Three Hours of Free Power – What It Really Means for the Future of Home Energy

Australia’s energy market is changing yet again - and where it is leading is still uncertain. 

With news that parts of Australia could soon receive three hours of free electricity every day from July 2026, the headlines sound almost too good to be true. But as anyone in the solar and energy industry knows, there’s no such thing as “free” power without trade-offs.

At first glance, it’s an exciting initiative: a reward for using electricity when the grid has high solar penetration. But beneath the surface lies a major transformation in how we’ll all need to manage our homes, batteries, and electric homes. 

The Solar Curve and Why It Matters

The “solar curve” relates to the peak generation periods largely created from residential solar systems. The issue with this as that when Solar is producing at it's peak, families are often at work and unable to consume energy within the home. Managing this has been one of the largest challenges in maintaining grid stability. 

These new free-energy plans are designed to soak up that surplus solar by shifting household usage patterns. It’s a smart concept in theory, but in practice, it creates a new set of challenges, especially for homeowners with rooftop solar as it is likely that very soon, you will be penalised for exporting energy to the grid in these periods. 

 The Hidden Costs of “Free Power”

For solar homeowners, these plans could accelerate the move toward zero or negative feed-in tariffs. In other words, exporting energy to the grid could soon cost you money instead of earning it.

For non-solar households and renters, it’s an opportunity to save if you can time your usage within those free hours. but it is likely to come at a higher cost outside of the free power window. One of our own has been living with OVO's energy plan that offers a similar pricing schedule, three hours of free energy from 11-2pm 

“The free power is great, if you can manage your home around it. But on my plan, the peak price is around 60c/kWh. Without a battery and smart control, you could easily end up paying more overall.” 

The Risk of “Too Much, Too Fast”

As homeowners rush to take advantage of free energy, it’s crucial to remember that your home’s wiring and circuits have limits. Running too many high-demand appliances at once can:

• Overload circuits

• Trip breakers

• Or even in extreme cases overheat and damage service mains, particularly in older homes

The next phase of the energy transition isn’t just about adding more solar or batteries — it’s about intelligent control

How CATCH Control Keeps You Ahead of the Curve

This is exactly where CATCH Power’s CATCH Control comes in, an Australian built, brand agnostic control solution designed specifically for Australian conditions and evolving network rules.

As energy plans shift toward dynamic pricing, negative feed-in tariffs, and flexible demand, CATCH Control gives homeowners and installers the ability to stay ahead.

Here’s What CATCH Control Can Do

1. Curtail Solar During Negative Feed-In Tariffs If prices turn negative or your retailer starts charging for exports, CATCH Control can curtail your inverter output or adjust generation intelligently, protecting you from paying to export power. N.B. Zero exporting your system is not the solution here - and don't let anyone tell you it is. When a solar system is export limited to zero, you lose the ability to control loads based on export. It also means that you cannot charge your EV or other loads from surplus solar and if you have an AC Coupled battery - it won't charge!  

2. Automate Load Control for Free Energy or High Export Periods When energy is free, CATCH Control can automatically activate loads like hot water systems, EV chargers, or pool pumps, ensuring you make the most of those three free hours without manual intervention.

3. Control EV Charging Based on Grid Demand and Import Limits. Your EV charger can be managed dynamically based on grid conditions. If you’re close to your home’s import limit, CATCH Control can throttle or delay charging preventing you from importing more than your home can support.

4. Exclude Large Loads from Battery Discharge CATCH Control identifies visible loads (like EV chargers or Hot Water systems via a dedicated CT) and can prevent your battery from discharging into them, preserving stored energy for more essential evening loads.

5. Adaptable Export Control and Load Management If you later change your energy plan, it’s as simple as updating your settings. You can switch from free-period optimisation to export control mode or dynamic tariff response no hardware changes or expensive call out fees to change settings. 

Designed and Built for Australian Homes

Unlike standard systems that struggle to keep pace with local grid requirements, CATCH Control is engineered, manufactured, and supported right here in Australia. It’s designed to handle the unique conditions of our grid, our climate, and our evolving regulations. 

The Future of Home Energy

The move toward free power periods, dynamic pricing, and negative feed-in tariffs marks a fundamental shift in how Australians will interact with the grid. CATCH Control gives homeowners and installers the confidence that, no matter how the market changes, their systems can adapt.

Because the future of energy isn’t just about producing power... it’s about controlling it.