Image: Christopher Corneschi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Victoria's Midday Power Saver started on 1 October 2026. Eligible households can now ask their retailer to move them onto a regulated plan with three hours of free electricity every day, from 11am to 2pm, including weekends. Victoria runs its own scheme, so it sits outside the federal Solar Sharer Offer that covers NSW, South Australia and south-east Queensland.
Who can get it
The offer is for residential customers with a smart meter. Most retailers must make it available, but it is opt-in, so nobody is switched automatically. About 2.6 million Victorian households are eligible, according to the state government. You do not need solar panels, and renters can use it if the household is eligible.
The rates outside the free window
Retailers recover the cost of free power through the rest of the day, so the regulated maximum charges matter. For 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, GST-inclusive maximums for general use in the Powercor zone are:
- Supply charge: $1.3805 a day.
- Off-peak, 9pm to 11am: 24.62 cents a kWh.
- Free window, 11am to 2pm: nothing.
- Solar soak, 2pm to 4pm: 19.39 cents a kWh.
- Peak, 4pm to 9pm: 43.81 cents a kWh.
Other zones differ slightly. In the CitiPower zone, for example, the peak maximum is 40.36 cents a kWh and the supply charge is $1.2114 a day.
How much could you save?
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action estimates savings of $149 to $428 a year, depending on living situation and whether you shift 5 to 30 per cent of your electricity use into the free window. The government's May announcement used a higher top figure of $1,102. The department's own page is the more conservative number, and it warns that if you cannot shift your usage you may pay more than on another plan.
Your protections
- Retailers need your explicit informed consent before moving you.
- They must explain the likely cost impact and tell you about any plans they think suit you better.
- You can withdraw without exit fees.
The department also advises spreading EV charging, battery charging and other big loads across the three hours, and speaking to a licensed electrician first if your switchboard is old, to avoid tripped breakers.
Practical takeaway: pull out your last bill and work out how much of your use falls between 11am and 2pm. If it is a small share, compare plans on Victorian Energy Compare before signing up. If you work from home or charge an EV or battery during the day, ask your retailer for a dollar estimate on your own usage.