Sabra Lane: Australian consumers in three states will get three hours of free solar power every day from next July, even if they don't have solar panels. Under new rules, the Federal Government will direct energy companies to offer consumers free power, but it's dependent on homeowners having a smart meter and shifting their power use to the middle of the day. It's called the Solar Sharer scheme. It will roll out first in New South Wales, South East Queensland and South Australia from next year, before potentially extending to other states and territories from 2027. But energy retailers are unhappy about the change. Stephanie Smail reports.
Stephanie Smail : It's a plan to use Australia's plentiful supply of daytime solar power to help bring power bills down. The move will take effect from July. Electricity retailers are shocked, but the Federal Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, says he's hoping it will encourage more people to use their dishwasher or washing machine in the middle of the day.
Chris Bowen : As people like that do those sorts of things, that takes pressure off the grid in the evening, which means less calling on gas and coal-fired power, which are our most expensive forms of energy, and putting downward pressure on prices for everyone. And of course, these days, with modern technology, it's increasingly easy to time your appliances to work in the middle of the day when power under this offer would be free.
Stephanie Smail : Has there been any pushback from the companies that would be affected? There's discussion that they weren't consulted, should they have been?
Chris Bowen : We had a consultation process, but that doesn't mean that everyone's happy with the result. And look, I fully expected some companies to push back on this, but ultimately, we're interested in putting consumers first. It will be up to consumers whether to take up these offers, but we do think it's appropriate to require companies to provide this option to people in a way that's consistent with the default market offer. You know, those companies have always had obligations over the default market offer. We're just modernising these obligations and reflecting the fact that there is so much power in the middle of the day now that often prices are very cheap or negative, and this should be something, by our analysis, that energy companies can incorporate and offer.
Stephanie Smail : The Australian Energy Regulator will monitor other times of the day to make sure prices aren't pushed up.
Dominic McGuinn : I welcome everything they want to give us.
Stephanie Smail : Sydney-sider Dominic McGuinn says he uses most of his power in the early evening, though, because he's out working during the day.
Dominic McGuinn : Because that's peak hour for me. That's when I'm mostly using every appliance, every light. That's when I use my electricity the most.
Stephanie Smail : Energy users will need to opt in, but the scheme will be available to all homes with or without solar panels, as long as they have smart meters.
Sabra Lane: Stephanie Smail reporting there.