For many commercial buildings, strata sites, industrial facilities and multi-tenant properties, reducing energy bills is no longer just about using less electricity. It is also about using electricity at the right time. As energy pricing becomes more dynamic, two sites can consume a similar amount of electricity yet receive very different bills.
One of the biggest reasons is timing. Electricity used during peak demand periods costs significantly more than electricity used during shoulder or off-peak windows. This is where time-of-use tariffs become important. A time-of-use (TOU) tariff charges different electricity rates depending on when energy is consumed. Instead of a single flat rate across the day, pricing is split into periods such as peak, shoulder and off-peak.
The aim is to encourage customers to reduce demand when the network is under pressure and shift suitable activities to lower cost periods. For businesses looking for practical energy bills reductions, understanding time-of-use tariffs can reveal savings that are often hidden in plain sight.
Key Points
Time-of-use tariffs split the day into peak, shoulder and off-peak pricing periods; the time period of electricity matters as much as how much you use.
Peak period rates in Australia can be more than double off-peak rates, so even modest load shifting can deliver meaningful bill reductions.
Load shifting does not require sacrificing comfort or productivity. It means managing timing more intelligently across flexible loads such as HVAC, EV charging and pumping systems.
Accurate interval data is essential. Without it, businesses are guessing about when their loads are running and which periods are driving costs.
Residential customers can better understand their usage with interval data.
Expertpower energy management software gives businesses the visibility to analyse consumption by period, identify shifting opportunities and measure the impact of any changes.
SATEC’s NMI approved meters, including the EM133-XM, provide the billing-grade interval data that underpins effective time-of-use optimisation for Australian commercial and multi-tenant sites.
What Are Time-of-Use Tariffs?
Time-of-use tariffs are electricity pricing structures that reflect the changing cost of supplying power across the day. During high demand periods, prices are higher. During lower demand periods, prices are lower. Peak periods typically occur when businesses, homes and essential services are all drawing heavily on the grid at the same time.
In New South Wales, for example, peak periods on many retailer plans fall between 2 pm and 8 pm in Summer and 5 pm to 9 pm in Winter. Shoulder periods apply at moderate cost windows between peak and off-peak. Off-peak periods are the cheapest and typically fall overnight or during times of lower network demand. It is worth noting that tariff structures vary across states, networks and retailers.
In the Ausgrid network, which covers Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter region and Newcastle, the network tariff moved to a simpler two-period structure in July 2024, covering just peak and off-peak. However, many retailers operating in that area still offer three-period plans. The detail matters, so every business should understand its own tariff structure rather than relying on broad assumptions.
For a commercial site running heavy equipment, HVAC systems, pumps, refrigeration or EV chargers, even small operational changes can make a meaningful difference if those loads can be moved to a cheaper period without disrupting the business.
Why Timing Matters for Energy Bills Reduction
Many businesses focus on total kilowatt hours used each month. That matters. Yet time-of-use tariffs add another layer. The same amount of energy can cost significantly more or less depending on when it is consumed.
In New South Wales, peak rates on time-of-use plans have been known to reach around 65 to 70 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to roughly 30 cents per kilowatt hour off-peak. That is more than double the cost for the same equipment running at a different time of day. A site that runs avoidable loads during peak periods may be paying far more than necessary.
A site that understands its load profile can make smarter decisions. It can identify what must operate during peak times and what can be rescheduled. Energy bills reduction becomes more achievable when managers can see the connection between operational habits and billing outcomes. The question is not only “How much energy did we use?”, it becomes “When did we use it and was that the most cost-effective time?” This is especially relevant for facilities with repeatable operating patterns.
Shopping centres, office buildings, warehouses, manufacturing sites, schools, health facilities and strata buildings often have predictable loads. That predictability creates an opportunity to shift consumption with planning and the right energy data.
How to Identify Loads That Can Be Shifted
Load shifting is the process of moving energy use from expensive periods to lower cost periods. It does not always mean reducing comfort, productivity or service levels. In many cases it means managing timing more intelligently. Start by looking at equipment or activities that are flexible.
This may include:
- Charging batteries or EVs
- Running non-critical plant or pumps
- Pre-cooling or pre-heating a building before peak periods begin
- Scheduling production processes that do not require real-time operation
- Timing maintenance activities outside peak windows
Some loads cannot be moved and that is fine. The goal is to find the loads that can. Energy data is essential here. Without clear interval data, a business is left guessing. A monthly electricity bill may show total consumption and cost, but it will not show what happened at 10 am on a Tuesday or 7 pm on a Sunday. That level of visibility is where energy management software becomes valuable.
Expertpower helps businesses see energy use across sites, circuits, tenants and equipment. By analysing when consumption occurs, managers can spot patterns, compare usage against tariff periods and make informed decisions about where load shifting will deliver the best return.
Practical Examples of Load Shifting
Commercial buildings
HVAC is often one of the largest contributors to electricity use in commercial buildings. With the right data, a facility manager may find that systems are ramping up sharply during peak periods. Pre-conditioning the building earlier in the day can reduce the need to run systems hard during the more expensive window.
EV charging
Sites with EV chargers can often adjust their charging schedules. Rather than charging all vehicles as soon as they are plugged in, a business can prioritise off-peak periods where operationally suitable. This can make a significant difference at sites with multiple vehicles.
Multi-tenant buildings
Submeters can show how different areas contribute to the overall load profile. This creates a fairer and clearer basis for energy conversations with tenants. It also helps building managers identify common area loads that can be shifted or optimised.
Industrial and manufacturing environments
Some processes may be flexible enough to operate outside peak windows. Even where production cannot move, supporting systems such as compressed air, pumping or battery charging may offer opportunities.
