Is it cheaper to do laundry at night? Taiwan Power Company reveals the truth, you won't save money unless you apply for this plan

Many people consciously use their washing machines at night to save on electricity bills. However, Taiwan Power Company explains that most general households use 'non-time-of-use rates,' and the meter only accumulates the amount of electricity used, without distinguishing between morning, afternoon, or late-night. In other words, unless you apply for time-of-use rates, the way electricity bills are calculated per degree is the same regardless of the time of day you do laundry.

Most residential homes use non-time-of-use rates, and electricity bills are calculated based on total electricity consumption using progressive stages. The higher the usage, the higher the unit price for the excess. Additionally, the rates for summer months and non-summer months are different, but there is no distinction between peak and off-peak within a day.

Therefore, under the same conditions, doing laundry at 10 PM and at 2 AM will generate the same electricity bill if the washing machine consumes the same amount of electricity. Taiwan Power Company has previously clarified that general meters do not record which time period households use electricity, so the idea that 'using electricity at night is definitely cheaper' does not apply to most households.

It is important to note that 'summer electricity rates' are not the same as 'peak electricity rates.' Summer electricity rates are adjusted based on the season, and during the applicable period, the same stage method is used to calculate the rates regardless of day or night. Time-of-use rates, on the other hand, set different unit prices for different electricity usage periods within a day.

The rates that actually differ due to the time of electricity use are the 'simple time-of-use rates.' Taiwan Power Company's residential and commercial time-of-use rates are divided into two-tier and three-tier schemes. The two-tier scheme distinguishes between peak and off-peak, while the three-tier scheme adds the half-peak period. In principle, the unit price is highest during peak periods and lowest during off-peak periods.

After adopting time-of-use rates, if you can move the electricity demand for washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, storage-type electric water heaters, or electric vehicle charging to off-peak periods, you may have the opportunity to reduce overall electricity bills. Conversely, if the main electricity usage in your home is still concentrated during peak periods, switching to time-of-use rates may not necessarily be more cost-effective.

Taiwan Power Company explains that time-of-use rates are more suitable for households with high electricity usage, those who can shift some of their electricity usage to off-peak periods, or those who maintain stable electricity usage for long periods. Simply switching to time-of-use rates does not guarantee that every bill will be cheaper.

Taiwan Power Company's updated explanation in May 2026 states that residential households with monthly electricity usage exceeding 800 degrees, small shops with monthly usage exceeding 1600 degrees, or those whose electricity usage is mainly concentrated during off-peak periods can first use Taiwan Power Company's 'time-of-use rate estimation tool' to compare different plans by entering their electricity usage situation, rather than directly changing the billing method.

Users can apply to change their non-time-of-use meter to a simple time-of-use rate. Taiwan Power Company will replace it with an electronic meter that can record electricity usage at different times. However, time-of-use rates are calculated on an annual cycle, and the billing method cannot be changed within one year after selection. Therefore, it is best to confirm your household's actual electricity usage habits before applying.

For households that have not applied for time-of-use rates, instead of deliberately waiting until late at night to do laundry, a more direct way to save electricity is to reduce the actual electricity consumption of the washing machine. For example, accumulate enough clothes to wash at once, choose the appropriate water level based on the number of clothes, and avoid overfilling the washing machine.

After washing clothes, you can also prioritize using natural ventilation and sunlight to dry them, reducing the use of dryers. Taiwan Power Company suggests that the spin time of the washing machine does not need to be set too long. Appropriately shortening the spin time can also reduce unnecessary electricity consumption.

In short, doing laundry at night is not necessarily cheaper. For general households using non-time-of-use rates, the billing logic is the same regardless of the time of day. Only by applying for simple time-of-use rates and moving electricity usage to off-peak periods can you truly enjoy lower rates. To reduce electricity bills, in addition to choosing the right billing plan, it is more important to reduce the total electricity consumption.