You may have heard that from 1 October 2026, smart meter customers in Victoria can access three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day. It’s called the Midday Power Saver, and it’s thanks to Aussies taking up rooftop solar – but it has meant we now have too much of a good thing.
When does it start?
Victorians can start saving with the Midday Power Saver from 1 October 2026.
What time is the free power window?
11am-2pm
Eligibility
If you’re a residential customer in Victoria and you’ve got a smart meter, you tick all the boxes.
Is it right for me?
While free power sounds like a win, it may not be the right offer for every household. Before you rush to sign-up, it’s important to consider if you can realistically shift your usage to the midday window. If you move onto the Midday Power Saver plan and still run all your appliances outside the free-power-hours, it’s possible you’ll be paying a higher per kWh rate than your current tariff. There’ll also be a cap of 24kWh per day that you can use during the window.
Most households' average usage should be under this amount (the average 5+ person household uses this amount per day). But if your usage is higher than the cap, you’ll start being charged for it.
Daily supply and controlled load charges (if applicable) still apply during the free usage period.
How to make the most of the Midday Power Saver
Give your appliances a day job
Appliances count for a decent percentage of your energy usage. If you can get them running during the free period, you can maximise your savings.
Cleaning: Your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer usually have a timer, so you can set them to run if you’re not home.
Heating & cooling: If you can run your split system, the temperature can be maintained after the free window with good insulation.
Cooking: Bust out the slow cooker or make a few extra portions while it’s free to run your oven or electric cooktop.
Electric Vehicles: Got an EV? The free window is a great time to add a bit of extra juice. Just keep the daily 24kWh cap in mind if you’re running other appliances. Most EVs need more than 24kWh for a full charge, although most also take longer than 3 hours to charge completely (and you’ll be charged for any usage over the cap).