How to Maximise Savings With Time of Use (ToU)

The best way to maximise savings with Tenaga Nasional Berhad's Time of Use (ToU) tariff is to move as much electricity use as practical into Off-Peak hours, especially energy-intensive activities such as washing clothes, heating water and using air conditioning.

Under TNB's current ToU structure, electricity is cheaper during Off-Peak periods and more expensive during Peak periods. On weekdays, Peak hours run from 2pm to 10pm, while Off-Peak hours run from 10pm to 2pm the following day. Saturdays, Sundays and 15 designated public holidays are Off-Peak for the entire day.

That means ToU savings depend less on simply using less electricity and more on when you use it.

Question	Quick answer
When are ToU Peak hours?	Monday to Friday, 2pm–10pm
When are Off-Peak hours?	Monday to Friday, 10pm–2pm, plus all day on weekends and designated public holidays
How do you save more with ToU?	Shift higher-consumption appliances into Off-Peak periods
Does ToU automatically make every bill cheaper?	No. Savings depend on your electricity usage pattern
What is the easiest place to start?	Move flexible activities such as laundry to mornings, late evenings or weekends

How does the Time of Use tariff save you money?

ToU charges different electricity rates depending on when electricity is consumed. The Off-Peak Energy Charge is lower because electricity demand is lower during those periods. Peak electricity costs more because demand is higher.

For domestic customers using up to 1,500 kWh a month, TNB's tariff schedule from 1 July 2025 sets the Energy Charge at:

• 28.52 sen/kWh during Peak periods
• 24.43 sen/kWh during Off-Peak periods

The Domestic General Tariff Energy Charge for the same consumption range is 27.03 sen/kWh.

This creates the central trade-off with ToU: Off-Peak electricity costs less than the General Tariff energy rate, but Peak electricity costs more.

In simple terms, ToU works best when enough of your electricity use can be shifted outside the 2pm-to-10pm weekday Peak window.

To put things in perspective, if you run your dryer for two hours during peak periods, it may cost an estimated RM1.14. Running that same cycle during off peak hours would be RM0.98. Do that eight times a month and you'll save RM1.28. Do that across appliances, and you may see a more tangible reduction in your electricity bill.

How much electricity should you shift to Off-Peak hours?

The greater the proportion of electricity you use during Off-Peak hours, the stronger the potential benefit from ToU.

Using the published domestic Energy Charge rates, a household using up to 1,500 kWh would need roughly 36% or more of its electricity consumption to fall in Off-Peak periods for its average ToU Energy Charge to be lower than the General Tariff Energy Charge.

This is a simplified comparison of the published Energy Charge rates rather than a prediction of your final bill. Your actual bill can also include other applicable tariff components, incentives, taxes and adjustments.

The practical lesson is more important than the precise percentage: do not switch to ToU on the assumption that it guarantees savings. Look at when your household actually consumes electricity first. TNB similarly advises customers to consider their usage pattern and ability to shift consumption before opting for ToU.

Which appliances should you move to Off-Peak hours?

Start with appliances that use relatively large amounts of electricity and whose operating times are easy to change.

TNB gives the example of shifting washing-machine, water-heater and air-conditioner use from the evening to the morning or late at night.

A practical household schedule could look like this:

Activity	Instead of	Consider
Washing clothes	Weekday evening	Morning, after 10pm or weekend
Tumble drying	Weekday evening	Morning or weekend
Dishwasher	After dinner	After 10pm
Electric water heating	Peak evening period where practical	Before 2pm or after 10pm
Other flexible high-use appliances	2pm–10pm weekdays	Off-Peak periods

There is no need to reorganise every small electrical task. Moving a few higher-consumption activities can matter more than worrying about low-power devices.

Why are weekends particularly useful for ToU savings?

Saturday and Sunday are Off-Peak for the full 24 hours, making weekends one of the easiest opportunities to shift flexible electricity use.

Households could use weekends for activities such as multiple laundry loads or other electricity-intensive jobs that would otherwise happen between 2pm and 10pm on a weekday.

The same full-day Off-Peak treatment applies on TNB's 15 designated public holidays. TNB lists these as New Year's Day, the first and second days of Chinese New Year, the first and second days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Labour Day, Wesak Day, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Awal Muharram, Independence Day, Malaysia Day, Maulidur Rasul, Deepavali, and Christmas Day.

This means maximising ToU savings does not necessarily require staying up late to run appliances. For many households, simply making greater use of mornings and weekends may be more practical.

Should you avoid using electricity completely from 2pm to 10pm?

No. The goal is to shift flexible consumption, not make your home unusable during Peak hours.

Lighting, refrigeration and other essential electricity use will naturally continue. Instead, look for electricity consumption that can be moved without significantly disrupting your routine.

