Households now have access to two new programs that lower power bills and, just as importantly, help cut the emissions that come from the way we generate and use electricity. Both programs work by shifting how and when we use energy, and by making it cheaper to swap old, inefficient equipment for clean, efficient alternatives. Here is what they are, how they help reduce emissions, and how to get started.

Free electricity in the middle of the day

From 1 July 2026, eligible households can access free electricity every day between 11am and 2pm through the Solar Sharer Offer. You don’t need rooftop solar to take part, and renters are eligible too. Households can use up to 24 kilowatt hours of free power during the three-hour window.

This matters for emissions because the middle of the day is when rooftop and grid scale solar output is at its highest across New South Wales. At these times, there is often more solar power available than the grid can use, so some of it goes to waste or is exported at very low or even negative prices. 

By encouraging households to shift energy hungry tasks, such as running the washing machine, dishwasher, air conditioner, pool pump, water heater or EV charger, into this window, the offer helps make full use of clean solar generation that would otherwise be curtailed. Less reliance on fossil fuel generation during the evening peak, when coal and gas plants typically ramp up to meet demand, means fewer emissions overall.

To join, contact your electricity retailer to opt in. You will also need a smart meter, which your retailer can arrange to install if you do not already have one. Because electricity costs a little more outside the free period, the real savings, and the real emissions benefit, come from shifting as much use as possible into the free window rather than simply using power as usual.

Cheaper upgrades through the Home Energy Saver program

The second initiative tackles emissions from a different angle: helping households replace old, energy hungry equipment with efficient, all electric alternatives. From 17 June 2026, the NSW Government's Home Energy Saver program offers zero interest loans of up to $15,000, repayable over as long as ten years, to eligible households with a combined taxable income of up to $210,000.

The loans can help cover the cost of rooftop solar, home batteries, insulation, reverse cycle air conditioning, switchboard upgrades, ceiling fans and draught proofing. Later in 2026, eligible concession card holders and households earning up to $80,000 will also be able to access discounts of up to $4,000, which do not need to be repaid. Renters can access the discounts too, with their landlord's permission.

Each of these upgrades reduces emissions in its own way. 

Rooftop solar and batteries let households generate and store clean energy rather than drawing on the grid at peak times. Insulation and draught proofing cut the amount of energy needed to heat and cool a home in the first place. Reverse cycle air conditioning is far more efficient than old gas heaters or resistive electric heaters, and switchboard upgrades make it possible for a home to safely electrify other appliances down the track.  Together, these upgrades reduce a household's overall energy demand and shift what remains toward cleaner sources.

Why the combination matters

On their own, each program helps reduce emissions. Together, they reinforce one another. 

The Solar Sharer Offer rewards households for using more electricity when the grid is cleanest, while the Home Energy Saver program makes it more affordable to install the solar panels, batteries and efficient appliances that let households take full advantage of that clean, low-cost power. The result is lower bills for households and faster progress toward a renewable energy future.

To find out if you are eligible, talk to your electricity retailer about the Solar Sharer Offer, and visit the Home Energy Saver program page to check eligibility and apply.