Run your washer and dryer early in the morning or at night to avoid the surge. During the winter, electricity demand is highest in the morning hours between 7 and 9 am when people are waking up and turning up their heat. Doing laundry in the evening is your safest bet.
Run your machines at night
Putting your washing in during the evening and setting the machine to run into the early hours of the morning could greatly reduce your electricity costs, as energy prices are lowest between 10pm and 5am.
The most expensive time for you to wash or dry your clothes is between 4pm and 7pm , so try to avoid using your machines between these hours.
Prices are higher during times of day when demand for electricity is generally higher and the cost is greater, called peak times. Monday through Friday 4 to 9 p.m. are the only hours that are higher-priced (peak). All other times are lower-priced (off-peak).
Run your washer and dryer early in the morning or at night to avoid the surge. During the winter, electricity demand is highest in the morning hours between 7 and 9 am when people are waking up and turning up their heat. Doing laundry in the evening is your safest bet.
It's cheaper at night, when demand for power is at its lowest. This quieter period is called the off-peak hours, which usually falls between 10pm and 8am. Conversely, peak hours are during the daytime, when more people are using electricity and demand is higher.
Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will save around 40% of the energy used each year.
Some people advise 30˚C, saying anything hotter will make towels stiff and scratchy or fade their colour. Others believe hotter temperatures between 40˚C and 75˚C are the only way to kill bacteria. We recommend washing coloured towels at 40˚C and white towels between 60˚C and 75˚C.
It is recommended that you wash your bedsheets in a hot wash, at least 60 degrees. The hotter that you wash your sheets, the more germs are removed meaning that your bedding will be properly clean and free of germs.
Does washing at 30 degrees kill bacteria? A 30ºC wash isn't hot enough to rid clothes of germs. According to the NHS, a minimum temperature of 60°C is required for preventing the spread of germs (and it should be paired with a bleach-based product for maximum effectiveness).
Australian Capital Territory Electricity Time Of Use Periods
All times referred to are in Australian Eastern Daylight Time. Peak = 7am-5pm weekdays, Off-Peak = 10pm-7am and all weekend, Shoulder = 5pm-10pm weekdays.
Evening & Weekend offers cheaper off-peak electricity in the evening and at weekends. This means energy you use during the day costs more than our standard rate, so it's great for people who are out during the day on weekdays.
The cheapest time to do laundry is during off-peak hours.
Avoid the seasonally specific peak hours shared above, as well as the hours between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., when people are getting home from work and using high-demand appliances.
Electricity prices are higher during peak demand hours and lower during off-peak hours. Peak times may vary by rate and/or energy provider but are generally defined as the hours between 4 to 9PM.
Tip #1: Do some laundry every day.
Instead of doing all the loads in one day, take 15-20 minutes each day to wash at least one load. Go about my normal daily routines, then dry the load and shake out the items and start the sorting process.
This phenomenon is commonly referred to as a “phantom load” or “vampire energy.” A phantom load is any electronic device or appliance that consumes electricity when turned off but still plugged into an outlet.
Power usage – Kettles
The average kettle is between 2 and 3 kilowatts (kw). The electricity that you use in your home is measures in kilowatt hours (kWh) which is the number of kilowatts used per hour. Most people will be charged per unit of electricity so you might be charged 12p per kwh used.
A few energy providers charge less for using electricity at certain times of day (or night). These off-peak hours tend to be quieter periods when power demand is at its lowest, for example between 10pm and 8am. The name for this type of charging approach is time of use tariffs.
Off-peak times will vary depending on your location and meter type, but typically are at night or weekends. Electricity used in busy peak times can place a strain on Australia's electricity networks.
Off-Peak period applies 10pm to 7am every day. Summer rates apply December to February inclusive. Winter rates apply at all other times.
Research from the American Society for Microbiology found that washing bed linens in 140°F for 10 to 13 minutes is ideal for destroying bacteria.
Towels should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric according to the care label. Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle.