Pull out an older Queensland power bill and you'll often see a few numbers that mean nothing to most people: tariff 11 on the main usage line, and tariff 31 or 33 on a second line for the hot water. Add solar, a smart meter and a battery, and the list of options gets longer, not shorter.
Tariff 33 is an Energex "economy" controlled-load tariff: appliances such as a hot water system or pool pump are wired to a separate circuit and supplied for at least 16 hours a day, usually outside 4pm to 9pm, at a cheaper rate than your main tariff. Tariff 31 ("super economy") supplies at least 8 hours a day, around 10pm to 7am. Tariff 11 is the old name for the flat-rate main tariff, where you pay the same price at any time of day. With solar, the right combination depends on when you use power, whether you have a battery, and what your retailer offers. Your retailer sets the actual prices, so compare plans using your own bill data.
Network tariff names, codes and time windows below are from Energex's published information for 2026–27. Energex sets the network structure; your retailer sets the price and may use different names.
What is tariff 11?
Tariff 11 is the flat-rate primary tariff: one price per kWh, all day, every day. Energex describes the flat-rate tariff as "sometimes referred to as Tariff 11", noting that retailers often use different names (Energex).
Every home has a primary tariff. It's the one your lights, power points and most appliances run on.
The important change is underneath. At network level, Energex's flat residential tariff is now only for customers with an older basic meter. Once a smart meter is installed, the network tariff applied to that home can no longer be the flat one, and it can't go back. A new solar installation is one of the triggers for a smart meter.
That doesn't mean you lose a flat retail plan. Energex says retailers will continue to offer flat-rate retail tariffs regardless of meter type, and that since late 2024 retailers need your explicit informed consent before changing your tariff in the first two years after a smart meter is installed. When they propose a change, they must offer a flat-rate option. So with solar, you can usually still choose a flat plan. Whether you should is the question.
What is tariff 31?
Tariff 31 is a controlled-load tariff. Energex's name for it is Volume Controlled Night, and retailers may call it Super Economy, Night Rate, Tariff 31 or Controlled Load 1 (CL1). Supply is available for 8+ hours, around 10pm to 7am, though Energex can change the times to suit the network (Energex).
It's typically used for a large electric storage hot water system that heats overnight and holds enough hot water for the next day.
What is tariff 33?
Tariff 33 is the other controlled-load tariff. Energex calls it Volume Controlled; retailers may call it Economy, Tariff 33 or Controlled Load 2 (CL2). Supply is available for 16+ hours, usually outside 4pm to 9pm (Energex).
Because supply is available for longer, tariff 33 suits pool pumps and hot water systems that need topping up more than once a day. Energex says air conditioners and EV chargers can also go on an economy tariff, with conditions (more on air conditioning below).
Two details people miss about both controlled-load tariffs:
- They need a dedicated circuit back to the meter (pool pumps are the exception Energex mentions), and a separate meter may be needed. Moving an appliance on or off a controlled load is a job for a licensed electrician.
- Energex controls the timing. Energex says it has been shifting economy tariff timing toward "solar soaking" of rooftop generation, so supply is typically interrupted during the morning peak and resumed in the middle of the day. If you've put a timer on an appliance, it may need updating.
How much is tariff 33?
There's no single answer, because your retailer sets the price, not Energex, and it varies by retailer and plan. What's consistent is that controlled-load rates are cheaper per kWh than your main tariff, in exchange for supply only being available at certain times.
To find your tariff 33 price, look for a separate line on your bill labelled Economy, Tariff 33, Controlled Load 2 or similar. To compare it across retailers, use the government's free comparison site Energy Made Easy with your own usage.
Time-of-use and demand tariffs in South East Queensland
Beyond the old numbers, there are newer primary tariffs. Energex's residential network tariffs from 1 July 2026 are (Energex):
| Network tariff | Structure | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Flat (NTC8400), the "tariff 11" type | One price at any time | Basic meters only |
| Residential Time of Use Energy (NTC6900) | Peak 4pm to 9pm, off-peak 11am to 4pm, shoulder 9pm to 11am | The default network tariff for smart meters |
| Residential TOU Demand and Energy (NTC3900) | The same time windows, plus a monthly demand charge on your highest half-hour demand between 4pm and 9pm | Optional, smart meters |
| Economy (NTC9100), "tariff 33" | Controlled load, supply at least 16 hours a day | Secondary tariff with any primary tariff |
| Super Economy (NTC9000), "tariff 31" | Controlled load, supply at least 8 hours a day | Secondary tariff with any primary tariff |
Remember the layering. These are network tariffs your retailer pays. Your retail plan can look different: a retailer can put a smart-meter home on a flat retail price even though the network charges it time-of-use.
One useful detail from Energex: electricity used on an economy tariff in most cases doesn't count toward demand charges on your main tariff, even if it's used during the 4pm to 9pm window. Check how your retailer applies it.
The Solar Sharer Offer
From 1 July 2026, retailers with more than 1,000 customers must offer the Solar Sharer Offer in South East Queensland. It gives eligible households three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, 11am to 2pm in SEQ, up to 24 kWh a day (energy.gov.au). You need a smart meter, it's optional, it isn't available in embedded networks, and you don't need solar to sign up. You still pay the supply charge and for power used outside the free window.
