When is the best time to use your dishwasher?

We all enjoy making a saving, especially when it comes to our energy bills. But did you know that you could potentially cut your energy costs just by changing when you run your dishwasher? The key to using this useful hack is all about understanding off-peak hours.

Understanding off-peak electricity hours.

To start, you'll need to understand when off-peak electricity hours start and finish. Have you ever wondered why your energy bill changes depending on the time of day? Well, it's down to demand.

Peak energy hours.

You could think of it like rush hour traffic. Everyone is on the roads during weekday mornings and evenings, so everything's slow and busy. And it's the same with electricity.

Off-peak energy hours.

At off-peak times, typically at night, when most of us sleep, demand drops. To encourage people to use electricity during these quieter periods, energy companies, like us, sometimes offer cheaper rates.

Smart tariffs.

You can access these cheaper, off-peak energy rates through what are called 'time of use' tariffs. These smart tariffs reward you for shifting your energy-hungry tasks to off-peak times.

How to find out your off-peak dishwasher hours.

The exact times for off-peak hours vary from energy supplier to energy supplier. However, they're usually a set period of seven to 10 hours, often overnight between 10pm and 8am.

For example, our Next Smart Saver tariff gives you the option to use electricity at a lower price during 'off-peak' hours of 5am to 4pm and 7pm to 2am, and during 'super off-peak' hours of 2am to 5am. Find out more about our Next Smart Saver tariff.

Graph shows peak, off-peak, and super off-peak hours for the Next Smart Saver tariff.

If you're not with us, the way to find out your specific off-peak times is by contacting your energy provider or logging into their app.

The smart meter connection.

Using a smart meter can make this even easier.

What are the benefits of avoiding the dishwasher energy peak?

Using your dishwasher during off-peak hours isn't just about saving money. It could also be beneficial for the environment and the national grid.

Could reduce your energy bills.

This one grabs everyone's attention! Along with washing machines and tumble dryers, dishwashers account for 14% of a typical energy bill.1

Helps you make greener choices.

As the UK relies more and more on renewable energy sources like wind and solar, off-peak electricity often has a lower carbon footprint.

Top tips for optimising your dishwasher use.

Moving to a time of use tariff is a great start! However, you could maximise your savings with these money saving tips.

Only run full loads.

This simple solution makes a big difference.

Use eco settings or lower temperature washes.

Most of your dishwasher's energy is used to heat the water. Using a lower temperature or a dedicated eco setting could save a considerable amount of energy. You could save around 30% in annual running costs by switching to the eco setting on your machine.2

More energy saving tips for your home.

Making small changes can lead to big savings. By something as simple as changing when you run your dishwasher, you can avoid the energy peak. It's a smart, easy way to save money, ease demand on the grid, and be a little kinder to the planet.

Once you've mastered off-peak dishwasher hours, why not explore other ways you could make your home more energy efficient?

• 1. Top five energy consuming home appliances (Energy Saving Trust, 2022)
• 2. Eco vs quick wash – which dishwasher program is cheapest and best? (Andrew Laughlin, Which?, 2024)