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The end of the day is usually when most of us return from work and begin to unwind.
But for Australia's energy market, that's when it's experiencing the biggest strain.
Between the cost of living, rising electricity prices and talk of potential blackouts, there's been a lot of drama around Australia's power network recently.
But did you know you could save energy, and potentially reduce your power bill, by using appliances at odd hours?
Here's what you need to know about off-peak electricity.
What is off-peak electricity?
Off-peak refers to lower, discounted electricity prices during specific times. Off-peak times are generally when residential homes and businesses use less electricity.
Energy Australia says electricity used in busy peak times can place a strain on Australia's electricity networks.
That's why off-peak electricity is charged at a cheaper price, to encourage people to use their electricity outside these busy times.
Off-peak electricity can also refer to electricity being used by a stand-alone appliance, like an electric hot water service on a dedicated circuit. This appliance is metered separately and can be billed on off-peak rates, according to Energy Australia.
When is off-peak electricity?
Off-peak times will vary depending on your location and meter type, but for most people it usually means at night or on weekends.
Off-peak times can also differ between energy providers.
For instance, according to Australian Power and Gas (APG), peak times to use electricity is generally 4pm to 8pm on weekdays.
Then there are 'shoulder' times, which sit between peak and off-peak times.
APG considers shoulder times to be between:
- 7am- 4pm and 8pm – 10pm on weekdays
- 7am – 10am on weekends
Hours outside of those times are considered off-peak.
It's worth checking with your energy provider to find out the exact peak, shoulder and off-peak times for your plan, and which kind of tariff you're on.
Am I eligible for off-peak electricity rates?
Being eligible for off-peak electricity prices depends on:
- The type of meter you have at your home or business; and
- The way your meter is configured.
Energy Australia has outlined the most common meter types and their eligibility for off peak prices:
Meter configuration | Eligible for off-peak |
|---|---|
Time of Use (interval) Time of Use (interval) meters can charge at three prices: peak, off-peak and shoulder | Yes |
Two Rate Two-rate meters are able to charge at two prices: peak and off-peak | Yes |
Single Rate Single-rate meters charge at one single price and can't offer off-peak electricity | No |
Dedicated Circuit Dedicated circuit can charge a dedicated appliance (for example hot water or underfloor heating) on off-peak prices | Yes |
How does a time-of-use tariff work?
A time-of-use tariff works by charging several different rates based on the time of day energy is consumed.
Generally, this means you'll need either a digital or smart meter, the availability of which differs depending on where you live in Australia.
However, some basic meters may have the capability to support this tariff, Origin Energy says.
You can usually find out which kind of tariff you have by looking at your latest electricity bill, or getting in touch with your provider.
In addition to using a time-of-use tariff electricity, many appliances now have timers and delay start features which can help you take advantage of off-peak times.