How solar changes which tariff wins
Here's the key idea. Solar covers your daytime use. What you buy from the grid is mostly evening and overnight power. So the tariff that suits you depends on how expensive it makes those hours.
- Solar, no battery, heavy evening use. On a time-of-use plan, most of what you buy falls in the 4pm to 9pm peak. That can make time-of-use worse than flat for a solar home that cooks, cools and does the washing in the evening. Shift what you can into the day, and compare flat against time-of-use with your own data.
- Solar, no battery, flexible household. If you can run the dishwasher, washing, pool pump and air conditioning in the middle of the day, time-of-use can work well, because the off-peak window lines up with your solar anyway.
- Solar and a battery. The battery covers most of the 4pm to 9pm peak, so the expensive peak rate applies to far fewer kWh. That's when time-of-use, or a demand tariff for disciplined households, tends to come out ahead.
- No solar. The Solar Sharer Offer and time-of-use plans give you a way to use cheap or free midday power. A battery charged during that window is a separate calculation; our guide to a home battery without solar panels covers it.
| Household | Often worth comparing first |
|---|---|
| Solar, no battery, most use after 5pm | Flat, against time-of-use, using your own data |
| Solar, no battery, home during the day | Time-of-use |
| Solar and battery | Time-of-use; demand if you can keep evening peaks low |
| Little solar, can shift use to midday | Solar Sharer Offer, against time-of-use |
| Large pool or storage hot water | Keep a controlled-load tariff in the comparison |
Those are starting points, not answers. The only reliable answer comes from your own interval data and real plan prices.
Should you keep tariff 33 for hot water if you have solar?
This is the most common tariff question on solar homes, and it depends.
The case for keeping it: the controlled-load rate is cheaper per kWh than your main tariff, and Energex has been moving controlled-load timing toward the middle of the day, which overlaps with your solar.
The case for moving the hot water to your main tariff on a solar timer: you then control when it heats. Heating in the middle of the day uses your own solar, which is worth more to you than the small credit you'd get for exporting it. Feed-in tariffs on the Sunshine Coast commonly sit around 3 to 12c per kWh as at August 2026, so self-consuming that power is usually the better use of it.
Which wins depends on your controlled-load rate, your feed-in rate, the size of your solar system and how much hot water you use. Moving circuits needs an electrician, and if it's the only appliance on the economy tariff, Energex says the electrician should lodge a request to remove the load control hardware. Run the numbers before you pay for the change.
Can you put your air conditioner on tariff 33?
Energex says yes, but warns that in high-demand periods, usually summer, supply to air conditioners on an economy tariff may be interrupted for a couple of hours, typically sometime between 5pm and 8pm. If you rely heavily on air conditioning, it may not suit you (Energex). With solar, pre-cooling in the afternoon on your main tariff is usually the better approach. Our guide to solar for air conditioning explains how.
How to choose the right tariff with solar
- Get twelve months of interval data from your retailer or smart meter portal, so summer and winter both show up.
- Note your exports and imports by time of day, especially what you buy between 4pm and 9pm.
- Ask your retailer which primary and controlled-load tariffs are available at your address.
- Compare whole plans on Energy Made Easy, including supply charges and the feed-in tariff, not just one rate.
- Re-check after any change: a battery, an EV, a pool, or a new solar system.
The feed-in tariff is part of the same comparison; our guide to the solar feed-in tariff on the Sunshine Coast covers how to weigh it. If your bill still doesn't make sense after all that, see why your electricity bill is high with solar. And if the evening peak is what's costing you, our solar battery installation page shows what storage would look like on your home.
Frequently asked questions
What is tariff 33?
Tariff 33 is an Energex controlled-load ("economy") tariff for appliances such as hot water systems and pool pumps on a separate circuit. Supply is available for at least 16 hours a day, usually outside 4pm to 9pm, at a cheaper rate than your main tariff. Retailers may call it Economy or Controlled Load 2.
How much is tariff 33?
Your retailer sets the price, so it varies by retailer and plan. It's cheaper per kWh than your main tariff because supply is only available at certain times. Check the separate controlled-load line on your bill, and compare plans on Energy Made Easy.
What is the difference between tariff 31 and tariff 33?
Both are controlled-load tariffs for appliances on a dedicated circuit. Tariff 31 (super economy) supplies power for at least 8 hours a day, around 10pm to 7am. Tariff 33 (economy) supplies power for at least 16 hours a day, usually outside 4pm to 9pm. Tariff 33 suits appliances that need power more often.
Is tariff 11 still available in Queensland?
At network level, Energex's flat residential tariff is only for homes with an older basic meter. But retailers can still offer flat-rate retail plans to smart-meter customers, and when proposing a tariff change they must offer a flat option. Ask your retailer what's available at your address.
Is a time-of-use tariff better with solar in Queensland?
It depends on when you use power. Time-of-use tends to suit solar homes with a battery, or households that can run big loads in the middle of the day. Solar homes with heavy evening use and no battery can be better off on a flat plan. Compare both using your own interval data.
Does solar work with a controlled-load tariff?
Yes. In a typical setup, solar offsets usage on your main tariff, while the controlled-load circuit is metered and billed separately. Some solar households move their hot water to the main tariff on a timer so it heats from their own solar instead. Whether that saves money depends on your rates.
