The Australian Government has introduced the Solar Sharer Offer. It is a regulated energy program that provides three hours of free electricity to eligible households in the middle of the day.
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How the Solar Sharer Offer works
The Australian Energy Regulator has mandated that electricity retailers in eligible zones must offer an energy plan that includes 3 hours of free power every day between 11:00am - 2:00pm (SE QLD).
It is opt-in, so make sure you change your plan if you want to take advantage of this. The Australian Energy Regulator will set the exact three-hour window and the daily rates, giving you a dedicated block of time every day where your usage is free.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean your entire electricity bill will drop to zero. You still have to pay your daily supply charge plus normal usage rates for any power you use outside of that three-hour window.
Why has the Solar Sharer Offer been introduced
There is an abundance of cheap, renewable energy flooding the grid during the middle of the day as households around the country send their excess solar power back to the grid.
Instead of letting all that clean solar go to waste, the Solar Sharer Offer means that it can be shared around to everyone for 3 hours of free power, regardless of whether or not you have a solar system installed on your roof.
Who is eligible
The eligibility rules are straightforward.
- Live in an eligible area (SE QLD, NSW, or SA)
- Must have a household smart meter installed
- Be a renter or a homeowner on a standard network. Meaning, not supplied through an embedded network like a gated community or a high-rise complex with a shared grid.
How can Powerwall owners maximise battery charging
Solar Sharer energy plans give you free electricity every day between 11:00am and 2:00pm. To get the best ROI out of your Powerwall 3, we can set your battery to charge itself from the grid during this free window.
By doing this, you'll fill your battery for $0, saving your stored energy for the expensive evening peak.
Here is how you set up time-based control in the Tesla app:
Step 1: Open Settings
Open the Tesla app and tap settings at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Select Utility Rate Plan
Navigate to Utility Rate Plan from the settings. Selecting this will let us tell your Powerwall when electricity is cheap, therefore when to charge.
Step 3: Create Your Free Charge Window
Now, we tell the Powerwall when electricity is at its cheapest (when it's free). This is where you enter your electricity retailer's peak and off-peak times. Peak is when electricity is at its most expensive, off-peak is at its cheapest.
Tip: When entering the rate during the free charge window, set the rate as $0.01 rather than $0. The system gets upset with no value entered.
This setting does not force charge the battery between these periods, but rather gives incentive for the battery to charge and prioritise supporting loads from the grid. If you would like to discuss it further, Tesla advises to call their customer service line to ask for assistance.
Step 4: Enter the Schedule
Under Schedule, tap to set when power is the cheapest (during the off-peak charge window you applied above). Your Powerwall will now automatically charge from the grid during this off-peak period when electricity is free.
Step 5: Save & Maximise
Once you've confirmed your rates and schedule are correct, select Change Rate Plan to save your settings and start maximising free electricity from the grid.
Step 6: Cap Your Imports
If you wish to cap your imports from the grid during this free charge window, we recommend calling Tesla Australia's customer support team. Unfortunately, there is no way to accomplish this from the Tesla App yet.
Springers Solar | Queensland's Most Experienced Solar Installer
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Springers Solar has received multiple awards for design and installation and is a certified/preferred installer for a large range of solar panel, inverter, and solar battery manufacturers, including Sungrow, Tesla, and Sigenergy.
Our dedicated in-house team of electrical engineers, project managers, solar PV designers, solar installers, and electricians work closely with you before, during, and long after your project is completed. Springers Solar offers an industry-leading 10-year workmanship warranty which is a testament to our qualified staff and offers you outstanding value and peace of mind.
How To Optimise Tesla Powerwall for 3 Hours Free Solar Sharer Power