Using your Powerwall with an off-peak tariff

If your energy supplier charges different prices at different times of day, your Powerwall can work around them for you. Tesla calls this Savings mode. It used to be known as Time-Based Control.

How it works

In Savings mode, the Powerwall stores energy when it's cheap and uses it when it's expensive. It learns how your household uses energy and looks at the weather forecast to predict your solar. It then decides when to charge and discharge.

Setting it up

1. Open the Tesla app and tap Settings.
2. Open the Powerwall menu.
3. Under Operational Mode, choose Savings.
4. Open the Utility Rate Plan card and enter your tariff. Add the times and prices for your off-peak, peak and any in-between periods.
5. Set the Backup Reserve slider to the level you want kept aside for power cuts.

What to expect

• For roughly the first week, the Powerwall is still learning your patterns, so results may vary.
• The Powerwall may sometimes sit idle. This is normal while it waits for the best time to use its energy.
• Charging from the grid isn't available with every supplier or set-up. Check the options shown in your Settings.

Checking it's working

Use the Energy tab in the Tesla app to see how your Powerwall charged and discharged. You can view it by day, month, year or lifetime.

If you'd prefer to use as much of your own solar as possible rather than trading on price, Self-Powered mode may suit you better.