Since 1 October 2026, eligible Victorian households have been able to access three hours of no-cost electricity every day. If you drive an EV, that midday window could be especially valuable. With the right setup, it may cover a large share of your weekly driving without adding to your energy bill.
The opportunity is simple, but getting the best result takes a little planning. Here’s how the Midday Power Saver works, what to check before switching, and how to make sure your car is charging while the electricity is free.
The Midday Power Saver is a Victorian Government-regulated electricity offer that gives eligible households three hours of no-cost electricity between 11am and 2pm, seven days a week.
Free electricity window: 11am to 2pm every day, subject to your retailer’s fair-use cap and plan terms.
The program is designed to encourage households to move more of their electricity use into the middle of the day, when Victoria has abundant solar generation, and away from the busier morning and evening periods.
That makes EV charging a natural fit. A car can draw a meaningful amount of energy during the three-hour window, particularly when it is connected to a dedicated wall charger.
To access the Midday Power Saver, you generally need to:
You do not need rooftop solar. That is one of the offer’s biggest attractions for renters, apartment residents and households without a suitable roof for solar panels.
Most household appliances only use a few kilowatt-hours at a time. An EV is different. It is usually the largest flexible electrical load in the home, which means it can make much fuller use of the free period.
Here is a practical guide to what three hours of charging could add:
The difference is substantial. A standard power point may add enough range for a couple of days of commuting, while a 7kW wall charger can add around 130km during the same three-hour window.
The word “free” deserves some context. Electricity rates outside the 11am to 2pm window, along with daily supply charges, may be higher than those on another plan. If most of your power use happens in the evening and you cannot shift it, the Midday Power Saver could leave you paying more overall.
The Victorian Government estimates annual household savings of $149 to $428 where households shift around 5% to 30% of their electricity use into the free window. The State Electricity Commission says EV households could potentially save more by moving vehicle charging out of peak periods.
Before switching, compare the full plan, not just the free period.
Use your actual usage data and compare available offers through Victorian Energy Compare. Your retailer should also explain the rates, supply charges, fair-use cap and likely bill impact before you opt in.
The offer only saves you money if the car is actually drawing power between 11am and 2pm. There are three practical ways to make that happen.
For most households, this is the simplest and most reliable option. A smart wall charger can be scheduled to start at 11am and stop at 2pm, regardless of when the vehicle was plugged in.It can also help you monitor how much energy the car received and manage the charging rate so the household stays within the retailer’s daily fair-use limit.
Many EVs allow charging schedules to be set through the vehicle or its app. This can work with a wall charger or a standard power point. The main downside is that settings and reliability vary between vehicles, so it is worth checking the first few sessions rather than assuming the car started as planned.
If you already have rooftop solar, a solar-aware charger can prioritise your own generation and then use grid power during the free period to cover any shortfall. That can reduce low-value solar exports while helping you add more range at home.
This is the offer’s biggest limitation. If your EV is normally at work from 8am to 6pm, it cannot make use of the home charging window on those days.There are still a few practical options:
For households that can regularly charge during the free window, a dedicated wall charger can make a meaningful difference. A 7kW charger delivers roughly three times as much energy in three hours as a standard 10A power point.That difference may determine whether free midday electricity covers an occasional top-up or most of your regular driving.A licensed electrician should assess your switchboard, available supply and cabling before installation. Many homes can support a 7kW single-phase charger, while properties with a suitable three-phase supply may have faster options.
No. You generally need to be a Victorian residential customer with a smart meter, use an eligible retailer and opt in to the offer.
No. Retailer fair-use caps apply. The State Electricity Commission advises that caps of up to 24kWh per day may apply, so confirm the exact limit and excess-use rate with your retailer.
You can use the no-cost window each day if your vehicle is connected and charging between 11am and 2pm, subject to the offer’s fair-use cap and other plan conditions.
Yes. Rates outside the free period and daily supply charges may be higher than on another plan. Compare the complete offer against your current plan before switching.
The offer began on 1 October 2026. Check the current terms with your retailer and the Victorian Government before switching, as regulated offers and pricing can be reviewed.
GetElectric has designed and installed EV charging solutions across Australia since 2018. Our licensed electricians can assess your home’s electrical supply, recommend an appropriate smart charger and configure it to charge during the Midday Power Saver window.
Source note
Program details and savings guidance were checked against Victorian Government, Victorian Energy Compare and State Electricity Commission information available in October 2026. Retailer pricing, caps and eligibility can vary, so households should confirm the current terms before changing plans.
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