Synergy Time-of-Use Plans: Are They Worth It with Solar?

Synergy's Midday Saver plan charges very little for power in the middle of the day and a lot in the evening. Is it worth switching to if you have solar, or solar and a battery? This article compares it with the standard Home Plan (A1) using Synergy's rates as at 1 July 2026, with worked examples.

This article is part of our guide to Synergy Solar Feed-In Tariffs and Bills in Perth: The Complete Guide.

Understanding Synergy's Time-of-Use Plans in 2026

Synergy offers various residential electricity tariffs, with the standard Home Plan (A1) being the default for most households. Midday Saver is Synergy's main residential time-of-use plan, and the Electric Vehicle Add On is an option for EV owners. These plans are designed to encourage consumers to shift their electricity usage away from peak demand periods, often aligning with the abundant midday solar generation.

As of July 1, 2026, the Synergy Home Plan (A1) has a daily supply charge of 119.24 cents and a flat electricity charge of 33.2621 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) at all times. In contrast, the Midday Saver plan features a slightly higher daily supply charge (approximately 132.78 cents per day) but offers differentiated electricity rates:

• Super Off-Peak (9 am – 3 pm): Approximately 8.85 cents per kWh – the lowest rate, coinciding with peak solar generation.
• Peak (3 pm – 9 pm): Approximately 55.33 cents per kWh – the most expensive rate, when grid demand is highest.
• Off-Peak (9 pm – 9 am): Approximately 24.34 cents per kWh – a moderate rate for overnight consumption.

Midday Saver needs a compatible (advanced) meter, has no fixed term and can be cancelled with 5 days' notice. Synergy also offers an Electric Vehicle Add On for EV owners; check its current terms and rates on Synergy's website.

The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) and Your Solar Exports

Beyond your import tariff, how much you get paid for excess solar electricity exported back to the grid is equally important. Synergy's Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) replaced the flat-rate Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS) for new and upgraded systems in 2020 and pays by time of export. Rates effective 1 July 2025:

• 3pm to 9pm: 10 cents per kWh.
• All other times: 2 cents per kWh, which covers almost all midday solar exports.

These rates apply to the first 50 kWh exported each day, more than most homes export.

Synergy Time-of-Use Plans with Solar: A Detailed Analysis

For Perth homeowners with solar, the decision to switch to a Synergy Time-of-Use plan, particularly Midday Saver, hinges on their consumption patterns and whether they have battery storage.

Solar-Only Households: For a household with solar panels but no battery, the primary benefit comes from self-consumption. Every kWh of solar power used directly in the home avoids purchasing electricity from Synergy at the prevailing retail rate. On the Home Plan (A1), this saving is a flat 33.2621 cents per kWh.

With the Midday Saver plan, solar self-consumption during the Super Off-Peak window (9 am – 3 pm) avoids a grid purchase of approximately 8.85 cents per kWh. However, any grid imports during the Peak period (3 pm – 9 pm) will be charged at a much higher rate of approximately 55.33 cents per kWh.

• Pros for solar-only on Midday Saver: If a household can significantly shift energy-intensive activities (like running a dishwasher, washing machine, or pool pump) to the 9 am – 3 pm Super Off-Peak window, they can take advantage of the very low import rate. This helps to maximise the value of their solar self-consumption during this period.
• Cons for solar-only on Midday Saver: Without a battery, most solar generation occurs during the Super Off-Peak window. Excess solar exported before 3pm earns only 2 cents per kWh. More critically, if the household has unavoidable consumption during the 3 pm – 9 pm Peak period not covered by solar, they will pay a premium of approximately 55.33 cents per kWh. For many solar-only homes with typical evening energy use, the standard Home Plan (A1) might be a safer choice to avoid these high peak charges.

Solar with Battery Storage: This is where Synergy's time-of-use plans, particularly Midday Saver, can unlock significant savings. A battery allows homeowners to store excess solar generated during the Super Off-Peak period (when it would otherwise be exported for 2 cents per kWh under DEBS) and use it during the expensive Peak period (3 pm – 9 pm). This strategy avoids purchasing electricity from the grid at 55.33 cents per kWh during peak times.

