they run between 11am and 2pm.
Before changing plans, always check the full electricity tariff. Some plans may offer free power during the day but have different supply charges, peak rates or shoulder rates.
To maximise the value of the free electricity period, focus on appliances that use the most power and can be safely scheduled during the day.
Good options may include:
If you already have solar, a smart meter can also help you better understand when your home is importing power, exporting power or using your own solar generation.
True Local Electricians can help homeowners across the Sutherland Shire and Sydney prepare for smart meter upgrades and switchboard upgrades.
We regularly service suburbs including Caringbah, Cronulla, Miranda, Gymea, Kirrawee, Sylvania, Engadine, Menai, Jannali, Sutherland, Woolooware, Taren Point and surrounding areas.
We also service wider Sydney regions including St George, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Camden and Liverpool.
Whether you are upgrading for the free electricity period, solar, an EV charger, three phase power or general electrical safety, our team can inspect your existing switchboard and provide clear advice.
If your home still has an old switchboard or analogue meter, it is worth organising an inspection before 1 July 2026.
As the free electricity period approaches, demand for smart meter upgrades and switchboard upgrades may increase. Booking early gives you more time to fix any issues before you apply for or switch to an eligible electricity plan.
A switchboard upgrade may also improve safety and make future electrical upgrades easier, especially if you are considering:
If you want to prepare your home for the NSW free electricity period, True Local Electricians can help.
We offer free on-site quotes, $0 call-out during business hours and licensed Level 2 electrical work across Sydney and the Sutherland Shire.
Our team can inspect your switchboard, check whether your meter box is ready for a smart meter and provide a complete upgrade quote if work is required.
