Midday Saver vs A1 — which Synergy tariff actually saves you money?

Most Perth households sit on the A1 flat rate because that's the default, not because anyone chose it. Plenty would do better on Midday Saver. A handful already on Midday Saver would do better back on A1. It all turns on one number: how much of your power do you use between 3pm and 9pm?

Below roughly 28.8%, Midday Saver wins. Above it, A1 is cheaper. That's the whole decision. Everything else is detail.

The rates (from 1 July 2026 — confirm at synergy.net.au for latest)

| Time period | A1 Home Plan | Midday Saver | |---|---|---| | Supply charge | ~$1.19/day | ~$1.33/day | | All hours (A1) | 33.26 c/kWh | — | | Super off-peak (9am–3pm) | — | 8.85 c/kWh | | Off-peak (9pm–9am) | — | 24.34 c/kWh | | Peak (3pm–9pm) | — | 55.33 c/kWh |

Look at the spread. Midday Saver's super off-peak is 73% cheaper than the A1 flat rate. But its peak is 66% dearer. The same kilowatt-hour costs you 8.9c at noon or 55.3c at 6pm. That's a 6.3-fold difference, and it's the lever the whole tariff turns on.

The break-even rule

Work out what share of your total grid use happens between 3pm and 9pm. Not sure? Your My Synergy usage data will tell you, or upload your bill to the Savings Planner and we'll read it for you.

• Under 20% peak usage: Midday Saver is the clear win. Switch.
• 20–28% peak usage: Midday Saver still comes out ahead, by a slimmer margin.
• Around 28.8% peak usage: break-even. The two plans cost about the same.
• Over 30% peak usage: A1 is cheaper. Stay where you are.

Solar households almost always land under 28%. Their panels cover the midday demand, so the power they still buy skews into the evening at a lower share. If you have solar, there's a good chance A1 is quietly costing you.

Who stays on A1, and who switches

Stay on A1 if you have no solar and your AC, cooking, and evening screens all land between 3pm and 9pm. Families with kids home through that window often run 35%+ peak usage, and for them A1 is simpler and cheaper.

Switch to Midday Saver if you have solar of any size, work from home, run a pool pump or hot water during the day, or have a battery. Retirees who are home in daylight hours with solar on the roof are the textbook Midday Saver household.

Worked savings, modelled

These are illustrative scenarios built on the published Synergy rates above, not figures from real customers. They show how the maths plays out for a household using 20 kWh a day. Your own number will differ.

Scenario A — evening-heavy household, no solar

• 5 kWh daytime, 15 kWh evening
• A1 cost: ~$6.16/day
• Midday Saver cost: ~$6.80/day
• A1 wins, by about $234/year

Scenario B — solar household, daytime use

• 10 kWh daytime (5 kWh in the midday window), 10 kWh evening, 6kW solar
• A1 cost: ~$6.16/day before solar self-consumption
• Midday Saver cost: ~$5.37/day
• Midday Saver wins, by about $288/year

Scenario C — solar plus battery

• 8 kWh midday at the cheap rate, 7 kWh from the battery in the evening, 5 kWh from the grid
• Midday Saver cost: ~$3.10/day
• Midday Saver with a battery wins, by about $1,100/year against A1 grid-only

How to switch

Moving between Synergy tariffs is free and there are a few ways to do it:

1. Online through your My Synergy account
2. By phone on Synergy's line, 13 13 53
3. Timing: a switch usually takes effect from your next meter read

No lock-in contract, no switching fee. You can run Midday Saver for a billing period and move back if it doesn't suit.

What BillWise works out for you

Upload your bill and BillWise calculates which tariff costs you less, using your actual usage rather than an average. The analysis weighs:

• your usage broken down by time of day
• your solar generation profile, if you have one
• the seasonal swing in your consumption
• what you'd save by shifting specific appliances

Calculate your optimal tariff now →

Getting more out of Midday Saver

Switched across? Here's how to push more of your usage into the 9am–3pm super off-peak window:

1. set timers on the washing machine and dryer for mid-morning
2. schedule the pool pump for the middle of the day
3. pre-cool the house before 3pm so the evening needs less AC
4. charge the EV during the day where you can, or overnight on a smart charger
5. run the dishwasher after lunch instead of after dinner
6. set the hot water to heat during solar hours (electric boosted)

Every kilowatt-hour you move from peak to super off-peak is worth about 45c, and that adds up quickly across a billing period.

Related reading

• How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill in WA — practical wins beyond tariff switching.
• Understanding Your Synergy Bill — a line-by-line look at what you're actually paying for.

Want to see exactly how much you'd save? Try the Tariff Planner → to model Midday Saver vs A1 with your actual usage pattern, or analyse your current bill → to see where your money is really going.