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Tesla Time-Based Control
Meet your Powerwall’s smartest feature. Time-Based Control learns your habits, tracks pricing, and saves you money—without you lifting a finger.
Written by
Dean Dunning
Published on
February 02, 2025
Let’s dive into something that could revolutionise your home energy management: Tesla Powerwall’s Time-Based Control feature. It’s a smart and efficient way to handle your energy usage, ensuring you save money while using energy more wisely.
What Is Time-Based Control?
It’s essentially your Powerwall acting as a smart energy manager. It charges when your electricity costs are low (off peak period) and powers your home when costs are high (peak period). This clever scheduling, based on changing electricity rates throughout the day, helps you cut down your energy bill.
How Does Time-Based Control Work?
Powerwall continuously runs an “energy forecast” by learning the patterns of your energy use. When there is not enough solar production and the forecast shows that you are likely to use energy at a high-cost time (peak period), your Powerwall will charge from the grid during a low-cost time (off-peak period) and discharge to cover your energy demand during that high-cost time.
For example, if it sees you lack enough charge for the morning peak period (before your solar starts producing), it will charge from the grid at night when rates are lower. This way, it can discharge during the morning peak, instead of you pulling from the grid, which saves you money.
Depending on your electricity retailer, your Powerwall will not only cover your home during peak periods using its stored cheaper power, it can also sell this stored cheaper power back to the grid when prices are higher. As an older example, Octopus used to offers 40 cents per kWh for export during peak periods over winter. Tesla’s Time-Based Control could then take advantage of this, charging itself when the cost to buy power was off peak 20 cents per kWh and discharging when the price to sell back into the grid was peak 40 cents per kWh.
Why You’ll Love It
Save More Money, With Less Work
We all love lower energy bills. Time-Based Control uses your stored energy at the best times, reducing grid reliance when prices peak. And it works automatically, so you don’t even have to think about it
Take Pressure Off The Grid
Peak times stress the grid, which can lead to blackouts. With your Powerwall stepping in, you save money and help reduce grid pressure. This ensures your home stays powered and lowers the risk of widespread outages for everyone.
Customisable For Your Power Plan
Tesla knows one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why you can tailor Time-Based Control to to match your retailer plan, getting the most out of your Powerwall.
Easy Set Up
Setting up Time-Based Control with your Tesla app is simple. Watch the video below for a clear explanation. If you need help or have questions, we’re just a call or email away.
Have questions about the Tesla Powerwall or its features? Contact us for help.
What Is Time-Based Control?
Let’s dive into something that could revolutionise your home energy management: Tesla Powerwall’s Time-Based Control feature. It’s a smart and efficient way to handle your energy usage, ensuring you save money while using energy more wisely.
It’s essentially your Powerwall acting as a smart energy manager. It charges when your electricity costs are low (off peak period) and powers your home when costs are high (peak period). This clever scheduling, based on changing electricity rates throughout the day, helps you cut down your energy bill.
How Does Time-Based Control Work?
Powerwall continuously runs an “energy forecast” by learning the patterns of your energy use. When there is not enough solar production and the forecast shows that you are likely to use energy at a high-cost time (peak period), your Powerwall will charge from the grid during a low-cost time (off-peak period) and discharge to cover your energy demand during that high-cost time.
For example, if it sees you lack enough charge for the morning peak period (before your solar starts producing), it will charge from the grid at night when rates are lower. This way, it can discharge during the morning peak, instead of you pulling from the grid, which saves you money.
Depending on your electricity retailer, your Powerwall will not only cover your home during peak periods using its stored cheaper power, it can also sell this stored cheaper power back to the grid when prices are higher. As an older example, Octopus used to offers 40 cents per kWh for export during peak periods over winter. Tesla’s Time-Based Control could then take advantage of this, charging itself when the cost to buy power was off peak 20 cents per kWh and discharging when the price to sell back into the grid was peak 40 cents per kWh.
Why You’ll Love Tome-Based Control
Save More Money, With Less Work
We all love lower energy bills. Time-Based Control uses your stored energy at the best times, reducing grid reliance when prices peak. And it works automatically, so you don’t even have to think about it.
Take Pressure Off The Grid
Peak times stress the grid, which can lead to blackouts. With your Powerwall stepping in, you save money and help reduce grid pressure. This ensures your home stays powered and lowers the risk of widespread outages for everyone.
Customisable For Your Power Plan
Tesla knows one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why you can tailor Time-Based Control to to match your retailer plan, getting the most out of your Powerwall.
Easy Set Up
Setting up Time-Based Control with your Tesla app is simple. Watch the video below for a clear explanation. If you need help or have questions, we’re just a call or email away.
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