• Maximising self-consumption and avoiding peak rates: A battery charged by solar during the day can power the home in the evening, drastically reducing or eliminating reliance on expensive grid electricity during the 3 pm – 9 pm Peak window. This effectively values your stored solar at the avoided peak import rate (approximately 55.33 cents per kWh), significantly higher than the DEBS export rate.
• Optimising DEBS earnings: With a smart battery system, any remaining excess solar after charging the battery and covering immediate household needs can be strategically exported during the 3 pm – 9 pm Peak DEBS window, earning 10 cents per kWh, five times the rate at other times. West-facing panels help here because they produce more in the late afternoon.

Illustrative Example for a Perth Home (Hypothetical Numbers):

A home uses 18 kWh a day: 8 kWh between 9am and 3pm, 6 kWh between 3pm and 9pm and 4 kWh overnight. It has 6.6 kW of solar. Usage charges only; the supply charge is about 13.5 cents a day higher on Midday Saver.

• Sunny day, no battery (solar makes 26 kWh, 18 kWh exported, mostly before 3pm): on A1 the 10 kWh bought after 3pm costs about $3.33; on Midday Saver the 6 kWh bought from 3pm to 9pm costs about $3.32 and the 4 kWh overnight about $0.97, so about $4.29. A1 is cheaper by about $1 a day.
• Sunny day, 10 kWh battery: the battery covers the 10 kWh used after 3pm on either plan, so almost nothing is bought from the grid. The plans cost about the same, and A1 is slightly cheaper because of its lower supply charge.
• Cloudy winter day, 10 kWh battery (solar makes 12 kWh): solar covers the 8 kWh daytime use and puts 4 kWh in the battery. On A1 the household buys about 6 kWh after 3pm at 33.26 cents, about $2.00. On Midday Saver it can top the battery up with 6 kWh from the grid before 3pm at 8.85 cents, about $0.53, and buy nothing in the evening. Midday Saver is cheaper by about $1.30 that day after the supply charge.

So with a battery, Midday Saver mostly pays off on the days solar cannot fill the battery, and when you use grid power in the middle of the day (for example charging an EV). Without a battery, A1 is usually the safer choice.

Financial Disclaimer: These examples are illustrative and use hypothetical numbers. Actual savings depend on individual household consumption, solar system size, battery capacity, specific tariff rates, and current DEBS rates. Compare the plans using your own meter data, which Synergy can provide.

Government Rebates and Support for Solar and Batteries (as of October 2026)

Investing in solar and battery storage in Perth is made more accessible through a combination of state and federal incentives:

1. WA Residential Battery Scheme: This state-based scheme, launched in July 2025, offers rebates to eligible homeowners who install an approved battery storage system. Synergy customers can get up to $1,300 (Horizon Power customers up to $3,800); the maximum is based on 10 kWh of usable capacity. You must sign up to a VPP product from your retailer, the battery must be on the retailer's supported list, and the installer must be accredited and on the Plenti Vendor Directory. It is paid until the 100,000 planned rebates are used, which the WA Government expects to last into 2027.

   • No-interest loans: households with combined income under $210,000 can get a no-interest loan of up to $10,000, repaid over up to 10 years, through Plenti.

2. Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program: Active since July 1, 2025, this federal program provides an upfront discount on eligible battery systems (5 kWh to 100 kWh usable capacity) through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). The discount is applied by your installer at the point of sale. For installs between 1 May and 31 December 2026 the factor is 6.8 STCs per usable kWh: the full rate up to 14 kWh, 60% from 14 to 28 kWh and 15% from 28 to 50 kWh.

   Rebates step down on 1 January 2027, when the factor falls to 5.7, and keep stepping down every six months. The program is not means-tested.

3. Stacking Rebates: Importantly, the WA Residential Battery Scheme can be combined with the Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. For a 10 kWh battery installed in 2026, a Synergy customer gets roughly $3,750 to $4,000 in total ($1,300 WA rebate plus 68 STCs, about $2,450 to $2,720, depending on the STC price).

These rebates significantly reduce the upfront cost of battery storage, making the financial case for pairing solar with a battery even more compelling for Synergy customers on time-of-use plans.

Western Power Grid Rules and Emergency Solar Management (ESM)

For any new or upgraded solar and battery systems in Perth's South West Interconnected System (SWIS), Western Power's grid rules and the WA Government's Emergency Solar Management (ESM) requirements are crucial considerations.

