Victorian households with a smart meter can now ask their electricity retailer for the Midday Power Saver. It gives you up to 24 kWh of no-cost electricity between 11am and 2pm, every day of the week. Victorian retailers have been required to offer it to eligible residential customers since 1 October 2026. It is not automatic: you need to contact your retailer and ask for it.
Who actually benefits
The free window rewards households that can move real usage to the middle of the day: dishwasher and washing machine on a timer, hot water heating, pre-cooling in summer, or daytime EV charging. The Victorian Government's Energy website says households that shift 5% to 30% of their usage into the free window could save between $149 and $428 a year, depending on circumstances. It also notes the offer is not ideal for people who are away during the day.
The catch to check
Rates outside the free window vary by distribution zone and can be higher than on standard plans. The Victorian Government's published example for CitiPower is 23.22 cents per kWh off-peak (9pm to 11am), 40.36 cents per kWh peak (4pm to 9pm) and a daily supply charge of $1.2114. The government's page also flags that availability may differ for embedded network customers, and warns against running several high-energy appliances at once during the window.
Our take
Free power is only a good deal if the rest of the bill holds up. If most of your usage is in the evening, a sharp flat-rate or standard market offer may still beat the Midday Power Saver, because the free hours are paid for somewhere else on the rate card. Work out how many kWh you can realistically move before you switch, and compare the full rate card, not the headline. For many households with someone home during the day, or an EV and a timer, it will be worth a look.
What to do
Check you have a smart meter (our smart meters and time-of-use guide explains how), then ask your retailer for their Midday Power Saver rates and compare them against your current plan and the best standard offers at your address.
Our Victorian Midday Power Saver guide covers eligibility, the fair use cap and who should sign up in full, and the free power savings calculator will run your numbers.
Sources: Victorian Government, Victorian Midday Power Saver (energy.vic.gov.au); Essential Services Commission Victoria, news release of 1 October 2026.
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