Peak and off-peak times across Australia
Midday solar soak and solar sponge windows are the cheapest period on the plans that have them. On Energex 6900 the cheapest window is labelled off-peak and the overnight band is shoulder.
Time-of-use hours by state
| Area | Peak | Cheapest window | Other times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria, all networksVictorian Default Offer | 4pm to 9pm every day | Solar soak 11am to 4pm | Off-peak 9pm to 11am |
| Ausgrid, NSWNetwork tariff | 3pm to 9pm every day, November to March and June to August | None set by the network | Off-peak at all other times, including all of April, May, September and October |
| Energex, south-east QueenslandNetwork tariff 6900 | 4pm to 9pm | Off-peak 11am to 4pm | Shoulder 9pm to 11am |
| SA Power NetworksNetwork tariff | 6am to 10am and 4pm to midnight | Solar sponge 10am to 4pm | Off-peak midnight to 6am |
| Evoenergy, ACTNetwork tariff | 7am to 9am and 5pm to 9pm every day | Solar soak 11am to 3pm | Off-peak at all other times |
| TasmaniaAurora Energy Tariff 93 | Weekdays 7am to 10am and 4pm to 9pm | None | Off-peak at all other times and all weekend |
| Western Australia, SynergyMidday Saver | 3pm to 9pm | Super off-peak 9am to 3pm | Off-peak 9pm to 9am |
| Northern TerritoryJacana Energy time of use | All times outside 9am to 3pm | Off-peak 9am to 3pm | None |
Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy, Ergon Energy and Horizon Power customers should check the hours on their own plan. Retailers publish them in the Basic Plan Information Document or price fact sheet for each offer.
Why your plan may show different hours
Networks charge retailers by time of day, and most retailers copy those windows onto your plan. They do not have to. In the Ausgrid area, for example, the network dropped its shoulder period in July 2024, yet some retailers still sell plans with a peak, shoulder and off-peak rate, and their peak hours differ from the network's.
Where to find your exact hours
Look on your bill or your plan's fact sheet. On a time-of-use plan, each usage line names its period. The fact sheet lists the hours for each one. Energy Made Easy and Victorian Energy Compare also show the hours for every plan they list.
Times are shown in local standard time on some plans. In states with daylight saving, a peak listed as 4pm to 9pm standard time can run from 5pm to 10pm on the clock in summer. Check how your retailer states it.
Using the windows to save
- Run the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer in the cheapest window. On most plans that now means the middle of the day.
- Cool or heat the house before the peak starts, then let it coast.
- Charge an electric vehicle at midday or overnight, never in the evening peak.
- Check whether a free midday plan suits you. The Solar Sharer Offer and Victoria's Midday Power Saver both offer free power for three hours in the middle of the day.
Not sure time of use is right for you at all? Our time-of-use guide works through who saves and who pays more.
Questions about peak and off-peak times
Most networks set the peak between 3pm and 9pm. Victoria's regulated peak is 4pm to 9pm every day, Ausgrid's network peak is 3pm to 9pm in summer and winter, and Energex's is 4pm to 9pm. South Australia and the ACT also have a morning peak.
It depends on the plan. Many plans now make the middle of the day the cheapest time, such as 11am to 4pm in Victoria and 10am to 4pm in South Australia. Overnight is usually off-peak too. Check the hours on your own plan.
On some plans. Tasmania's Tariff 93 charges off-peak rates all weekend. Most mainland network tariffs, including Victoria, Energex, SA Power Networks and Evoenergy, apply the same windows every day of the week.
Overnight is cheaper than the evening peak on most time-of-use plans, but the middle of the day is often cheaper still because of rooftop solar. In Victoria the regulated solar soak rate from 11am to 4pm is below the overnight off-peak rate.
They can. Some plans state hours in local standard time, so the peak shifts an hour later on the clock during daylight saving. Others use local time all year. Your plan's fact sheet says which applies.
Retailers set the hours on their own plans and do not have to copy the network windows. Some keep older three-period structures or use weekday-only peaks. The hours on your plan are the ones that apply to your bill.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.
- ESC, Victorian Default Offer 2026-27
- Ausgrid, time of use prices
- Energex, residential tariffs
- SA Power Networks, residential tariff information
- EnergyAustralia, ACT standing offer electricity prices from July 2026
- Aurora Energy, residential prices
- Synergy, Midday Saver plan
- Jacana Energy, residential pricing