The EV Insider

Charging

Best time to charge your EV at home: off-peak, solar and free-power windows in Australia

Last checked: 19 October 2026 · 5 min read · By The EV Insider

Short answer: for most households the cheapest time to charge is the middle of the day or late at night. The middle of the day works if you have your own solar or a free or cheap midday window. Late at night works on an EV or off-peak plan. The most expensive time is usually the evening peak, roughly 3pm or 4pm to 9pm. In late 2026, regulated free-power windows are available in Victoria (11am–2pm), NSW and South East Queensland (11am–2pm) and South Australia (12pm–3pm), each capped at 24 kWh a day.

General information, not advice. Plans, prices and eligibility change, so check your own bill before you switch.

General information, not tax advice. Rules change and your circumstances differ. Check the ATO sources linked here and speak to a registered tax agent or your employer's payroll team before you decide.

Why the time of day matters

Australia's grid now has so much rooftop and large-scale solar that power is often cheapest around midday. AEMO's market report for April to June 2026 found negative or zero wholesale prices in 23% of dispatch intervals in Victoria. In daytime hours (9am to 5pm) the figure was 31%, and overnight (10pm to 6am) it was 26%, helped by wind. Retail tariffs don't pass those prices straight through, but time-of-use plans increasingly copy the pattern. Midday and late night are cheap, and the evening peak is dear.

Free and cheap windows by state (as at 19 October 2026)

Where Offer Cheap or free window Notes
Victoria Midday Power Saver (state scheme, since 1 Oct 2026) 11am–2pm free Up to 24 kWh a day; smart meter; opt in with your retailer
NSW, SE Queensland Solar Sharer Offer (federal, part of the Default Market Offer) 11am–2pm free Up to 24 kWh a day; smart meter; not in embedded networks
South Australia Solar Sharer Offer 12pm–3pm free Same rules as above
Western Australia Synergy EV Add On 9am–3pm at 8.852c; 11pm–6am at 19.9172c Plug-in EV registered at the address; advanced meter
Anywhere Retailer EV and off-peak plans Often overnight Rates and hours vary by retailer and network area

The free windows aren't a free bill. You still pay the daily supply charge and for everything outside the window, and those rates can be higher than on other plans. Victoria's Government says the Midday Power Saver suits households that can move their usage into the middle of the day.

Victoria: the 2026–27 numbers

On the regulated Victorian Default Offer time-of-use tariff, the day has three periods:

In the United Energy zone those cost 40.32c, 22.14c and 17.26c per kWh.

On the Midday Power Saver in the same zone, power is free from 11am to 2pm. It's 19.39c from 2pm to 4pm, 42.45c in the 4pm to 9pm peak and 24.27c off-peak. All prices include GST.

Some retailers sell EV plans with very cheap overnight rates. For example, AGL's Night Saver EV charges 8c/kWh from 12am to 6am, and OVO Energy's pricing page lists a 4.5c/kWh "EV Off-peak rate". These are factual listings, not recommendations. Our home vs public charging costs in Victoria article compares them per 100 km.

How much can you add in a 3-hour window?

Figures from the Victorian Government:

The 24 kWh daily cap covers your whole household's use in the window, not just the car. At our example efficiency of 16 kWh per 100 km plus 10% charging losses, 24 kWh is about 135 km of driving. That's only if nothing else in the house runs. The Victorian Government also says to stagger big loads such as EV chargers, batteries, hot water and dryers across the window, so you don't trip circuit breakers.

Charging from your own solar

If you have rooftop solar, every kWh you put into the car instead of exporting costs you only the feed-in tariff you give up. Feed-in tariffs are now often low. AGL's Night Saver EV page, for example, lists 3c/kWh. So charging from your own solar is usually the cheapest option of all.

There's a catch. A typical home system may not cover a 7 kW charger plus the house on a cloudy day. A smart charger with a solar-surplus mode adjusts the charge rate to match your spare solar. Our guide to choosing a home EV charger explains how.

How to set it up

  1. Check your meter and plan. Free and time-of-use windows need a smart (interval) meter. Look on your bill for your plan's time periods.
  2. Schedule the charge. Most EVs let you set a start time or a "charge by" time in the car or its app. Smart chargers can do the same.
  3. Avoid the evening peak, even for a quick top-up.
  4. Compare the whole bill, not just the cheap rate. Victorians can use Victorian Energy Compare, and people in other states can use the federal Energy Made Easy.
  5. Charging at work or on the road? See our charging costs page for public prices and a calculator.

Novated lease drivers

If your EV is on a novated lease, the ATO's shortcut home charging rate is a set 5.47 cents per km for FBT years from 1 April 2026. It doesn't change with when you charge. Ask your provider how they use it for reimbursements. See our lease inclusions list and the novated lease and FBT guide.

FAQ

Is overnight or midday cheaper?

It depends on your plan. A free midday window beats any overnight rate for the energy it covers, but only if the car is home and plugged in. If you commute by car, a cheap overnight EV rate is usually easier.

Do I need solar to use the free midday window?

No. The Victorian Midday Power Saver and the federal Solar Sharer Offer don't require rooftop solar. You need a smart meter and an eligible retailer.

Will charging at midday hurt my battery?

Charging time of day isn't a battery health issue in itself. Follow your car maker's advice on charge limits.

Can I use a free window and an EV overnight rate together?

Usually not on one plan, as each is a separate tariff. Some market plans combine cheap midday and overnight periods, such as WA's Synergy EV Add On. Compare what's offered in your area.

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Sources

Last checked: 19 October 2026. General information only, not tax, financial, legal or credit advice. We don’t recommend any provider; where businesses are named, it’s for information. See our affiliate disclosure.