Key takeaways
From 1 October 2026, if you live in Victoria, you may be able to access 3 hours of free electricity every day between 11am and 2pm, through the Victorian Midday Power Saver.
To access the offer, opt in through your electricity retailer (the company that issues your electricity bill). They’ll explain eligibility criteria, the charges that apply outside of the free, 3-hour window and the caps that apply.
This article explains why it could be a good idea to shift power usage, the eligibility criteria that apply and ways to save money on energy bills by making the most of the free electricity window.
What is it?
The Victorian Midday Power Saver offers eligible households 3 hours of free electricity between 11am and 2pm each day. If you opt in through your electricity retailer, the free electricity window encourages you to shift your usage to the middle of the day.
What you could save
The Victorian Government estimates that Victorian households who sign up to the Midday Power Saver could save between $149 and $428 a year depending on their living situation, and assuming a shift of 5–30% of energy use to the free, 3-hour window.
Households with an electric vehicle could save even more – an additional $674 a year – by charging during the free power period instead of at peak times.
Important information: While customers are likely to save on electricity bills by using electricity during the free window, it’s worth noting that:
- electricity prices outside these hours may be higher than prices on other energy plans
- actual savings depend on your ability to shift usage from more expensive peak times to the free electricity window between 11am and 2pm
- fair use caps of up to 24 kW per day apply – ask your electricity retailer to explain their caps and what happens if you exceed them
- the Midday Power Saver may not be the only option that gives you free periods of power or various rates at different times of the day. Before you opt in, your retailer will let you know about any plans they reasonably believe may be more suitable for you (based on info they have about your energy usage).
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, you’ll need to:
- be a residential electricity customer in Victoria
- have a smart meter – that’s a digital meter that sends electricity use readings back to your distributor (the company that manages the infrastructure that gets electricity to your home)
- be with an electricity retailer that has 1,000 customers or more (most retailers fit this criteria)
- opt in to the Midday Power Saver by contacting your electricity retailer.
How to access the Midday Power Saver
From 1 October 2026, contact your electricity retailer to discuss whether the Victorian Midday Power Saver is right for you. If it is, let them know you’d like to opt in.
You’ll find their details in their app, on their website or on page one of your electricity bill.
How to make the most of 3 hours for free
If you plan to use multiple high-energy appliances during the free power window, including batteries and EV chargers, stagger their use across the three-hour window rather than running them at once. This can help to avoid sudden spikes in electricity demand, while still getting value from the free power period.
After you opt in, to benefit from the free electricity window, try using these energy intensive appliances between 11am and 2pm:
- dishwashers
- washing machines
- clothes dryers
- heat pump hot water systems
- air conditioners
- electric heaters
- electric pool heaters
Midday Power Saver FAQs
Around one in every three Victorian homes now has solar. During midday hours we’re generating so much renewable energy, the grid can’t always absorb it. Electricity is generally cheapest during these hours.
The opposite is true for afternoons and nights. Between 3–9pm, power demand spikes as people come home from work or study, start cooking and turn on heating or cooling. The electricity grid can come under pressure to meet demand, and power is at its most expensive.
Long story short? The idea is the Midday Power Saver will put abundant renewable energy that’s available to work and reduce the evening spike. As well as helping to balance the grid, the shift in usage to midday could help you save on your energy bills.
Electricity retailers with 1,000 customers or more (this is most retailers) must offer the Midday Power Saver as an option for residential customers.
Yes, if you’re eligible and you opt in, the Midday Power Saver is available between 11am and 2pm every day.
Yes, if you’re an eligible residential electricity customer who’s renting in Victoria, you can opt in to the Midday Power Saver. Simply contact an electricity retailer to opt in. (Electricity retailers with 1,000 customers or more (this is most retailers) will offer the Midday Power Saver.)
If you live in an apartment, retirement home or caravan park, your electricity may be delivered through an embedded network.
This is a privately owned and operated network where the owner (or delegate) buys energy and on sells it to you. Under an embedded network arrangement, you may not be able to choose your electricity supplier and you’re unlikely to be able to access the Midday Power Saver.
Find out more about:
- embedded networks on the Essential Services Commission website
- switching for consumers in embedded networks on the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria website.
If you’re on the Midday Power Saver, your retailer will make you aware of the electricity rates that apply outside of the free electricity window. If you use electricity outside the free window, the charges listed in your energy plan or agreement will apply.
All energy plans a retailer offers must have energy fact sheets that estimate how much the plan costs for a small, medium and large household. You’ll find these fact sheets on your retailer’s website.
The Midday Power Saver tariff is regulated and reviewed every year by the Essential Services Commission.
Market offers that give you 3 or more hours of free electricity don’t have regulated tariffs, which means your retailer can choose how much they charge outside the free period. They may offer different fair use caps, so they are worth comparing.
Energy plans change frequently, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on what you’re on and what’s available.
Victorian households can use the Victorian Government’s independent comparison site Victorian Energy Compare to compare gas and electricity offers. If you’re not moving, you’ll need a copy of a recent bill for the comparison.
If you have solar and:
- an electric vehicle, you could benefit from the Midday Power Saver by using the free electricity window to charge your vehicle
- batteries with apps that let you set a charging window, programming your batteries to charge between the free electricity window gives you a no-cost top-up, even on cloudy days. If you don’t have an app, ask your installer to set the charging schedule for you. You’ll get free power to store for use when the sun goes down – rather than drawing power from the grid during peak times, when your battery is empty.
External resources
Victorian Midday Power Saver (DEECA)
Getting the best energy offer (Essential Services Commission)
