20 Ways to Use Free Hours of Power

Several New Zealand power companies are using hours of free power to entice people to switch their electricity to one of their plans. Other companies have off-peak rates. This sounds fantastic - but don’t rush into the first plan you see.

• First up - work out what off-peak plan is best for your current usage. Read my “Best Off-Peak/Night/Free Power Plans” article.
• Then be realistic about how much power you can “shift” to the free or off-peak period. I say choose a plan based on your current patterns of use - anything you switch is a bonus.

If your plan has free hours of power, read on for 20 ways you can exploit free electricity .

Lower Power Bills for what you already Do.

1. Get your Laundry Washed
Obvious I guess. And this is where your delayed start/finish function on your washer can come into its own if you’re on a free or low overnight rate. Front load washer cycles can go for longer than an hour so plan accordingly.
2. Run your Dishwasher
Yep this is the next most obvious. Again some dishwashers have delayed start to make it easier and some cycles take more than an hour.
3. Showering
If you’re on electric water heating this is obvious #3. If it’s an isolated hour, get your showering done as early in the hour as possible so the full hour is spent heating the water.
4. Cooking dinner
Peak electricity rates always apply 5-9pm Monday to Friday. If you’re home during the day you can cook dinner early which limits power cost for rewarming. Whether working or at home a slow cooker can work during the off-peak rates or consecutive free hours. Often residual heat in the element, oven or slow cooker can keep meals warm through to dinner time.
5. Baking
Electric ovens can use alot of power so doing any baking during your free hours is a real saving. And as an added tip, there are quite a few baking mixes available that are super simple and are often cheaper than bought baked items. I’ve dug out my bread maker again too - the pack of bread mix makes 3 loaves for around $6.50 and free power to bake.
6. Charge power banks & devices
They don’t use alot of power but every little bit counts. Plug in all your phones, tablets, bluetooth speakers, etc.
7. Vacuuming
Other than laundry and cooking/baking, vacuuming is the chore that uses power most. Maybe no power cost will make you feel a little better doing it.
8. Microwave Defrosting food
If you like me are often defrosting meat or meals for the same day’s dinner - get it done during your free hours. Or better yet - try to plan ahead and let it defrost in the fridge which avoids the power use, reduces fridge power (a little) as it defrosts and avoids the risk of having partly cooked edges.
9. Dehumidify rooms
If you’ve got free sequential hours, this is a great time to run your dehumidifier as they can be a bit power hungry. If you don’t own a dehumidifier - perhaps loan one occassionally to really dry out rooms.

Convenience at No Extra Cost

9. Clothes Drying
Some people are reluctant to ever use their clothes dryer, but for rainy days or no-cost convenience this is a great way to use your free power.

10. Cooking ahead
While you’re using your free power to cook dinner, why not cook multiple meals at once and have a reheat night the next day or at some later date by freezing the extra. This is particularly useful if you’ve only got free weekends power but can also be an option for cooking tomorrows dinner in the free hours later in the evening.

11. Wake warm
If you have an off-peak rate, you may be able to set your heat pump/heater to turn on in the last off-peak hour of the morning - usually 6-7am. This way you’ll wake to a warm room on icy winter mornings.
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12. Go to sleep cool
I’m writing this in winter, but in summer being able to run your air conditioner as you go to bed for an hour or so helps getting to sleep. Once deep asleep the progressively warming room is less noticeable. Even one free hour is enough to really chill a bedroom.

Planned Maintenance with Free Power

12. Refill/Reheat your spa
If you're lucky enough to have a spa, heating the water after a scheduled refilling is quite a big cost.  Plan to have the major reheating of water occur with as many Free Power Hours as you can.  This should perhaps also be a consideration in which plan you choose.  A spa reheats at roughly 2 degrees per hour, so it needs at least 7 hours to bring hose water up to temperature.

13. Electric Power Tools
Weekend free power is great for doing all your garden chores that use electric power tools.  Electric lawn mowing, outdoor blower/vacs and hedge trimmers.  If they're electric battery - charge them up during your free power hours.

14. Pyrolytic Oven Cleaning cycles
I wish I had one of these pyrolytic ovens!  They use extreme heat, protected by quadruple glazing, to incinerate the grime off the sides of your oven.  Power hungry - this is the perfect chore to do for free for a spotless oven. 

15. Steam Clean Carpet
Use your free hours of power to freshen your carpets and upholstery on a regular basis, knowing it won't cost a cent for electricity.

16. A Hot Laundry Service Rinse
Running a hot wash (over 60 degrees) through your washing machine without detergent is a good idea every few months as a service wash to kill mould and breakdown any laundry deposits that have built up.

Create a Healthier Home

17. Pre-heat your rooms for the evening/night
If your free hour of power is later at night or just before 5pm, use the opportunity to warm the house.  We typically don't have our heating on overnight but it's always a good idea to keep children's bedrooms above 18 degrees to support their respiratory system.
18. Wash throw rugs, mattress protectors cushion covers
Dust mites love soft furnishings - so use your free hours of power to do extra cleaning more regularly for a healthier home.
19.  Borrow a Dehumidifier if you don't have one
If you don't have a dehumidifier, see if you can borrow one from a friend.  With weekend Free Power it's a great opportunity to give a deep dehumidification to a couple of bedrooms. 
20.  Do a Hot Laundry Wash for Bedding  
The heat of a hot wash or a clothes dryer is perfect for killing dust mites in bedding.  Equally the occasional drying of sheets and mattress protectors in the dryer will also do the trick.

And maybe 21? Home Battery Top Up

Yes I have heard of people with solar systems and battery storage who have used the free hours of power at night time to top up their battery system.  This means they have more power stored to reduce the amount they need to purchase from the grid.  Terms & Conditions of the individual power plan may impact on the ability to do this but if it works ... it's a real winner.

Have we missed something?  Add your ideas in the comments.