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If you've ever looked at your electricity bill and seen your usage split into peak, shoulder, and off-peak periods — those time slots directly determine what you pay per kilowatt-hour.
For households wanting to cut energy costs, knowing when these periods fall and which tariff you're on can mean paying 70c/kWh during peak hours versus as little as 30c/kWh off-peak — less than half the price for the exact same appliance running for the same amount of time.
Below we break down peak and off-peak electricity times, the four main tariff types in NSW, and how retailers like Energy Australia, AGL, and Origin structure their pricing.
Peak electricity in NSW is from 2-8pm (Summer), and 5-9pm (Winter).
Peak periods are the most expensive hours on a time-of-use plan - typically costing round 65-70c/kWh.
Shoulder periods run 7am-2pm & 8-10pm (Summer), and 7am-5pm & 9-10pm (Winter).
Priced between peak & off-peak, shoulder hours are mid-range and apply on weekdays only.
Off-peak electricity runs 10pm-7am every day.
The cheapest period on a time-of-use plan, usually costing around 20-30c/kWh, idea for high-consumption.
Showing the peak time period, off-peak time period, and shoulder time period in Australia in a simple diagram.
NSW Retailer Comparison · Updated May 2026
Time-of-use periods for major retailers on the Ausgrid network — Sydney, Newcastle, Hunter & Central Coast.
← Scroll to see all columns →
| Retailer | 🔴 Peak Times | 🟡 Shoulder Times | 🟢 Off-Peak Times | Approx. Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Energy Australia |
Summer:
2pm – 8pm Winter: 5pm – 9pm Weekdays (excl. public holidays) |
Summer:
7am–2pm & 8–10pm Winter: 7am–5pm & 9–10pm |
10pm – 7am (daily) |
Peak
~70c/kWh Off-peak ~30c/kWh |
| AGL | 2pm – 8pm (all days) Incl. weekends · ~18% of week | 7am–2pm & 8–10pm ~45% of the week | 10pm – 7am (daily) ~37% of the week |
Peak
~65c/kWh Off-peak ~30c/kWh |
|
Origin Energy |
7–9am & 5–8pm Business days only (NSW & ACT) | 9am–5pm & 8–10pm Business days only |
10pm
– 7am (weekdays) All weekend |
Varies by plan Check energymadeeasy.gov.au |
|
GloBird Energy |
3pm – 9pm (all days) Incl. weekends · ~25% of week | No shoulder period | 9pm – 3pm next day ~75% of the week |
Peak
~56c/kWh Off-peak ~30c/kWh Rates updated Jan 2026 |
|
Ausgrid network default |
2pm – 8pm Two-rate structure since Jul 2024 | Merged into off-peak As of Jul 2024 — some retailers still use 3 rates | All other times |
Peak
~65c/kWh Off-peak ~30c/kWh |
⚠️ Times and rates are indicative for residential customers on the Ausgrid network (Sydney, Newcastle, Hunter & Central Coast). Your exact periods depend on your distributor, meter type, and specific plan. Always confirm with your retailer or compare at energymadeeasy.gov.au. Rates are GST-inclusive approximates as of mid-2026.
When you arrive home from work on a typical Australian summers’ day (let’s say 5pm), you start to use power in the middle of a peak period where electricity will be most expensive to use compared to an off-peak period.
Retailers like Energy Australia offer time-of-use tariffs/plans that enable variable energy prices which can benefit or sting you based on your consumption habits.
According to Energy Made Easy, Energy Australia's pricing ranges between around 70c/kWh during peak periods to around 30c/kWh for off-peak periods. (Timings vary depending on the season).
Comparing these electricity prices, if you were to run the same appliance during a peak period (2-8pm) vs. an off-peak period (10pm-7am), it would cost you more than double to run the exact same appliance for the same amount of time.
Section updated on the 6/5/2026
Whilst we hear the word 'tariff' around the global arena, the word also represents the energy 'plan' you're on. An electricity tariff refers to a pricing structure that your energy retailer uses to bill you for your electricity consumption.
Every property in Australia will have unique lifestyles and energy consumption habits which will vary in the most suitable tariff for
that property. Finding the right electricity tariff can depend on a few factors. Below are the main 4 tariffs available throughout NSW:
|
TARIFF TYPE |
BEST FOR |
PEAK/OFF-PEAK PRICING? |
|
|
Flexible households, EV Owners | Yes |
|
|
Peak hour households, predictable budgets | No |
|
|
Low peak-consumption households & businesses |
Partial |
|
|
Hot water, pool pump, floor heating | Separate meter |
A time-of-use electricity tariff is designed to charge different rates depending on the time of day. Peak energy hours are charged the most, shoulder is charged at a medium rate, and off-peak is when electricity is cheapest.
