How the free window works
Every day between 11am and 3pm your electricity costs are credited back to you – up to 8kWh in each of those four hours, so up to 32kWh a day. We call it your 4Free Period. See the free window credit calculation.
The middle of the day is the time to run the big jobs, charging an EV, the pool pump, hot water, washing and drying, so shift them into your 4Free Period and make the most of it.
Your evening feed-in tariff, by state
On top of your free hours, if you have solar and a battery you can earn a premium on the power you export in the evening. For exports between 5:30pm and 9:30pm (local time):
| State | First 15kWh exported (5:30–9:30pm) | After 15kWh (5:30-9:30pm) | All other times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Up to 17c/kWh | 2c/kWh | 0c/kWh |
| NSW, SA & SEQ | Up to 20c/kWh | 5c/kWh | 0c/kWh |
Estimate your 4Free bill
See what 4Free could mean for your home. Pop in your details and our bill estimator will show your expected costs.
Get an estimatePower costs outside the free window
Outside that free window, here’s what shapes your rate. If you use more energy when the wholesale price is cheap (typically in the middle of the day), we’ll pass on those money-saving benefits to you in the form of a rate reduction to your base rate. But if you used more energy when wholesale prices are high (like fossil-fuelled peak times – typically in the evenings), this could lead to a rate increase to your base rate for that month. We call this the Price Efficiency Adjustment.
So the move is simple: run the big jobs (hot water, washing, the pool pump, charging an EV or battery) in the middle of the day. You soak up your free hours, and the use that spills outside them lands when wholesale prices are typically cheaper too, which helps your rate for the whole month.
Included with every Flow Power Plan
Manage your energy in the app
See live wholesale prices, track your usage, view bills and manage your account in one place.
Smart energy tools included
A Flow Kit (VIC) or a smart meter upgrade (NSW, SA & south-east QLD) for real-time usage data, at no extra cost.
100% accredited GreenPower
Your usage is matched with local accredited renewable generation through GreenPower certificates.
Make your energy habits work for you
Shift more use to lower-price periods and your monthly rate can adjust to how you use energy.
No fees for switching
We manage the transfer and contact your current retailer. Their exit fees, if any, may still apply.
Simple refunds for your exports
Eligible export credits come back to you through an easy refund process in the app.
FAQs
Get up to 8kWh of electricity usage credited in each hour between 11am and 3pm local time, up to 32 kWh across the four-hour period. Each hour has its own 8kWh allowance and unused electricity does not carry into another hour.
Your electricity use is calculated under your plan using your base rate, including any applicable Price Efficiency Adjustment. We then apply a separate 4Free credit that offsets the effective energy usage cost of your eligible electricity used during the 4Free Period.
Your 4Free Period is a great time to tackle the jobs that use the most energy.
Instead of spreading them throughout the day, simply shift them between 11am and 3pm and make the most of your daily 4Free Period.
| Everyday activity | Approximate electricity use* |
| Charge your EV | 7-11kWh |
| Run the pool pump | 1-3kWh |
| Heat your hot water | 2-4kWh |
| Wash and dry clothes | 2-6kWh |
| Run the dishwasher | 1-2kWh |
| Keep the air con running | 1-3kWh per hour |
| Cook lunch | 2-3kWh |
| Work from home | Less than 1kWh |
*Indicative examples only. Actual electricity consumption depends on your appliances, settings and how they’re used.
Yes, subject to the 8kWh hourly limit. Usage above the limit, electricity used outside the 4Free Period and other applicable plan charges are not covered by the credit.
The Price Efficiency Adjustment (PEA) reflects when you use electricity during the billing period.
Using more electricity during lower-price periods may reduce your rate, while using more during higher-price periods may increase it.
No. 4Free is not a wholesale electricity plan, and the wholesale price shown in the Flow Power app is not the rate you are charged.
Your rates are set out in your energy price fact sheet. Wholesale prices help determine your Price Efficiency Adjustment, which reflects when you use electricity across the billing period. Using more electricity when wholesale prices are lower may improve your rate, while using more during higher-price periods may increase it.
The app displays wholesale prices to help you make informed choices about when to use flexible appliances, not because those prices are passed through.
Yes. All your electricity use, including electricity used between 11am and 3pm, contributes to the Price Efficiency Adjustment for your billing period.
The PEA can still influence the rest of your bill, but the 4Free credit offsets the usage cost of eligible electricity during the 4Free Period.
We calculate the effective rate for electricity used during the 4Free Period using your:
Base usage rate, plus or minus the Price Efficiency Adjustment (PEA) calculated for the 4Free Period (inclusive of the 8kWh consumption cap)
We then credit that effective rate for each eligible kWh. The PEA calculated for the 4Free Period will differ from the average PEA across your full billing period.
The separate free-period PEA calculation is used to determine the correct credit. It is not an additional charge.
Differences between the 4Free credit rate and the base rate can arise due to your Price Efficiency Adjustment during for the 4Free Period which can increase or decrease the effective price.
For example, if your base rate is 30c/kWh and your PEA during the 4Free Period is negative 8c/kWh:
30c – 8c = an effective rate of 22c/kWh
Your 4Free credit would be 22c for each eligible kWh.
Your bill will show your normal electricity usage charges and the Price Efficiency Adjustment calculated across the billing period.
A separate line item called ‘4Free Credit’ will then be applied for your eligible electricity use between 11am and 3pm.
The cents-per-kWh value of the credit may vary because it reflects your effective rate during the 4Free Period.
For exports between 5:30pm and 9:30pm local time:
Victoria
- First 15kWh: 17c/kWh
- Additional exports during the same period: 2c/kWh
NSW, SA and South East QLD
- First 15kWh: 20c/kWh
- Additional exports during the same period: 5c/kWh
Exports outside 5:30pm to 9:30pm earn 0c/kWh for all states.
If you are a current Flow Power customer and would like to switch to the 4Free plan you can request a plan switch through the Flow Power app in the profile section.
Got more questions? we’re here to help
Contact us via the live chat icon at the bottom right of your screen. Our specialists are available from 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday.
Please note, we cannot complete residential sign ups over the phone. To sign up click the sign up button at the top of the page and follow the prompts.