Solar Sharer (3 free hours) vs Amber's wholesale offer: what you need to know

The government's new Solar Sharer scheme launches on 1 July 2026, giving smart-meter households in NSW, SEQ and SA three hours of free electricity each day. This article explains what it is and what it means for Amber customers.

In this article

• What is Solar Sharer?
• Is Solar Sharer the same as my Amber wholesale plan?
• Does Amber offer Solar Sharer?
• If I opt in with Amber, what rates would I be on?
• What do I lose by moving off wholesale?
• How do I transfer, and how much notice do I need to give?
• How will billing work after I switch?
• How do I confirm I want to go ahead?

What is Solar Sharer?

Solar Sharer is a government-regulated standing offer, which means retailers required to offer it in eligible regions must do so using the regulated tariff structure. The government determines the free usage window, daily supply charge and maximum usage rates that apply to the offer, including the maximum charge for usage above the 24 kWh daily free-period cap. There's no variation between retailers on this.

Amber's Solar Sharer structure is straightforward. The free window runs from 11am to 2pm in NSW and SEQ, and 12pm to 3pm in SA. Outside that window, government-prescribed maximum usage rates apply. It's also worth knowing that usage above 24 kWh during the free period incurs an additional charge, so it's not completely uncapped. There's no feed-in tariff attached to the offer, no subscription fee and no access to Amber's technology or app. And it's opt-in only: nothing changes on your current plan unless you actively choose to switch.

Is Solar Sharer the same as my Amber wholesale plan?

No — they are two different plans.

• Amber's wholesale offer passes through real 30-minute wholesale prices with a flat monthly subscription and no usage markup
• Solar Sharer is a fixed standing-offer tariff with a free midday window and fixed rates outside of this window. There is no wholesale passthrough with Solar Sharer, Solar Sharer has prescribed maximum rates which you can see below

Does Amber offer Solar Sharer?

Amber will be offering Solar Sharer as a separate standing offer, at the maximum rates the government has prescribed. This will be separate to Amber's wholesale offering and the typical Amber experience.

For many Amber customers, especially those already benefiting from wholesale pricing, batteries or SmartShift, staying on wholesale pricing will be much better value, as the rates outside of the free window will typically be much higher than the wholesale price overall.

If you choose to switch to the Solar Sharer plan, you will lose access to the Amber app, SmartShift and your feed-in tariff drops to zero cents.

If I opt into Solar Sharer with Amber, what rates would I be on?

The rates vary depending on which network you're in, but the structure is the same everywhere. There's a free usage period in the middle of the day (capped at 24kWh per day), and outside that window you're paying whatever the maximum rate the government has set for your network. Here's what that looks like by region:

• Ausgrid (NSW): 28c/kWh off-peak, 64c/kWh peak, 176c/day supply charge
• Endeavour Energy (NSW): 38c/kWh off-peak, 14c/kWh solar soak, 49c/kWh peak, 185c/day supply charge
• Essential Energy (NSW): 28c/kWh off-peak, 46c/kWh peak, 272c/day supply charge
• Energex (SEQ): 26c/kWh shoulder, 8c/kWh off-peak, 49c/kWh peak, 178c/day supply charge
• SA Power Networks (SA): 35c/kWh off-peak, 59c/kWh peak, 20c/kWh solar soak, 180c/day supply charge

Source: AER Solar Sharer Offer, Figure 3. Please refer to the applicable BPID / Energy Fact Sheet for exact rates, and to our Standing Offer Terms and Conditions for the terms that apply to our Solar Sharer plan.

Compare that to Amber’s wholesale plan, where you pay real wholesale prices. During that same midday window, wholesale prices can sit at or near zero and may sometimes go negative, meaning there may be times when you can actually get paid to use electricity. Outside that window, prices reflect what's happening on the grid rather than a fixed rate set months in advance. For battery owners, that difference is where the real value is: buying cheap when prices drop and earning the full wholesale feed-in rate when prices spike in the evening.

What do I lose by moving off wholesale?

Moving onto the Solar Sharer Standing Offer means giving up Amber's wholesale rates and the tools that help you minimise usage costs and maximise feed-in. Specifically:

• No access to the Amber app
• No access to SmartShift
• Your feed-in tariff drops to zero cents

You may also forfeit any accrued benefits associated with your current contract on transfer to the Standing Offer, including under Amber's Price Guarantee.

What should I know before I switch?

• This offer is best suited to residential customers who are able to shift their electricity usage to the free usage period
• Not shifting electricity usage to the free usage period could result in higher overall electricity costs
• Electricity supplied under this plan during the free usage period will incur a variable charge for any electricity supplied during that period that exceeds the reasonable use cap for the free usage period (24kWh per day)

How do I transfer, and how much notice do I need to give?

You can cancel your current contract and elect to transfer to Amber's Standing Offer by contacting us and providing at least 20 business days' notice of your election. You remain responsible for all charges incurred under your current contract up to the transfer date and must pay the Final Bill issued for those charges.

How will billing work after I switch?

Your billing will work a little differently in the short term if you choose to switch to the Solar Sharer Standing Offer between 1 Jul 2026 and 30 Sep 2026.

• Instead of monthly, we'll bill you at the end of the quarter on 30 Sep 2026
  • This applies even if you choose to switch electricity providers and leave Amber before 30 Sep 2026 — we will issue your bill after the end of the quarter
• We expect this to move back to monthly billing starting from 1 October if you choose to stay on the offer

How do I confirm I want to go ahead?

Reach out to Amber and let us know you want to make the switch to the Solar Sharer Standing Offer. We'll send you a list of terms & conditions that you will need to confirm before making the switch.

Once you approve this, we'll process your switch after you pay your Final Bill.