Solar Citizens welcomes the news from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) that electricity prices are expected to fall by up to 10% for households and up to 20% per year for businesses on the east coast.
“The great news is that increased renewable energy and battery storage is starting to drive down the wholesale electricity price, said Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas.
Under the AER’s draft Default Market Offer decision:
- New South Wales: residential prices would decrease by 2.4% (-$58) to 8.2% (-$226), while small business prices would fall by 7.6% (-$379) to 21.2% (-$1,320) depending on the distribution zone.
- South East Queensland: residential prices would decrease by 10.1% (-$216), and small business prices by 12.8% (-$550).
- South Australia: residential prices would decrease by 1.3% (-$31), while small business prices would fall by 15.2% (-$845). [1]
The draft determination also includes the new Solar Sharer Offer, announced by the Energy Minister Chris Bowen in November last year.
“This is a smart way to provide access for households to 3 hours of free power during the day when solar power is abundant,” said Douglas.
To make use of the Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) from 1 July, electricity account holders need to tell their electricity provider they want to OPT IN, and request a SMART METER.
“It’s renters and apartment residents who could benefit the most from making use of the Solar Sharer Offer, but residents will need to shift as much of their electricity use as possible to the free 3 hour window. (11am-2pm in NSW and SE Queensland, and 12-3pm in South Australia)
“You can do this by setting timers on your appliances - most modern appliances have inbuilt timers including: dishwashers, washing machines, pool pumps, electric vehicle chargers, heating and cooling systems, rice cookers, slow cookers.
“You can also buy plug-in Programmable Digital Timers online or at hardware stores, electrical appliance outlets or even some supermarkets.”
“Beyond Solar Sharer, more needs to be done in this term of the federal government to ensure all Australians, regardless of whether they rent or live in apartments, can get access to cheap clean rooftop solar power.
“We need to see a dedicated Solar for Renters policy to overcome the barriers that lock millions of renters - one third of our homes - out of solar savings.
“A major barrier is the ‘split incentive’ dilemma - landlords need to pay for upgrades on their property and tenants receive the bill savings.
“Our research finds that a suite of solutions that would be supported by renters and landlords should include:
- A tax incentive to help landlords pay for energy efficiency and solar upgrades - like accelerated depreciation, which would be cost neutral in the long term
- A nationally coordinated implementation of state-based Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for rental properties.” [2]
NOTES
[1] AER releases draft Default Market Offer 26-27 19 March, 2026
[2] ‘Unlock Solar for Renters’ Pol.Is Report February 2026