Energy retailers to be directed to offer free power three hours a day
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-03/energy-retailers-offer-free-power-three-hours-dmo/105965472
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-03/energy-retailers-offer-free-power-three-hours-dmo/105965472
13 Comments
Nath@aussie.zone · 10 pts · 312d
This doesn't sound like much, but with very minimal effort, it could save over 10% on your power bill.
Do the washing.
Cook a meal.
Run the dishwasher.
Fill a thermos.
Crank the aircon to cool/heat the house.
If your power bill is $400/month, that's $40 for doing stuff you were already going to do - just in that 3 hour window each day.
FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au · 1 pts · 310d
If you already do these during the day while your solar is generating enough power to do that, you're not really saving anything though?
It will also depend on the extra fees that you have to pay on these plans, and the no doubt higher electricity charge outside of these hours.
Nath@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 310d
It may seem like everyone has solar panels, but alas we don't. For two-thirds of us, this would not be free anyway.
FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au · 1 pts · 308d
And if you don’t, you’ll be paying more outside of these 3 hours to make up for the “free” 3 hours.
vividspecter@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 311d
Requires a smart meter, although they are getting rolled out to most people. My cheapskate landlord won't address the asbestos ridden meter box so I'm stuck with a traditional meter for the moment.
FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au · 1 pts · 310d
Also requires you to sign up to their plans that offer it, which will come with many caveats and higher prices/fees.
Power companies aren't in the business of losing money.
Eyekaytee@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 309d
Correct, currently they charge you 38c a kw while they pay -10c for the power ;)
FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au · 1 pts · 308d
And when they have to give it away for 0c a kw for 3 hours, they’ll charge you 45c a kw every other hour of the day.
Plus a daily smart meter fee. Plus a daily free electricity fee. Plus a daily VPP fee.
quokka1@mastodon.au · 3 pts · 308d
@FreedomAdvocate @Eyekaytee quicker i can get off-grid, the better
FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au · 1 pts · 299d
Absolutely, but that’s prohibitively expensive for most households unfortunately. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the government eventually makes going off-grid illegal as their “net zero” plan relies on basically every household having solar and batteries that the power companies leech from to power the entire grid.
Eyekaytee@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 308d
You think they aren't charging as much as they can now?
FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au · 1 pts · 299d
I’m just saying what happen. The government even said that power companies will likely make up for the losses of those 3 hours by increasing prices in the other hours.
Eyekaytee@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 298d
thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 312d
For Victorians, I believe there are some providers who offer a similar feature already - I don’t want to endorse any particular as this is not an ad; make sure you use our VIC Gov’t Energy Comparison every year to ensure you’re on the lowest-cost contract for your circumstances.