Free Power Windows vs Feed-in Tariffs: Which Saves More?

Quick answer: free power vs feed-in tariff

**Free power vs feed-in tariff** is not a single winner question. A free-power window reduces the price of electricity you use during a defined period. A feed-in tariff credits solar electricity you export to the grid.

For a household without solar, a free-power window may be the only way to benefit from abundant daytime solar generation. For a solar household, the comparison is more complex because daytime appliance use may reduce exports and therefore reduce feed-in credits.

What is a free-power window?

A free-power window is a set time when eligible electricity usage is charged at zero cents per kWh under the plan rules. The major national example in 2026 is the Solar Sharer Offer.

Energy.gov.au says the Solar Sharer Offer began on 1 July 2026 for eligible households in Default Market Offer regions: New South Wales, South Australia and South East Queensland. The free period is 11am to 2pm in NSW and South East Queensland, and 12pm to 3pm in South Australia.

The offer has an allowance of up to 24 kWh during the daily free window. Households still pay the daily supply charge and electricity used outside the window.

What is a feed-in tariff?

A feed-in tariff is the credit paid for electricity exported from rooftop solar to the grid. If your solar system generates more than the home is using at that moment, the excess may be exported and credited on your bill.

Feed-in tariff value depends on the rate, export volume, export limits and the rest of the electricity plan. Energy.gov.au notes that feed-in tariffs are typically lower than the retail rates households pay to import electricity.

That is why using your own solar at home can often be more valuable than exporting it.

How the two options reward different behaviour

Free-power windows reward importing and using electricity during the free period. That can suit households that can run flexible loads in the window: laundry, dishwashing, hot water, pool pumps and EV charging.

Feed-in tariffs reward exporting solar. That can suit households with rooftop solar that generate more than they use during the day.

The conflict appears for solar homes. If you move more appliance use into a free-power window, you may import less or use less of your own solar, depending on how the plan and meter handle the interval. You also may export less solar and receive lower feed-in credits.

Who may prefer a free-power window?

A free-power window may suit:

• renters without rooftop solar;
• homeowners who do not have panels;
• work-from-home households;
• retirees or shift workers home during the day;
• homes with timers on hot water, pool pumps or EV chargers.

The practical test is how much usage you can safely and reliably move into the window.

Who may prefer a strong feed-in tariff?

A feed-in tariff may matter more for solar households that export a lot of daytime generation and cannot shift more usage into the home. It may also matter where a household already has low evening imports and a plan with competitive general rates.

Do not chase the feed-in tariff alone. A high credit can be offset by a higher supply charge or higher evening import rate.

Solar homes need a net comparison

For solar households, compare:

• free usage value during the window;
• feed-in credits lost or gained;
• peak and off-peak import rates;
• daily supply charge;
• export limits and caps;
• whether your appliances already run on self-generated solar;
• whether the plan changes controlled-load or demand charges.

If your solar already powers most daytime appliances, a free-power window may add less value than it does for a non-solar household.

A simple way to decide

Take a recent bill and estimate two scenarios.

First, estimate the value of electricity you could shift into the free window. Second, estimate how much feed-in credit you may lose if that shifted usage reduces exports. Then compare the full annual plan cost, not just one tariff line.

Use `/guides/solar-sharer-offer-explained` for eligibility details, `/guides/best-solar-feed-in-tariffs-by-state-and-territory` for solar plan context, and `/electricity` to compare offers.

Sources

• Energy.gov.au: Solar Sharer Offer, https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates/solar-sharer-offer
• Energy.gov.au: New energy plan with daily window of free electricity, https://www.energy.gov.au/news/new-energy-plan-daily-window-free-electricity
• Energy.gov.au: How solar pays itself back and batteries reduce bills, https://www.energy.gov.au/solar/financial-benefits-solar/how-solar-pays-itself-and-batteries-reduce-bills
• Energy.gov.au: Reduce energy bills, https://www.energy.gov.au/households/household-guides/reduce-energy-bills

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