PERTH, Australia news: Australia will soon let millions of households tap into three hours of free solar power every day, including renters and those without rooftop panels, in a first-of-its-kind plan aimed at easing pressure on the grid and cutting energy costs, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on November 4.

The new "Solar Sharer" program, set to launch in 2026, will debut in New South Wales, South Australia, and southeast Queensland before expanding nationwide. Households will receive free electricity during the middle of the day, when solar generation peaks and grid prices often turn negative.

"People who are able to move electricity use into the zero-cost power period will benefit directly, whether they have solar panels or not, and whether they own or rent," Bowen said. "And the more people take up the offer and move their use, the greater the system benefits that lower costs for all electricity users will be."

The plan is part of Australia's broader energy transition, which aims for 82 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and a 43 percent emissions reduction compared with 2005 levels. The government hopes the scheme will encourage households to shift energy use—running appliances, charging electric vehicles, and cooling homes—away from the evening peak and toward midday, when solar energy is abundant.