Three Free Hours: Is Victoria’s Midday Power Saver a Better Deal?

Three free hours of electricity is an attention-grabbing offer. Victoria's Midday Power Saver started on 1 October 2026, giving eligible households another way to use abundant daytime electricity.

My first question is not how much you could consume for free. It is whether the complete plan costs less for the electricity your household actually needs.

What the free window includes

Source: Victorian Government's offer information.

The Victorian Government's offer information describes an opt-in offer with free usage from 11 am to 2 pm each day, capped at 24 kWh in that window.

Eligibility includes a suitable smart meter. Daily supply charges and electricity used outside the free period still matter. An embedded-network customer should not assume the same retail choices are available.

This Victorian offer is distinct from the Solar Sharer arrangements that began earlier in eligible parts of NSW, South Australia and south-east Queensland. Free electricity offers are not a single nationwide tariff.

Compare the whole bill

Start with interval data, not the size of the discount in an advertisement. Identify how much electricity you buy during the free window, how much use can realistically move and what remains outside it.

Then compare supply charges, other usage rates, export payments and any controlled-load arrangements. Moving a useful load can help; running extra appliances just to consume free energy is not the same as reducing a bill.

For a home with solar, midday imports may already be low. The value of free grid electricity can therefore differ from the value for a similar home without panels.

Which loads might fit?

An EV parked at home during the day, a dishwasher with a delayed start, or suitable hot-water heating may align with the window. The timing must still suit the household and the equipment.

With heat-pump hot water, preserve hygiene, temperature and protective controls. With charging, consider the property's electrical capacity rather than starting every large appliance together.

A battery may offer more flexibility, but a free window is not by itself a reason to buy one. Its purchase cost, losses, controls, tariff compatibility and alternative uses still belong in the calculation.

My recommendation: model an ordinary week first

I would compare a realistic week, then repeat the exercise for a different season. A household that is empty at lunchtime and uses most electricity on winter evenings may have limited flexibility.

Keep the comparison honest: use the same useful hot water, comfort and travel in both cases. Otherwise an apparent saving may simply reflect doing less, or a worse outcome may reflect buying energy for unnecessary new loads.

If you want help understanding how your equipment and solar fit the offer, bring your bills and interval data. We can assess the likely operating pattern before discussing any hardware changes.

Research checked 6 October 2026. Project plans and policy timelines may change. The linked sources distinguish announcements, proposals and operating results.