The Clean Energy Council has welcomed the Albanese Government’s new Solar Sharer retail energy offer, calling it a smart, future-focused reform that will help more Australians access cheap renewable energy, cut power bills and ease pressure on the grid, whether they have rooftop solar or not.
Under the Solar Sharer scheme – to be introduced from July 2026 in NSW, South-East Queensland and South Australia – energy retailers will be required to offer households at least three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, when rooftop solar generation is at its peak.
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Jackie Trad said the announcement shows how policy can keep pace with a rapidly changing energy system.
“No other country on earth is generating this much power from home rooftops – and now everybody can share in the benefits of this national triumph,” Ms Trad said.
“This is a smart reform that shifts demand into the solar-rich middle of the day avoids the high-price evening crunch that pushes everyone’s bills up.”
Solar Sharer shows what good policy looks like: practical, equitable and built on the momentum of what millions of Australians are already doing – generating their own clean power.Jackie Trad Clean Energy Council CEO
The CEC said the policy aligns with industry modelling showing that greater use of consumer energy resources – including rooftop solar, smart appliances and home batteries – can unlock over $22 billion in system-wide savings and take $35–$71 off the average annual energy bill.
“We’re already seeing retailers pilot free-power windows, EV charging incentives and battery-bundled tariffs. Solar Sharer will help normalise these smart offers.” she said.
The CEC looks forward to working with the Government and our members on the broader DMO reforms to remove unnecessary costs while also delivering opportunities for retailer innovation
“Solar Sharer shows what good policy looks like: practical, equitable and built on the momentum of what millions of Australians are already doing – generating their own clean power.” Ms Trad said.
Key facts
- 4.3 million+ Australian households now have rooftop solar.
- Rooftop solar output rose 11% in Q3 2025, hitting a new record (AEMO).
- CEC modelling shows consumer energy resources could deliver:
- $22 billion in savings across the electricity system
- Up to 3.8 million homes with orchestrated batteries
- 18,200 new jobs in installation, design and energy management
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Liam Straughan
Clean Energy Council Media Officer
+61 409 470 683