When to run appliances with solar in Perth: a timing guide

A Perth solar system generates most of its electricity between 9am and 3pm. Under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS), surplus electricity you don't self-consume exports to the grid at 2c/kWh. Every kilowatt-hour you consume during solar generation hours saves you 33.26c (A1 tariff) instead of earning 2c — a 31.26c per kWh difference.

The simplest way to improve your solar economics is to run high-draw appliances during the solar peak rather than in the morning or evening.

What each appliance uses

| Appliance | Typical draw | Cycle/run time | Cycle energy | |---|---|---|---| | Front-loader washing machine | 500W–1.5kW | 45–90 min | 0.4–1.5 kWh | | Top-loader washing machine | 500W–2kW | 30–60 min | 0.3–1.5 kWh | | Dishwasher | 1.2–1.8kW | 60–90 min | 1.2–2.0 kWh | | Clothes dryer (heat pump) | 800W–1.2kW | 45–60 min | 0.6–1.0 kWh | | Clothes dryer (resistive) | 2.0–3.5kW | 40–60 min | 1.5–3.0 kWh | | Electric oven | 2.0–3.5kW | varies | 1.5–4.0 kWh per meal | | Pool pump (0.75kW single-speed) | 750W | 8 hrs | 6.0 kWh | | Robotic pool cleaner | 150–200W | 2–3 hrs | 0.3–0.6 kWh | | Heat pump hot water | 700W–1.2kW | 2–3 hrs | 1.5–3.0 kWh |

The optimal window

Aim for 10am–2pm. This is when a Perth solar system is generating near peak output on most days. A 6.6kW system produces 4–5.5kW during this window — enough to simultaneously run the washing machine, dishwasher, and pool pump with generation to spare.

The 9am start on Midday Saver (super off-peak at 8.85c) means there's a 9–10am window where even grid electricity is cheap while solar is ramping up. Under A1 (flat rate), the only reason to start earlier is household convenience.

How to time each appliance

Washing machine

Timer strategy: Most modern washing machines (and front-loaders in particular) have a delay-start timer. Set the wash to complete around 11am–1pm, when solar is at peak and you can immediately hang clothes in the sun.

Practical tip: Load the machine the night before, set the timer, and wake up to clothes ready to hang. A 1.5kWh wash cycle run at 11am instead of 7am saves approximately 47c at A1 tariff (1.5kWh × 31.26c saving per kWh vs export).

Dishwasher

Timer strategy: Load dishes after dinner but delay-start to the next morning's solar peak (10–11am). Most dishwashers have 1–24 hour delay timers.

If your household prefers washing up immediately after meals, the lunchtime run (noon) can work — particularly on Midday Saver where the 8.85c midday rate and solar output combine.

Eco mode: Use the dishwasher's eco or energy-saving cycle — it uses 30–40% less electricity at the cost of a longer run time. Longer run time during solar hours is a benefit, not a drawback.

Clothes dryer

Timing: Run during solar peak if you must use the dryer. A heat pump dryer (800W–1.2kW) draws less than a resistive dryer (2–3.5kW) and produces excellent results in Perth's dry climate — consider upgrading if you have an older resistive model.

Perth's solar advantage: Perth's sunny, low-humidity days mean a clothesline dries clothes in 2–3 hours most of the year. Eliminating dryer use during spring, summer, and autumn is the highest-value option — no electricity used at any time of day.

Electric oven

Timing: Cooking lunch during solar hours (noon) instead of dinner is the obvious but impractical advice. A more actionable approach: use the oven for a single cooking session (3–4pm) that covers multiple meals — batch cooking roasted vegetables, a roast, or a baked meal for the week.

If you cook dinner at 6pm (peak window on Midday Saver), the oven's 2.5–3.5kW draw at 55.33c/kWh costs 1.5–2c per minute. At solar noon (10am), the same draw is self-consumed at near-zero marginal cost.

Alternative: Air fryers and microwave convection ovens draw 1–1.5kW and cook faster. Using one instead of a full-size oven for small meals reduces the load during evening peak hours.

Heat pump hot water

Set your heat pump hot water timer to run from 10am–2pm. This is one of the highest-value solar load shifts because the heat pump draws 700W–1.2kW for 2–3 hours per day, and the timing is entirely configurable via the system's timer or a smart plug.

How to set it: Most heat pump hot water systems have a physical timer or app control. Set a "boost" window from 10am to 2pm, or configure the eco mode to run during daylight hours only. Some models have a "solar" or "economy" mode that runs only during specified hours.

If you have a solar diverter (Catch Power, iBoost), it handles this automatically — diverting surplus solar to the element as generation rises and falls.

Pool pump

Set your pool pump timer to run from 10am–2pm (4 hours) rather than overnight or early morning. This shifts 3kWh/day from grid electricity to solar self-consumption, saving approximately $1/day at A1 tariff.

A variable-speed pump (VSP) that runs 6–8 hours at lower power draws less total energy and can run through a broader solar window.

Automation options

Delay timers on appliances: Built into most modern washing machines and dishwashers. Free and effective.

Smart plugs (WiFi): Plug-in smart switches with scheduling (e.g., TP-Link Kasa, Meross, Shelly). Set appliances to turn on at 10am automatically. Cost: $25–$60 per plug.

Inverter integration: Some inverters (Sungrow, Fronius GEN24, Enphase) support smart switch outputs or IFTTT-style automation — turning on a relay when solar generation exceeds a threshold. Requires compatible accessories.

Home automation platforms: Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Home Assistant allow rule-based appliance control: "when solar generation is above 3kW, turn on the dishwasher." More complex to configure but maximises self-consumption responsively.

The bottom line

The simplest version of this: set your washing machine and dishwasher to run on delay-start, targeting completion around 11am. Set your pool pump timer to 10am–2pm. Move your heat pump hot water timer to daytime hours. These three changes cost nothing and can shift 3–5 kWh/day of consumption into the solar window, saving $350–$600/year at A1 tariff.

Appliance power draws are typical ranges — check your specific appliance nameplate or manual for exact specifications. Tariff rates effective 1 July 2026.