Who are time-of-use tariffs for? Most households run on a time-of-use energy tariff which can be flexible for homes that run appliances overnight, charge electric vehicles, or operate high-consuming appliances like pool pumps or hot water systems. (Did you know that most hot water systems are on a timer that take advantage of off-peak electricity overnight?)
This kind of electricity plan is suited to those who have flexibility in when they use electricity, incentivising off-peak consumption.
For residents who consume most of their energy during peak periods, it can become very expensive to run basic appliances for cooking,
cooling, or entertainment.
Since 2024, Ausgrid combined both shoulder periods with off-peak periods, making it easier to differentiate on vs. off-peak prices for consumers. AGL on-peak times generally occur between 2pm - 8pm, and off-peak around 10pm - 7am. Based on AGL's standing offer, peak period prices come in at around $0.65c/kWh, and off-peak electricity prices around $0.30c/kWh.
Unlike a time-of-use tariff which is variable depending on the hour of the day, a flat rate tariff remains consistent throughout the day and night. There are no peak and off-peak periods which means that your electricity costs remain consistent whether the electricity is during a peak or an off-peak period. Depending on the retailer, flat rate electricity tariff prices range from 30-40c/kWh.
Who are single rate tariffs suited for? A single rate tariff is suited for homes that use most of their electricity during peak periods and for those who prefer consistent and predictable electricity bills. Flat rate plans are a great choice for workers who return home at dinner time and consume their energy right in the middle of peak electricity hours.
Is a Flat rate or Time-of-use tariff better? Whilst flat rate tariffs are simple, they are less cost-effective compared to taking advantage of off-peak electricity pricing. If your household can take advantage of off-peak electricity prices, a flat rate tariff may prevent savings.
Demand tariffs, also known as demand charges on electricity bills, incentivise customers to use less energy in peak periods.
How are demand charges calculated? Demand charges look at your maximum electricity consumption during peak hours. Measuring in 15 or 30-minute block intervals each day during a month, the block with the highest consumption will be your highest energy consumption.
Rather than solely focusing on the amount of energy being used, a demand tariff also takes into account the amount of power being drawn. Running multiple high-consuming appliances like air-conditioning, pool pumps, and ovens at the same time can cause spikes which increase the demand charge portion of your electricity bill.
A controlled load is a tariff for specific stand-alone appliances like electric hot water heaters, pool and irrigation pumps, and underfloor heating. They're designed to power systems that don't need instant consumption, only powered during periods where electricity is generally cheaper than off-peak rates.
Controlled loads are managed remotely by electricity providers where appliances are powered usually overnight or during low-demand periods.
Because they are on their own meter, it's easier to track individual usage which can be billed at a separate rate than your general household consumption.
Ausgrid's controlled
tariff
periods include:
WHAT ARE SMART METERS?
A Smart Meter is essentially a tool that can be installed to allow properties to see accurate and clear data of their energy consumption, which allows the owner to make informed decisions about when and how long to use appliances.
One of the most well-known rebates across Australia is the solar feed-in-tariff, which enables homeowners to export their excess solar power for credit on their electricity bill.
In recent years, the value per kWh of exported solar has been reduced as more and more households continue to rely on solar production.
Depending on which energy provider you're with, they offer various packages and incentives which helps homeowners access higher rewards, mostly ranging from 3-5c/kWh exported.
Whilst the solar export reward used to be much higher, there is still a great opportunity for large energy consumers to greatly offset their daytime electricity usage with the solar they generate.
Households are no longer focused on exporting, but consuming the power they produce. This is also maximised with battery storage where homeowners can continue consuming stored solar long into the night.
Demand response is a program that you can partake in where customers are paid to keep the electrical grid stable by balancing the supply and demand. It allows for a more balanced system and rewards participants for throttling consumption or for using more power in times of over-supply.
A great example would be a building with lots of refrigeration. The operator will notify the participant to limit electricity
consumption, until a certain time in order to reduce the electrical load on the grid. They would do this by either turning the fridges off
temporarily, and in the process the participant is rewarded for throttling their usage.
The same thing happens when the system has too much supply and not enough demand, the participant would then be notified to turn all
fridges up to soak up the generated energy and be paid for it.
With the transition to renewable energy happening, we will most likely see a higher rate of grid failures and higher grid energy costs as coal-fired power stations close across Australia. We believe now is the best time ever to invest in solar as rebates are still available (not for long), and the rapidly growing demand for grid security.
If you want to see if you’re on the cheapest energy plan, we recommend visiting ‘Energy
Made Easy’
where you can simply compare energy plans, it’s great.
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