Victorian households can now access three hours of free electricity every day through the Victorian Government’s new Midday Power Saver offer.

The initiative is designed to help households reduce electricity bills by shifting energy use to the middle of the day, when renewable energy generation is usually at its highest.

Under the Midday Power Saver offer, eligible households receive free electricity between 11am and 2pm every day, providing an opportunity to run appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, electric hot water systems, clothes dryers, home batteries and electric vehicle chargers at no charge during this period.

The offer is available to Victorian households with a smart meter that sign up through their electricity retailer. Participating households can access up to 24 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of free electricity during the three-hour daily window.

According to the Victorian Government, households that can shift between 5% and 30% of their electricity consumption to the midday period could save between $149 and $428 per year, depending on their circumstances.

While the program presents a valuable opportunity for many residents, it may not suit every household. Electricity charges outside the free period and daily supply charges still apply, and households that are unable to move a portion of their electricity use to the middle of the day may find other energy plans more cost effective. The Victorian Government recommends comparing available energy offers and discussing suitability with your retailer before switching.

Residents are also encouraged to safely manage their household power usage by staggering the operation of high-energy appliances rather than running multiple large loads simultaneously. This is particularly important for homes charging electric vehicles or home batteries during the free electricity window.

For households with rooftop solar, the Midday Power Saver offer may provide additional benefits by enabling free charging of batteries and electric vehicles during periods when solar generation is lower, helping to reduce evening electricity costs.

To find out whether the Midday Power Saver is right for your household, contact your electricity retailer or visit the Victorian Government’s energy website for more information. Victorian residents can also use the free Victorian Energy Compare service to compare available energy plans and identify the best option for their circumstances.

• Use delay-start functions on appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers so they start between 11am and 2pm.
• Set electric hot water systems to heat water during the free electricity period where your system allows timer control.
• Schedule EV charging to start at 11am rather than charging overnight or immediately after returning home.
• Program home batteries to charge during the free period so stored energy can be used later in the evening when electricity prices are higher.
• Run pool pumps during the free electricity window where practical.
• Pre-cool or pre-heat your home by using heating or cooling systems during the midday period to reduce energy consumption later in the day (if your home is well insulated).
• Use smart plugs or smart home systems to automatically turn appliances on during the free period.
• Spread high-energy appliances across the three-hour window rather than running everything at once to avoid overloading your home's electrical system.