Understand tariffs

Time of Use – this tariff allows you to pay different rates during different times of the day and night – peak, shoulder and off peak. Peak is when energy costs the most, off-peak is when it’s the cheapest and shoulder when it’s a bit less than peak. This tariff could suit you if you’re using most of your energy during the day and on weekends, and you’re out a lot at night. To understand what's best for your household, get to know your peak, off-peak and shoulder times.

Demand – this tariff is for small business customers who have a smart meter, and it’s subject to availability. A Demand tariff encourages you to use energy over time rather than all at once. Using energy during off-peak and shoulder times takes pressure off the overall grid, which can save you money if you’re clear about when and how much energy you use at those times.

Single rate, also known as a flat rate – this tariff means you’ll pay the same rate for energy no matter what the time is. It’s often less than a peak tariff but more than off-peak and shoulder tariffs. If you’re using large appliances during the day and you’re home a lot at night during the week, this tariff may suit you.

Off peak – this tariff is lower when overall grid use is low. This might suit you if you use energy at night outside of peak hours, and on weekends.

Controlled load – this tariff is for a specific item like a pool heater, underfloor heating or an electric hot water system. Often the item has its own meter. The meter is commonly set to operate the specific item during times of the day when there's more energy available in the grid and to use energy when the rates are lower. See Understand controlled load for more info.

Solar feed-in – if your solar system connects to the grid, this tariff allows you to get a feed-in tariff for any excess power your system sends back to the grid. Find out more about Feed-in tariffs on our website.