Canberrans hoping for free midday electricity under the new Solar Share scheme will have to wait a little longer. While the initiative promises cheap or even free power for some households, residents of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are excluded—at least for now.
What’s the Solar Share Scheme?
The Solar Share scheme, part of an ambitious push to make energy more affordable, would allow homeowners with solar panels to share their excess power with neighbors, renters, or others who don’t have solar setups. For those who have solar, it’s a way to make the most of power that would otherwise go to waste. For those without it, it could mean access to cheap midday electricity, potentially cutting their energy bills.
The idea sounds almost too good to be true: “Free energy” during the brightest hours of the day when solar panels are working at their peak. But there’s a catch—at least in the ACT.
Why Not the ACT?
Unfortunately for Canberrans, the Solar Share scheme won’t be applied to the ACT right away. The reason comes down to the regulatory framework. While most Australian states are under the jurisdiction of the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), the ACT operates under its own independent body, the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC). This means that ACT residents will need to wait for more detailed assessments before the scheme can be rolled out locally.
The ACT government has expressed cautious interest in the idea, welcoming the possibility of cheaper power for locals. However, officials say that without more data, they can’t be sure whether the scheme will work as effectively in the ACT as it might elsewhere. Experts also point out that the ACT has a much higher rate of solar uptake than other parts of the country—about one-third of households already have solar panels, which complicates the logistics of sharing excess power.
What’s Next for Canberrans?
While the ACT government is keen on exploring the idea, there’s no clear timeline for when Canberrans might get access to the Solar Share scheme. Meanwhile, residents of states covered by the AER may see it roll out sooner. Whether the scheme will eventually come to the ACT largely depends on the ability to navigate the local regulatory environment and account for the unique electricity market here.
For now, Canberrans can still enjoy the benefits of the city’s high solar uptake, but they’ll need to wait a bit longer for the kind of free power that others might soon enjoy.