The best approach is not to make random changes. The best approach is to use accurate metering data to test, measure and refine.
Time-of-Use Tariff Comparison: Peak vs Off-Peak Periods
The table below summarises typical time-of-use period structures for major Australian states. Times and rates vary by retailer, network and season. Always confirm the structure with your electricity retailer.
| State | Peak Period (Weekdays) | Shoulder Period | Off-Peak Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 2–8 pm (Summer); 5–9 pm (Winter) | 7 am–2 pm and 8–10 pm (Summer); 7 am–5 pm and 9–10 pm (Winter) | All other times | Ausgrid network moved to two-period structure (peak/off-peak) from July 2024; check with your retailer |
| VIC | 3–9 pm (all year) | 7 am–3 pm and 9–10 pm | 10 pm–7 am | Most homes already have smart meters; TOU widely available |
| SA | 6–10 pm (Summer peak periods) | 7 am–10 pm (outside peak) | 10 pm–7 am | Mid-day solar sponge window often at lowest rates (approx. 10 am–4 pm) |
| QLD (SEQ) | 4–9 pm (weekdays) | 7 am–4 pm and 9–10 pm | 10 pm–7 am | Demand tariffs common in SEQ as an alternative to standard TOU |
| WA | Separate electricity market (not part of NEM); check with Synergy | Western Power network; different rules apply | ||
| Period times are indicative only and vary by retailer and distributor. Verify your specific tariff with your energy retailer. | ||||
Why Metering Accuracy Matters
Time-of-use optimisation depends on trustworthy data. A business cannot confidently shift load if it cannot see when energy is being used or which part of the site is driving demand. This is where SATEC’s metering products support the data foundation behind Expertpower.
The EM133-XM is an NMI approved DIN rail meter designed for the Australian submetering market. It carries Class 0.5S accuracy, which exceeds the baseline NMI M 6-1 requirements, and comes with NITP 14 verification certification to support compliance from the outset. The meter includes a TOU energy function, making it well suited to applications where interval data and period-based consumption tracking are important.
For multi-tenant buildings, the EM133-XM fits where space is at a premium and multiple meters are needed in a single location. It connects via RS485/Modbus as standard, with Ethernet available as an option, making it straightforward to integrate into reporting and monitoring platforms. This allows operators to move beyond basic consumption tracking into active load management.
When connected with Expertpower, meter data is transformed into useful insight. The software provides visibility across consumption, demand, power quality and site performance. This gives businesses the foundation they need to understand time-of-use impacts and take practical action. The value is not just in recording energy use. It is in making the data accessible, understandable and actionable for the people managing the site.
Using Expertpower to Support Smarter Decisions
Expertpower helps businesses monitor energy consumption and analyse usage trends over time. This matters for time-of-use tariffs because the savings opportunity is often hidden inside the daily load profile. With better visibility, users can identify when peak usage occurs, compare energy use between periods and detect unusual consumption. They can also review the impact of any changes after they are made. That feedback loop is important.
Load shifting should be measured so the business can see whether the change is working. For portfolio managers, the benefits extend across multiple sites. Comparing sites can reveal which buildings are performing well and which need attention. A site with similar operations but higher peak period consumption can be a strong candidate for review.
Energy bills reduction is rarely achieved by one action alone. It usually comes from a series of practical improvements that build over time. Expertpower gives businesses a way to find those improvements, track them and keep improving.
Where to Start
The first step is to understand your current tariff and billing structure. Then compare it with your actual energy use across the day. Look for repeated consumption during high cost periods and ask whether those loads are essential at that time.
Next, identify flexible loads. Focus on areas where timing can change without affecting safety, compliance, comfort or productivity. Then test changes carefully and measure the result using reliable meter data. It is also important to involve the right people.
Facility managers, operations teams, finance teams and energy consultants may all see different parts of the opportunity. When everyone works from the same data, decisions become easier.
Smarter Timing Means Smarter Savings
Time-of-use tariffs reward businesses that understand their energy patterns and respond intelligently. Using less energy is still important but using energy at lower cost times can also make a significant contribution to energy bills reduction. For businesses facing rising operating costs, this is a practical and measurable area to explore.
The right combination of accurate metering, interval data and Expertpower energy management software can help reveal where savings are possible. Energy bills reduction starts with visibility. Once a business can see when and where energy is being used, it can make better decisions about how to shift load, reduce avoidable costs and take greater control of its electricity spend.
FAQs - Energy Bills Reduction with Time-of-Use Tariffs
What is a time-of-use tariff in Australia?
A time-of-use tariff is an electricity pricing structure that charges different rates depending on the time of day. Prices are higher during peak demand periods and lower during off-peak periods, with some plans also including a shoulder rate in between.
How much can load shifting actually save a business?
The savings depend on your tariff, your load profile and how much consumption can be moved. In New South Wales, peak rates can reach around 65 to 70 cents per kilowatt hour compared to roughly 30 cents off-peak, so shifting even a portion of avoidable loads can produce meaningful reductions on large electricity bills.
Do I need a smart meter to access a time-of-use tariff?
Yes. To be eligible for a time-of-use tariff you need an interval or smart meter that records consumption in time intervals, typically 30 minutes. Many commercial sites already have interval meters. If you are unsure, check with your electricity retailer.
How does Expertpower help with time-of-use tariff management?
Expertpower provides visibility into when and where electricity is being consumed across your site or portfolio. By analysing interval data from connected meters, it helps managers identify peak period usage, spot shifting opportunities and measure the impact of any operational changes over time.
