A controlled load is a special way your energy provider might charge you for power, made especially for appliances that use a lot of power, but don't need to be turned on all the time. This can include heating systems, swimming pools, under-floor heating or irrigation systems.
By metering these systems separately from the rest of your property, your provider will typically pay a lower rate, and only supply power at certain times of the day or night. Exactly what appliances you can nominate for a controlled load tariff will depend on your provider and individual energy circumstances.
The controlled load tariff just refers to the price you are charged for any controlled loads on your property. Controlled load tariffs are available in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania
For devices on a controlled load tariff, this is how it works:
Traditionally controlled loads were turned on overnight, when the demand for electricity was lower. This is similar to what providers try to achieve with time of use tariffs - although supply-based prices can get very anti-consumer quickly (just ask anyone who's paid Uber surge pricing).
Anyway - these days, controlled loads are starting to be more common in the day as well, thanks to higher penetration of renewables in the grid, especially solar power. The exact times will depend on your location and power distributor.
The kinds of controlled load tariffs available will vary depending on where you are in Australia. In New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, customers can choose between 2 types of controlled load tariffs. Only 1 controlled load tariff is available in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Western Australia customers do not have a state-wide option, but some individual providers do have plans for water heating systems that provide cheaper power for separate circuits, like a controlled load tariff would.
Controlled load tariffs can also have different names, depending on the state you're in:
Some users in Tasmania may also still be charged under Tariff 61, an older controlled load tariff that kicks in during the afternoons, but the tariff is no longer available to new customers.
Your existing energy plan — particularly for those in NSW and Queensland — may already include you on a controlled load tariff. But if you're not sure, or you're about to install a device that you think may benefit from the cheaper power, it's always best to call and check.
It's also worth comparing your current energy plan to see if you can get a better deal on your controlled load tariff. Any major heating device — be it for your pool, living room or water — is a huge factor in your overall power bill, so use our comparison tool to make sure you're getting a good deal.
The main catch of a controlled load tariff is that the plans are designed to only provide power to the nominated circuits, or devices, for a small amount of time each day. There may also be an initial cost in changing your metering set-up to support a controlled load tariff, although the long-term benefits of cheaper power for that device are typically worth it.
While each retailer will have their own advantages and disadvantages, the main difference for those with access to multiple controlled load tariffs is time and money.
Controlled load 1 tariffs are usually cheaper, but will only provide power for a short period, typically in off-peak periods. Controlled load 2 tariffs are more flexible about their hours, but you pay a slightly higher rate. In the ACT, for instance, a controlled load night tariff will cost around 15.510¢/kWh for anywhere between 6–8 hours of energy usage between 11pm and 7am. The controlled load day and night tariff, meanwhile, will power the nominated circuit or device for 13 hours a day, from 10pm–7am, and from 9am–5pm for 18.282¢/kWh.
Keep in mind retailers may have different terminology for their controlled load tariffs, and that terminology will also vary depending on where you live.
| Tariff | Controlled Load 1/Tariff 31 | Controlled Load 2/Tariff 33 |
|---|---|---|
| Power available | A short stretch, usually overnight, e.g., 6 hours overnight on the Ausgrid network. | A longer period, usually split into night and day segments, e.g., 6 hours or more overnight plus 4 hours or more between 7am and 5pm on the Ausgrid network. |
| Usage rates | Significantly lower than general usage. | Slightly higher than Controlled Load 1. |
| Can it include separate supply charge? | Yes. | Yes. |
| Most useful for | Customers with large water tanks that can store heat all day. | Flexibility and customers with small water tanks that can benefit from heat during the day, too. |
Tariff 33 is the Queensland equivalent of a Controlled Load 2. It offers a longer minimum period over which electricity is available for your controlled load circuit, but charges higher usage rates than Tariff 31 (the equivalent of a Controlled Load 1 tariff).
If you're not on a controlled load tariff already, you should strongly consider it. Every house has at least 1 major heating device — typically your hot water — and the larger that appliance is, the more money you can save.
Exactly how much money you can save is down to several variables. Distribution networks and tariffs vary from state to state, and then there's your individual usage to consider. You can also get a better deal on your existing set-up simply by taking advantage of new customer discounts.
But controlled load tariffs might not be ideal depending on when you use your appliances. The cost of adjusting your metering set-up (along with hiring a potential electrician) might not be worth it for those who are renting, while instant or continuous flow hot water systems might be better suited to more flexible energy plans.
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