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Energy Efficiency
What is the Victorian Midday Power Saver?
Learn how the Victorian Midday Power Saver works, who is eligible, how to get three hours of free electricity each day and whether it's worth switching.
Victorian households will soon have a new way to reduce their electricity bills. From 1 October 2026, the Victorian Midday Power Saver will offer eligible households three hours of free electricity every day between 11am and 2pm, making it easier to save money by shifting when you use energy.
But while "free electricity" sounds simple, the offer isn't the right fit for every household. Here's what the Victorian Midday Power Saver is, who can access it and how to decide whether it's worth switching.
What is the Victorian Midday Power Saver?
The Victorian Midday Power Saver is a new voluntary electricity tariff introduced by the Victorian Government. It allows eligible households to use electricity free of charge for three hours every day from 11am to 2pm, when solar generation across the state is typically at its highest.
The initiative is designed to:
- help Victorian households reduce electricity bills
- make better use of the state's growing solar energy generation
- reduce pressure on the electricity grid during the evening peak, when demand is highest and electricity is generally more expensive.
Unlike some retailer-specific free electricity offers, the Midday Power Saver is a regulated program overseen by Victoria's Essential Services Commission, meaning participating retailers must follow consistent pricing rules and consumer protections.
When does the Victorian Midday Power Saver start?
The Midday Power Saver begins on 1 October 2026.
Most electricity retailers will be required to offer the tariff to eligible residential customers, although households must choose to opt in rather than being automatically switched.
Who is eligible?
The Midday Power Saver is expected to be available to most Victorian households that:
- have a smart electricity meter
- are residential electricity customers
- are supplied by an eligible electricity retailer.
Businesses are not included in the scheme.
If you're unsure whether your home has a smart meter or whether your retailer is participating, contact your electricity provider before signing up.
You might choose to do your cooking during the Midday Power Saver hours. Image: Getty
How does the Midday Power Saver work?
Under the tariff, electricity used between 11am and 2pm each day is free, including weekends.
However, there's an important trade-off: electricity used outside those hours may cost slightly more than under some other plans. That's because retailers recover the cost of providing the free electricity by adjusting prices during the rest of the day.
The biggest savings come from moving energy-intensive tasks into the free window, rather than increasing your overall electricity use.
How much could you save?
The Victorian Government estimates that households could save between around $149 and $428 per year, depending on how much electricity they can shift into the free midday period.
Homes with an electric vehicle may save even more by charging during the free period instead of overnight or during evening peak pricing. Government modelling estimates EV owners could save hundreds of dollars extra each year.
Actual savings will depend on factors such as:
- your household's electricity usage
- whether someone is home during the day
- how easily you can use timers or smart appliances
- the tariff rates outside the free period.
How to get the most value from the Midday Power Saver
The Midday Power Saver works best if you can shift electricity use into the free three-hour window.
Good appliances to schedule include:
- washing machines
- clothes dryers
- dishwashers
- pool pumps
- heat pump hot water systems
- electric vehicle chargers.
Many modern appliances allow delayed start times, making it easy to run them automatically while you're at work.
The program may also suit daytime heating or cooling, provided you're using electricity during the free period.
More: How to plan for your home to go all-electric
Running appliances like washing machines and clothes dryers in the free window would be useful.
Is the Midday Power Saver worth it if you have solar?
It depends. Households with rooftop solar already generate much of their own electricity during the middle of the day, so the additional benefit may be smaller than for homes without solar.
However, there are situations where the Midday Power Saver may still be worthwhile, particularly if you have:
- an electric vehicle
- a home battery
- a heat pump hot water system
- large daytime electricity use.
For example, you may be able to charge your home battery or EV using the free electricity when solar production is reduced by cloud cover, then use that stored energy later in the evening when electricity prices are higher.
More: Solar panel & battery rebates Victoria 2026
Is the Midday Power Saver right for everyone?
Not necessarily.
The tariff is designed for households that can shift a meaningful portion of their electricity use into the middle of the day. If most of your electricity use occurs in the evening – such as cooking dinner, heating or cooling your home after work, or running appliances overnight – you may not save enough to offset the higher charges outside the free period.
Before switching, your retailer must explain:
- how the tariff works
- the likely impact on your bill
- whether another electricity plan may better suit your usage patterns.
Customers also receive consumer protections including a cooling-off period and can leave the tariff without exit fees if it doesn't suit their household.
How to sign up
From 1 October 2026, eligible households can contact their electricity retailer to join the Midday Power Saver.
Before switching, it's worth:
- reviewing your recent electricity bills to understand when you use the most energy
- considering whether timers or smart appliances could shift more usage into the free period
- comparing the Midday Power Saver against your current electricity plan using Victoria's independent energy comparison service.
For households that can make the most of daytime electricity, the Midday Power Saver could become one of the easiest ways to lower ongoing energy costs while helping Victoria make greater use of renewable energy.
More: Power-saving tips and upgrades to reduce your home energy bills
Charging your EV during the Midday Power Saver hours would be an excellent use of the initiative.
Victorian Midday Power Saver FAQs
Yes. If you opt in, you'll move onto a new tariff that includes free electricity between 11am and 2pm but may have different rates at other times of the day.
Yes, provided the household is eligible, has a smart meter and is supplied by a participating electricity retailer.
Yes. Customers can opt out at any time without paying exit fees and are protected by a cooling-off period after joining.
No. The Midday Power Saver is available whether or not your home has rooftop solar. In fact, households without solar may benefit the most if they can shift their electricity use into the free midday window.
