Want to make the most of your Tesla battery? In this article, we’ll go through how to set up and manage smart charging from the grid.
This article outlines how our customers use Tesla’s time-based settings to charge during off-peak hours.
Disclaimer: Please make your own decisions about what is right for you, your home, and your system when managing your home battery charging preferences and your retailer.
How Do I Charge My Battery From the Grid?
With certain energy retailers, you can take advantage of daily free windows that offer to charge your home battery from the grid. This enables you to use your Tesla battery’s full capacity for 365 days a year, regardless of the weather. It’s a smart back-up plan that takes advantage of free power.
How To Do This With Your Tesla Battery
These instructions are for those with a Tesla Powerwall 2 or 3 battery.
Tesla’s grid charging is more intelligent than most brands. It doesn’t blindly charge to 100% during a set time; instead, it uses an algorithm designed for cost-efficiency and battery health, not maximum capacity.
You can turn on grid charging by enabling an optional setting called “ Time-Based Control”.
How Does Tesla’s Time-Based Control Work?
Tesla’s Time-Based Control is an optional advanced feature designed to optimise your Tesla battery’s performance and the most cost-effective outcome for you.
It takes into consideration a variety of factors such as:
- Historic data
- The weather forecast
- How full the Tesla battery is
- Ability to reach a full charge
- How much you get for sending energy back to the grid
Example 1: Forecasting adjustments
If the system forecasts lower-than-anticipated energy demand for the next day (e.g., due to mild weather reducing AC use or you being away from home), it may charge to only 70-90% State of Charge (SoC). Or, if it anticipates the battery will reach 100% from solar, it won’t blindly charge from the grid while power is free.
Example 2: Higher-than-expected demand
Suppose off-peak is overnight, and the forecast predicts low load (e.g., 5 kWh needed) but high solar (e.g., 10 kWh). The Tesla battery might charge to 60% from the grid, expecting solar to top it up, saving you money on grid rates and reducing wear. If the system experiences higher-than-expected demand during the next off-peak period, the Powerwall will charge to a higher SoC to compensate for the previous day’s load.
How to Set Up Tesla's Time-Based Control
Step-by-step guide:
- Open the Tesla app
Launch the Tesla app on your phone and select your home from the main screen. - Go to Settings
Tap Settings at the bottom of the screen (as shown in the first image). - Select Utility Rate Plan
In the Settings menu, choose Utility Rate Plan. This tells your Powerwall when electricity is cheap or expensive (second image). - Edit or Add Your Tariff
Tap Edit next to your plan details. Here, you can enter your electricity provider’s peak and off-peak times, such as OVO’s* free 11 am-2 pm period.
You can also add in a cheaper EV rate here, too. You can add as many times or rates as you need. For further clarification we recommend reaching out to Tesla directly. - Adjust the Schedule
Under Schedule, drag or tap to set the time when power is cheapest. Your Powerwall will automatically charge from the grid during this time and store that energy for later use. - Save and Confirm
Once your rates and schedule are correct, tap Change Rate Plan to save your settings, see the (third image).
Reminder: Time-Based Control will not blindly charge your Tesla battery during free timeframes (such as 11am – 2pm) because it considers all the factors listed under How Does Tesla’s Time-Based Control Work?. You must give the system time to learn and adjust before rushing to change things.
*At the time of publishing this article (21/11/25) OVO’s Free 3 plan is the most relevant plan to use as an example from an energy retailer.
Top Tip: Use Storm Watch Mode
Storm Watch is a safety feature in the Tesla app that automatically prepares your Powerwall for severe weather. When the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issues a storm or extreme weather warning, your Powerwall will start charging to full capacity from the grid or your solar system. This ensures you have backup power ready in case of an outage. This will not be affected by the Time-Based Control settings.
How Do You Get Free Power?
Certain energy retailers in Australia offer free power during periods when the wholesale price of electricity is $0 or negative. This is also a period when customers don’t receive their solar feed-in tariff.
