Synergy Smart Home Plan vs Home Plan A1 for Perth Solar Owners 2026: Which Saves More?
TL;DR: Synergy’s Smart Home Plan is the better choice for almost any Perth household with a battery, an EV, or strong daytime solar generation — it lets you import cheaply off-peak and avoid expensive peak imports. Home Plan A1 (the standard flat tariff at around 30c/kWh anytime) is still the right choice for solar-only homes without batteries, retirees with low and consistent evening consumption, and households where most usage happens during the day. The crossover point is roughly 18–22 kWh/day with a battery: above it, Smart Home Plan typically saves $400–$900/year.
The two plans side by side
| Rate component | Home Plan A1 (2026) | Smart Home Plan (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Off-peak (9pm–7am) | ~30.0c/kWh (flat) | ~9.5c/kWh |
| Shoulder / day (7am–3pm) | ~30.0c/kWh (flat) | ~26.5c/kWh |
| Peak (3pm–9pm) | ~30.0c/kWh (flat) | ~57.0c/kWh |
| Supply charge | ~$1.13/day | ~$1.21/day |
| DEBS feed-in (off-peak) | 2.5c/kWh | 2.5c/kWh |
| DEBS feed-in (peak) | 10c/kWh | 10c/kWh |
The big idea: A1 charges the same price all day. Smart Home Plan rewards you for shifting load to overnight (off-peak), but punishes you sharply for unavoidable peak consumption (3pm–9pm).
Who saves on Smart Home Plan in Perth?
1. Solar + battery households
This is where Smart Home Plan wins biggest. The battery charges off-peak overnight at 9.5c/kWh OR from midday solar, then discharges during peak (3pm–9pm) when grid imports would cost 57c/kWh. A typical Perth home with 13.5 kWh battery shifts ~10 kWh/day from peak to off-peak/solar, saving (10 × 47.5c) ≈ $4.75/day or $1,730/year compared with A1 on the same consumption.
2. EV owners with home charging
An EV charging overnight on Smart Home Plan pays 9.5c/kWh — about a third of the A1 rate. A typical EV uses 8–12 kWh per night (60–80 km daily driving). Annual saving on Smart Home Plan vs A1: $540–$810, before considering solar at all.
3. Pool heat-pump households
Pool heat pumps run 6–8 hours daily and ideally during solar generation. On Smart Home Plan, if scheduling is off (e.g. pump runs evenings), the cost penalty is severe — but if you schedule the pump for midday solar, you pay nothing for the electricity. Net annual saving vs A1 (when scheduled correctly): $400–$700.
4. Work-from-home households with smart appliances
If most consumption happens during solar generation hours and the rest can be shifted off-peak (delayed dishwasher, overnight laundry, overnight HW), Smart Home Plan rewards you. Without a battery, savings vs A1 are modest ($150–$350/year); with a battery, savings jump to $1,000+/year.
Who stays on Home Plan A1?
1. Solar-only homes with low daytime usage
A retiree household using 12 kWh/day with most consumption between 5pm–10pm and no battery is the classic A1 case. On Smart Home Plan, all that evening consumption would be charged at 57c/kWh — about double A1’s flat rate. A1 saves $300–$600/year for this profile.
2. Households with no flexibility to shift load
If your peak consumption is unavoidable (medical equipment, shift work, infant household), Smart Home Plan’s 57c peak rate is punitive. A1 is the safer choice unless adding a battery is on the roadmap.
3. Mid-day generation, mid-day consumption
If you’re already self-consuming 60%+ of solar during the day with no battery (e.g. work-from-home with AC running on solar), the rates are similar enough that A1’s simplicity wins.
Worked example: 4-bed Joondalup home with 25 kWh/day
6.6 kW solar, 13.5 kWh Powerwall 3, 4-bed Joondalup family home.
Daily energy flows:
- Solar generates 26 kWh, household uses 8 kWh during daytime directly.
- Battery charges 10 kWh from midday solar surplus, discharges 10 kWh between 3pm–9pm.
- Net grid import: 6 kWh, mostly between 9pm–7am off-peak (battery covers peak).
- Net grid export (under DEBS): 8 kWh midday off-peak.
On A1: Imports cost 6 × 30c = $1.80/day. Exports earn 8 × 2.5c = $0.20/day. Net daily cost (excluding supply charge): $1.60. Annualised: $585.
On Smart Home Plan: Imports cost 6 × 9.5c = $0.57/day. Exports earn $0.20/day. Net daily cost: $0.37. Annualised: $135.
Smart Home Plan saves $450/year on this household, with battery + scheduling doing the heavy lifting.
How to switch plans
Switching between A1 and Smart Home Plan is free, takes about 5 business days, and can be done through your Synergy account. There’s no penalty for switching back. Synergy allows one plan change every 12 months under normal terms. Talk Energy advises every Perth battery customer on whether Smart Home Plan is worth it for their specific usage profile as part of every install.
Frequently asked questions
Is Synergy Smart Home Plan better with solar?
Only if you have a battery, an EV, or can shift major loads (pool pump, hot water) to off-peak or solar generation hours. Solar-only homes without batteries usually save more on Home Plan A1’s flat rate because their evening consumption is too expensive at Smart Home Plan’s peak rate.
How much can I save switching to Smart Home Plan with a battery?
A typical Perth home with 13.5 kWh battery saves $400–$900/year on Smart Home Plan vs Home Plan A1 by shifting evening consumption off the peak window. EV owners save an additional $540–$810/year on overnight charging.
Can I switch from A1 to Smart Home Plan and back?
Yes, Synergy allows plan changes once every 12 months at no penalty. The switch takes about 5 business days and can be done through your Synergy online account.
What is Smart Home Plan’s peak window?
3pm to 9pm daily, charged at approximately 57c/kWh in 2026. This is when grid demand is highest and Synergy’s wholesale costs are highest. Avoiding imports during this window is the key to saving on Smart Home Plan.
Should retirees switch to Smart Home Plan?
Usually not, unless there’s a battery in the household. Retirees often use most electricity in the evening (cooking, TV, AC) which is exactly when Smart Home Plan charges its highest rate. A1’s flat tariff is typically cheaper for this profile.
Want help choosing between Smart Home Plan and A1? Talk Energy models your specific Synergy data against both tariffs and quotes solar/battery accordingly. Get a free assessment or call (08) 9468 1212.
