Victorian Midday Power Saver Australia: 3 Hours of Free Electricity Every Day
The Victorian Midday Power Saver is a new Victorian electricity initiative designed to help eligible households reduce their power bills by shifting electricity use into the middle of the day. From 1 October 2026, participating Victorian households can access a three-hour free electricity period from 11 am to 2 pm every day, including weekends.
The scheme is designed around Victoria’s growing supply of renewable electricity, particularly rooftop solar generation. Instead of using as much electricity during more expensive periods, households can move energy-intensive activities into the free midday window.
For households that can change when they use appliances, the Victorian Midday Power Saver could become an important way to manage electricity costs.
What is the Victorian Midday Power Saver?
The Victorian Midday Power Saver is an optional electricity tariff available to eligible residential customers in Victoria.
Under the scheme, customers who opt in can receive up to 24 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of free electricity during the three-hour daily window, subject to the applicable fair-use arrangements. The free period runs from:
11 am to 2 pm every day
That includes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The program is intended to encourage households to use more electricity when renewable generation is plentiful and demand patterns make daytime electricity comparatively inexpensive.
The Victorian Government says eligible households could save between approximately $149 and $428 per year, depending on their circumstances and how much electricity they move into the free period. Households with electric vehicles could potentially achieve additional savings by charging during the free hours.
Importantly, the Midday Power Saver is not simply a government cash rebate. It is an electricity pricing arrangement. Customers opt into the offer through their electricity retailer and receive free usage during the specified period, while electricity consumed outside that period is charged under the applicable tariff.
When does the Victorian Midday Power Saver start?
The Victorian Midday Power Saver becomes available to eligible households from 1 October 2026.
Customers do not automatically receive the offer. They need to contact their electricity retailer and ask about opting into the Midday Power Saver.
The Victorian Government says licensed electricity retailers with 1,000 or more customers will be required to offer the scheme. Customers should check directly with their retailer because eligibility and individual circumstances can affect whether the offer is suitable.
The scheme is intended for residential electricity customers who have a smart meter.
What time is free electricity in Victoria?
The free electricity period is:
11 am to 2 pm, every day.
This three-hour window is one of the most important details for Victorian households considering the offer.
During these hours, customers on the Midday Power Saver do not pay the general usage charge for eligible electricity consumption, subject to the scheme’s conditions and usage limits.
The idea is to encourage households to shift activities that normally consume significant amounts of electricity into this period.
For example, a household could schedule its washing machine, dishwasher, clothes dryer, electric hot-water system or EV charger during the free period.
How much can you save with the Midday Power Saver?
The amount a household saves depends heavily on its electricity usage.
According to the Victorian Government, households joining the Midday Power Saver could save approximately $149 to $428 per year, assuming they shift around 5% to 30% of their electricity consumption into the free three-hour window.
Electric vehicle owners may have another opportunity to reduce costs.
The Victorian Government estimates that EV households could potentially save an additional amount of up to $674, taking the estimated total potential saving to around $1,102 per year in the circumstances outlined by the government. These are estimates rather than guaranteed savings, and actual results will depend on household energy consumption and how much usage can be shifted.
Therefore, it is important not to assume that every Victorian household will save the same amount.
A household that uses little electricity between 11 am and 2 pm may receive less benefit than a household with an EV, electric hot water, air conditioning, a battery or other large electrical loads that can be scheduled during the free period.
Who is eligible for the Victorian Midday Power Saver?
The offer is aimed at residential electricity customers in Victoria who meet the applicable requirements.
Key requirements include:
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Being a residential electricity customer in Victoria.
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Having a smart electricity meter.
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Being with an electricity retailer that is required to offer the scheme.
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Choosing to opt into the Midday Power Saver.
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Meeting any other conditions set out by the retailer and tariff arrangements.
Most Victorian electricity retailers with at least 1,000 customers will be required to provide the offer.
Some customers in embedded networks may have different circumstances. For example, apartment buildings, retirement villages and other sites can operate private electricity networks. Eligibility can depend on whether residents are able to choose a market electricity retailer and whether the required infrastructure is available.