If this has left you feeling ripped off because you aren’t getting the same amount back for the solar you send, we have good news for you! You can use the grid to charge your Tesla battery for free, ensuring you can use it 365 days a year with ease.
What Is the Free Timeframe?
Retailers such as OVO have specific plans that offer a free timeframe that customers can take advantage of. OVO’s 3 Free plan** is the perfect example, offering completely free power between 11 am and 2 pm.
Your retailer’s free timeframe and existing energy plan will inform how you set up your Tesla battery’s controls to take advantage of the free period or low-cost times and maximise your battery’s charging capabilities.
**As of the time of publishing this post on 21/11/25.
Related article: How one home claimed over $20,000 in rebates
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my battery exporting to the grid before 11 am?
If you tell the Tesla battery you’re getting money for your feed-in before 10, but not getting any money for it at 10, it may choose to send power back to the grid, knowing it will buy it.
As a result, the algorithm may prioritise the feed-in credits you have set if it thinks it is going to be more financially viable for you on any given day to send power back to the grid so that it can buy it for free. If you notice this behaviour and would like to change it, simply adjust the rate you’re getting for the feed-in.
Why isn’t my battery charging within the free window (e.g. 11 am–2 pm)?
If your Tesla battery isn’t charging during a free-power window, it’s likely because Time-Based Control anticipates that solar will fill the battery based on current usage and weather. As long as you are consistently filling your battery, whether that power comes from the solar or the grid for free the outcome is the same.
The measure of success is the ability to add power to the battery, if needed, to help utilise the battery’s capacity effectively.
To check your Tesla setup:
- Open the Tesla app → Settings → Utility Rate Plan
- Make sure your off-peak or free-power period covers the timeframe your retailer provides (e.g. 11 am–2 pm)
- Confirm your mode is set to Time-Based Control and Grid Charging is enabled
With these settings, your Powerwall will continue to prioritise solar but will also charge from the grid during free hours when there’s not enough solar available, or when it anticipates it’s required to meet your home’s needs.
How can I avoid tripping my power while charging from the grid?
Your system mustn’t draw more power than your house can supply. Depending on what else is happening in the home, if you are also using the free period to charge a car, heat or cool your home, you can trip your power.
You also need to ensure your import limit is appropriately set, and you need to let your installer know your intention to charge from the grid so they can review this setting with you.
What are grid import settings and why are they important?
Grid import settings control how and when your Tesla Powerwall draws electricity from the grid. They determine whether the Tesla battery can charge using grid power, only from solar, or a mix of both. These settings are especially useful when taking advantage of super off-peak rates, allowing the Powerwall to charge when electricity is cheapest. Adjusting grid import settings correctly ensures your system balances cost savings with efficient energy use throughout the day.
Why is my battery not charging faster?
If your Tesla battery is nearing full, this is entirely normal. The fuller your battery is the slower it charges. You’ll often notice this happens between 90% and 100%.
Charging speed is also dependent on what the house is using and what the import limit is (which depends on your current infrastructure). For example, are you using more power in the home? This will affect your battery’s charging speed.
Why isn’t my battery charging at the expected times?
A common issue with battery charging times can be resolved in your battery’s app settings under your rate plan. Ensure the correct time zone and daylight savings settings are applied to correct this.
Also consider the big picture: are you still filling your battery each day? Your system may not charge from the grid if it’s not required, for example, you may see it charge in winter but not in summer.
What happens if my tariff changes?
It is your responsibility to keep up to date with your retailer’s pricing plan and any changes to your tariff. Make sure to keep your Tesla battery app updated with the latest tariff information you receive from your retailer to ensure you are getting the best value for money from the grid and your battery.
Will this be around for long?
Other states across Australia have introduced a new legislative requirement that sets a minimum of three hours of free electricity every day for households in default market offer regions under the scheme known as “Solar Sharer”.
Even though this is not yet enforced in Victoria, acting now means you’re ready ahead of any rollout of a similar policy, ensuring your Tesla battery setup is configured, grid charging is enabled, and you’re taking full advantage of the retail-offer timing before the rules change.