For example, if laundry can be done at 11am instead of 7pm, moving it makes sense. If air conditioning is necessary during a hot evening, comfort and practical needs still matter.

ToU is designed to give customers flexibility to change their consumption pattern and take advantage of lower Off-Peak rates.

How can myTNB help you maximise ToU savings?

If your premises has a Smart Meter, the myTNB app can help you understand when and how much electricity you are using.

TNB says Smart Meter customers can use the app's Daily Usage View and Energy Budget functions to monitor electricity consumption and better manage electricity expenses.

Before and after switching to ToU, use that information to identify:

• which periods account for the most electricity use;
• whether much of your consumption occurs from 2pm to 10pm on weekdays;
• which appliances or routines could be moved;
• whether your overall electricity consumption is rising even as you shift its timing.

Monitoring is important because ToU does not reduce the number of kilowatt-hours an appliance consumes. It changes the rate applied according to when those kilowatt-hours are used.

Can energy efficiency increase your ToU savings further?

Yes. The strongest strategy is to combine better timing with lower overall electricity consumption.

TNB recommends measures including switching off appliances that are not being used, using LED lighting, choosing four- or five-star energy-efficient appliances and operating air conditioning at an efficient temperature of around 24°C.

These approaches address two different parts of your bill:

ToU changes when you consume electricity.

Energy efficiency reduces how much electricity you consume.

Using both strategies together gives households more control over electricity spending.

Domestic customers consuming 1,000 kWh or less per month may also qualify for the Energy Efficiency Incentive, with the amount depending on monthly consumption. Lower consumption can result in greater potential savings from the incentive.

Who is most likely to benefit from ToU?

ToU is likely to be more suitable for households that can keep a significant share of electricity use outside the weekday 2pm-to-10pm Peak period.

Examples may include households that can:

• do laundry in the morning;
• schedule flexible appliances after 10pm;
• carry out more energy-intensive household tasks on weekends;
• already have relatively low electricity demand during weekday evenings.

By contrast, a household whose highest consumption consistently happens between 2pm and 10pm and has little flexibility to change it should examine its usage pattern carefully before switching.

TNB specifically advises customers to check both their consumption pattern and their ability to shift usage into Off-Peak periods before choosing ToU.

How do you switch to the TNB ToU tariff?

Registered customers may apply to switch to ToU through the myTNB App or myTNB Portal, by email at the channel specified by TNB, or at a Kedai Tenaga.

Switching tariffs involves updating the electricity supply contract. TNB states that a RM10 Stamp Duty will be reflected in the following month's bill. TNB also states that 8% Service Tax applies when the billing period is fewer than 28 days following a tariff change, including a switch to ToU, because the new tariff takes effect once the required processes are completed.

Customers can also use TNB's Electricity Bill Calculator to estimate bills under both Domestic General and Domestic ToU tariffs before making a decision.

A simple ToU savings routine

To get more value from ToU, make the tariff part of your normal household routine rather than thinking about electricity prices every time you switch something on.

A simple approach is:

Before 2pm on weekdays: Complete flexible high-energy tasks where possible.

From 2pm to 10pm: Reduce or postpone non-essential high-consumption activities.

After 10pm: Run suitable appliances that can safely be operated later.

Weekends and designated public holidays: Take advantage of the full-day Off-Peak period for flexible household tasks.

Every month: Review your consumption through myTNB and check whether more usage can realistically be shifted.

The purpose is not to move every kilowatt-hour. It is to move enough flexible electricity consumption to make the lower Off-Peak rate work in your favour.

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Frequently asked questions about maximising ToU savings

Is electricity cheaper all night under TNB ToU?

Yes. Monday to Friday, the Off-Peak period runs from 10pm through to 2pm the following day. Peak pricing applies from 2pm to 10pm.

Is electricity Off-Peak all weekend?

Yes. Saturday and Sunday are Off-Peak for the entire 24 hours. TNB's 15 designated public holidays are also treated as Off-Peak for the full day.

Is ToU always cheaper than the General Tariff?

No. Whether you save depends on when you consume electricity. ToU has a lower Off-Peak Energy Charge but a higher Peak Energy Charge than the equivalent Domestic General Tariff rate.

Can I save with ToU without reducing my total electricity use?

Potentially, yes. Moving the same electricity consumption from Peak into Off-Peak periods can reduce the Energy Charge associated with that consumption. Reducing total consumption as well can produce additional savings.

What should I check before switching to ToU?

Look at your current electricity-use pattern, particularly between 2pm and 10pm on weekdays, and decide how much of that consumption can realistically be shifted. TNB recommends assessing your usage pattern and your ability to move consumption before opting into the tariff.

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Last updated: 6 October 2026

This article is sponsored by Tenaga Nasional Berhad.