Questions people actually ask

Do I need solar panels?

No. The "solar" in the name is the grid's solar, not yours. Anyone eligible can opt in — in fact the scheme helps least if you already have panels, because your midday usage is already covered.

When is the free window?

11am–2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, 12pm–3pm in South Australia. Up to 24 kWh per day is free in that window; anything beyond that is charged normally.

Do renters qualify?

Yes — it's a retail plan, not a rebate, so it follows the electricity account, not the property owner.

What do I need?

A smart meter (your retailer can tell you, and can usually arrange one), and your home can't be on an embedded network.

What's an embedded network?

Some apartment buildings, retirement villages and caravan parks buy power in bulk and on-sell it to residents — that's an embedded network, and those homes can't access Solar Sharer plans yet. If your bill comes from a body corporate or a company you've never heard of rather than a retailer, ask them.

Is this calculator exact?

Quick mode is an honest estimate (roughly ±20%) — good enough to tell a clear win from a clear loss. Upload your meter data for a near-exact answer. Either way, confirm the actual plan rates with the retailer before switching.

Where do you get plan prices?

From the Australian Energy Regulator's public plan data — the same source as the government's Energy Made Easy site — refreshed daily.

Sources

Federal Energy Minister's media release on the Solar Sharer Offer; AER Consumer Data Right product reference data; your retailer's Basic Plan Information Documents.