Unlock cheaper electricity with off-peak rates
Shift your usage to off-peak times and save
Are you paying more for your electricity than you need to? With Bord Gáis Energy's smart price plans, you can take advantage of lower off-peak and night-time rates to significantly reduce your electricity bills, all while supporting a greener electricity grid.
Learn how to shift your electricity usage and power up your savings.
What are peak and off-peak rates?
Peak rates: These apply during the period of highest demand on the electricity grid, from 5 pm to 7 pm on weekdays. This is when most people tend to be at home cooking, watching TV, etc. With time-of-use tariffs they have a higher cost of electricity.
Off-peak rates: These are lower-cost rates available during times of lower demand, such as during the day and at night. Using electricity during these hours helps reduce strain on the grid and promotes cleaner energy use.
- Day rates: These are the lower rates that apply during day between 8am and 11pm, but exclude the peak hours of 5pm to 7pm.
- Night rates: These are the cheapest rates and apply during the late night and early morning hours (11pm-8am) when demand is at its lowest.
Easy ways to use energy during off-peak hours
Schedule appliances: Use timers or smart plugs to run your washing machine, dishwasher, and tumble dryer during off-peak and night hours.
Charge devices overnight: Charge your phones, tablets, and laptops overnight to take advantage of the cheaper night rate.
Pre-heat your home: Use your heating system to warm your home before peak hours begin, maintaining a comfortable temperature with less energy during peak times.
Batch cooking: Prepare larger meals during off-peak hours and reheat them during peak times to reduce oven usage during peak hours.
Want to learn more about home electrical appliances and how much energy they use? Check our home appliance costs page.
Insights on tracking and managing your energy usage
Understanding your energy habits is key to optimising savings. If you're on a smart plan with Bord Gáis Energy, you can view your electricity consumption in detail through your online account:
Half-hourly usage data: Track your electricity consumption in half-hourly intervals, with up to two years of data available for download.
Smart usage graphs: Analyse your daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly energy usage to identify trends and potential savings.
Grid view insights: View your consumption in a structured grid format, with clear labels for low or no usage.
Data availability: Smart usage data updates daily and reflects consumption since your last bill, including standing charges and VAT.
Set goals: Use your data to set achievable targets for reducing peak-time usage and increasing off-peak savings.
Learn more about how to view your smart electricity usage through your online account here.
Want to know more about your home electricity?
Check out our electricity hub for all you need to know to make the most of your electricity plan at home.
Home electricity hubSave on your bills by shifting usage to off-peak times
Moving some of your electricity use to off-peak hours can help lower your costs, especially if you're on a smart plan. The table below compares a flat rate plan and a standard smart plan (time of use tariff) to show the different electricity units rates charged depending on the time of day.
It assumes a typical household’s electricity consumption split across peak, day, and night hours, based on CRU data.
Unit rate comparison between a flat rate and time of use tariff:
Plan typePlan type | Peak usage (5pm - 7pm)Peak usage (5pm - 7pm) | Day usage (8am - 11pm excl. peak)Day usage (8am - 11pm excl. peak) | Night usage (11pm - 8am)Night usage (11pm - 8am) |
Plan typeSmart All Day electricity plan (Flat rate) | Peak usage (5pm - 7pm)36.65 cent | Day usage (8am - 11pm excl. peak)36.65 cent | Night usage (11pm - 8am)36.65 cent |
Plan typeStandard Smart Tariff electricity plan (Time of use) | Peak usage (5pm - 7pm)47.68 cent | Day usage (8am - 11pm excl. peak)39.16 cent | Night usage (11pm - 8am)28.91 cent |
Example: How shifting usage saves money
According to the CRU, a typical Irish household uses:
- 9% of electricity during peak hours (5 pm - 7 pm)
- 52% during the day (8 am - 5 pm & 7 pm - 11 pm, excluding peak)
- 39% at night (11 pm - 8 am)
By shifting electricity use from peak and day rates to cheaper night rates, you could save:
Shifting usageShifting usage | New peak usageNew peak usage | New day usageNew day usage | New night usageNew night usage | Estimated annual savingsEstimated annual savings |
Shifting usage10% shift (3% peak, 7% day) | New peak usage6% @ 47.68 cent | New day usage45% @ 39.16 cent | New night usage49% @ 28.91 cent | Estimated annual savings€83 |
Shifting usage20% shift (5% peak, 15% day) | New peak usage4% @ 47.68 cent | New day usage42% @ 39.16 cent | New night usage54% @ 28.91 cent | Estimated annual savings€112 |
Shifting usage30% shift (7% peak, 23% day) | New peak usage2% @ 47.68 cent | New day usage38% @ 39.16 cent | New night usage60% @ 28.91 cent | Estimated annual savings€145 |
Disclaimer: The rates shown are based on Bord Gáis Energy's Urban Standard Smart Tariff (without discount) and the Urban Smart All Day Tariff (without discount). Actual savings may vary depending on your electricity provider, plan, and individual usage patterns.
