The cost of groceries and fuel might still sting, but there’s finally some good news for Victorians tackling the cost-of-living crunch—free electricity is on the way.
From 1st October, 2026, every Victorian household will be eligible for three hours of free electricity each day under a new state government scheme designed to take pressure off both family budgets and the power grid.
The Midday Power Saver program will give residents a free three-hour window of power in the middle of the day, seven days a week, when renewable energy supply is often overflowing.
The idea is simple: reward people who run the dishwasher, air fryer or washing machine during the sunny hours—instead of peak evening time—and help balance energy demand in the process.
“Families could save up to $300 a year on their bills—and even more if they have solar and battery storage,” Premier Jacinta Allan said on Wednesday. “It’s another reason why working from home can save you time and money.”
Around 2.6 million households will be able to opt in through their energy retailer, regardless of provider or existing plan. While the exact times of the free period are yet to be confirmed, the government says full details—including pricing outside the free hours—will be released in May.
Encouraging Daytime Energy Use
Victoria’s huge solar network is at the heart of the move. More than 850,000 homes already generate their own solar power, producing around 11 per cent of the state’s total energy. Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the new scheme would help spread those benefits to non-solar households while making better use of the daytime surplus.
“When the sun is shining, rooftop solar is flooding the grid with power—and this program makes sure more Victorians can tap into that,” D’Ambrosio said.
While the government is pushing the initiative as a win-win for households and the environment, energy retailers say it will only benefit those able to shift their electricity use to midday hours.
Australian Energy Council chief executive Louisa Kinnear said households unable to move their usage away from peak times could end up paying more overall. “Customers will only benefit if they can shift their usage to the middle of the day. Those who cannot should not opt into the new offer,” she said.
What It Means For Victorians
For remote workers or parents at home during the day, the opportunity is obvious—power up the laptop, run a load of washing and maybe even charge the EV without adding a cent to the bill.
For others, it might mean rethinking when to run the dryer or preheat the oven.
The government says the program is compulsory for energy providers, ensuring every Victorian household has access to the deal once it launches. Business customers, however, are not eligible.
D’Ambrosio said her team is still finalising implementation, adding that they want to ensure the system is ready so Victorians can access the benefits immediately when they launch it.
In short: if you’re happy to sync your daily chores with the midday sun, your energy bill might soon look a whole lot lighter.