• New Connection Rules (from May 1, 2026): Western Australia introduced new solar and battery connection rules on May 1, 2026, allowing for up to 30 kVA of aggregate inverter capacity under a standard connection. This is a limit on installed capacity; how much you can export is set separately.
• Two options: new or upgraded systems must either:
  • Support remote disconnection and reconnection by your retailer (Synergy) in a grid emergency. The installer sets this up. All inverters must comply with AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 (Australia Region B); the rules do not specifically require CSIP-AUS.
  • Or be export-limited to 1.5 kW, regardless of system size. Under the WA Government's rules, exports from systems limited to 1.5 kW are not paid under DEBS.
• Emergency Solar Management (ESM): This "last resort" measure, in place for systems up to 5kVA since February 14, 2022, and for all new/upgraded systems up to 30 kVA from May 1, 2026, allows for the remote reduction or temporary shutdown of rooftop solar generation during extreme minimum demand events to maintain grid stability. Your home keeps its grid supply while the solar is turned down.

The Role of Your Installer

Your installer handles the Western Power application, sets up the export option and claims the federal STC discount for you. Installer accreditation is now issued by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), and products must be on the Clean Energy Council approved lists. For the WA battery rebate, the installer must also be on the Plenti Vendor Directory; Sun Direct Power is an approved Plenti vendor.

Is a Synergy Time-of-Use Plan Worth It with Solar?

For Perth homeowners considering solar in October 2026, a Synergy Time-of-Use plan, particularly Midday Saver, becomes significantly more valuable when paired with a battery storage system.

• Solar-only systems: Unless your household has exceptional flexibility to shift a large portion of its electricity consumption to the 9 am – 3 pm Super Off-Peak window, the high Peak rates on Midday Saver (55.33 cents per kWh) could outweigh the benefits of the lower Super Off-Peak rates, making the flat-rate Home Plan (A1) a more predictable and potentially more cost-effective option.
• Solar with battery systems: the battery covers the expensive 3pm to 9pm window on either plan. Midday Saver adds value on days your solar cannot fill the battery, because you can top it up at 8.85 cents before 3pm, and for any overnight use (24.34 cents instead of 33.26). If your battery is large enough to cover almost all your evening and overnight use year-round, the two plans end up close.

You can switch plans with 5 days' notice, so it is easy to try Midday Saver after a battery is installed and compare the bills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the main difference between Synergy's Home Plan (A1) and Midday Saver? A: Home Plan (A1) has a flat rate for electricity consumption 24/7, while Midday Saver has three different rates (Super Off-Peak, Off-Peak, and Peak) depending on the time of day.

Q: How do the WA and Federal battery rebates work together? A: The WA Residential Battery Scheme provides a state-specific rebate (e.g., up to $1,300 for Synergy customers on a 10 kWh battery) which can be combined with the Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program's discount (delivered through STCs). Together, these can significantly reduce the upfront cost of a battery system.

Q: Do I have to join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to get the WA battery rebate? A: Yes, participation in an eligible Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is a requirement to receive the WA Residential Battery Scheme rebate.

Q: What is Emergency Solar Management (ESM) and how will it affect my solar system? A: A last-resort measure that lets your retailer turn rooftop solar down or off during extreme low-demand events, when the Australian Energy Market Operator needs it, to keep the grid stable. It does not interrupt your household's power supply from the grid.

Q: What are the current DEBS feed-in tariff rates in Perth (October 2026)? A: Synergy's DEBS pays 10 cents per kWh for exports between 3pm and 9pm and 2 cents at all other times (rates effective 1 July 2025).

Take Control of Your Energy Future

Exploring Synergy's Time-of-Use plans with solar and battery storage represents a significant opportunity for Perth and WA homeowners to gain greater control over their electricity bills and environmental footprint. By understanding how these tariffs, alongside government rebates and Western Power's grid requirements, interact with your energy habits, you can make an informed decision tailored to your specific needs.

Sun Direct Power can size a solar and battery system from your meter data and show the result on both plans.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information as of October 2026. Electricity tariffs, government rebates, and grid regulations are subject to change. Always verify current information with Synergy, relevant government bodies (such as wa.gov.au and cer.gov.au). The cost estimates and savings discussed are illustrative and do not constitute financial advice.

Related Guides

Start with the full overview: Synergy Solar Feed-In Tariffs and Bills in Perth: The Complete Guide.

• How to Read Your Synergy Bill After Installing Solar
• Self-Consumption Tips: Using More of Your Own Solar in Perth