Explore smart plansShifting energy usage to weekends
Make the most of your weekends with plans designed to help you save:
With our special weekend unit rates, you can run electricity-intensive activities like laundry, cleaning, or cooking without breaking the bank.
How it works
These are Time of Use tariffs for customers who already have a smart meter installed. The time-of-use bands are:
- Day (8am to 11pm except Peak)
- Night (11pm to 8am)
- Peak (5pm to 7pm)
- Weekends (Friday 11pm to Monday 8am)
Each time band has its own price for electricity meaning you can choose to do more at off-peak times when it costs you less. With the weekend tariff discounts, you are charged a night rate all weekend. Your smart meter data will be collected half-hourly.
You can also choose whether you want to be billed monthly or bimonthly — and even pick the day of the month you're billed. You'll have access to up to 24 months of your historic half-hourly consumption data via your online account.
Terms and conditions for STOD Weekender Tariffs
View weekend discount plansOur Free Time smart plans give you the flexibility to choose a full day, either Saturday or Sunday, when you can enjoy free electricity during specific hours. This means you can power up your home at no cost during your chosen day’s free period.
How it works
Free Time Saturday or Free Time Sunday smart plans offer you a choice of free electricity between 9am and 5pm on either Saturdays or Sundays.
You can also choose whether you want to be billed monthly or bimonthly — and even pick the day of the month you're billed. You'll have access to up to 24 months of your historic half-hourly electricity consumption data via your online account.
Your smart meter data is collected in 30-minute intervals, and you’ll get detailed information on your energy usage. You can even use your online account to set spend goals, and you'll have access to up to 24 months of your historic half-hourly consumption data via your online account.
Please note, there is a fair usage cap on these plans.
Terms and conditions for Free Time Saturday or Free Time Sunday tariffs
View weekend discount plansEnergy saving tips for weekends:
- Run dishwashers, washing machines and dryers on Saturday or Sunday mornings to avoid weekday peak rates.
- Use weekends to batch cook meals and prepare for the week ahead, optimising your energy usage during discounted hours.
- Plan family movie or game nights on weekends to reduce evening peak-time usage.
By aligning your high-energy activities with weekend off-peak rates, you can enjoy significant savings while reducing strain on the grid.
View weekend plans
Get rewarded for using electricity at better times
Take control of your electricity use with ESB Networks' Is this a good time? programme, proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy.
Sign up for free to get personalised tips on the best times to run appliances like your dishwasher or washing machine. By using electricity outside peak times (5pm to 7pm), you can earn digital eGift cards worth €2–€3 – and help support a cleaner energy future.
Over 28,000 households have already joined.
Find out more
Find a smart plan for you
Switch to a smart plan
Save on your energy bills by shifting your usage to off-peak hours and reducing your consumption during peak hours. Help ease the load on the national grid while enjoying cheaper rates.
Weekend Discount
Save more when using your home appliances at off-peak hours and weekends with 32% off electricity on our Weekend Discount plan.
EV plans
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Smart All Day plans
Get started on smart with our Smart All Day plan. You’ll get a simple flat rate throughout the day, as well as half-hourly usage data on your online account.
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