Are you tired of skyrocketing electricity bills and feeling powerless over your energy costs? Here’s a game-changer: in Singapore, at least four electricity retailers are now offering residential plans with significantly lower rates during off-peak hours, thanks to the widespread installation of smart meters in 80% of households. But here’s where it gets controversial—while these plans promise savings, they also require you to shift your energy usage habits. Are you willing to adapt for the sake of your wallet? Let’s dive in.
As of November 6, SP Group has installed over 1.3 million smart electricity meters across Singapore, covering at least 80% of residential homes. These meters allow users to track their half-hourly electricity consumption via an app, empowering them to identify patterns and reduce usage. The nationwide rollout is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026, giving even more households the tools to take control of their energy bills.
And this is the part most people miss: four out of six retailers—Geneco, PacificLight Energy, Keppel Electric, and Senoko Energy Supply—offer time-of-use plans, according to the Energy Market Authority (EMA). These plans charge different rates based on the time of day you use electricity, potentially slashing your bills if you play your cards right. For instance, Tuas Power is set to launch a similar plan in 2026, adding to the growing list of options.
Take Mr. Chen Jia, a 37-year-old engineer, who switched to Geneco’s time-of-use plan in August. His lifestyle perfectly aligns with the plan’s lower rates from 7 PM to 7 AM. “Since no one’s home during the day, most of my electricity use happens in the evenings—cooking, laundry, air conditioning,” he explains. This simple shift has maximized his savings, though he’s keeping the exact figures to himself.
Traditionally, households buy electricity from SP Group at regulated tariffs, which are regularly reviewed. But here’s the twist: consumers can now choose retailers offering plans tailored to their needs. Geneco’s CEO, Mr. Lim Han Kwang, sums it up: “The goal of time-of-use plans is to encourage off-peak electricity usage, easing the strain on the grid during peak hours.”
PacificLight Energy’s general manager, Geraldine Tan, adds a practical tip: “By moving energy-heavy tasks like laundry or charging appliances to off-peak hours, households can cut costs while helping balance Singapore’s electricity demand.” But here’s a bold question: could this shift also be a response to the global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022? Dr. David Broadstock of The Lantau Group thinks so, noting that price instability during that period may have made consumers more cautious about their energy spending.
This is especially true for those buying electricity from the wholesale market, where prices fluctuate every half-hour based on supply and demand. Time-of-use plans, Broadstock argues, could shield consumers from these wild swings. PacificLight’s Tan confirms a surge in demand for such plans as households become more energy-conscious and seek control over their costs. One of their plans, offering lower rates from 9 PM to 9 AM with no contract, saw sign-ups triple in 2025 compared to 2024.
But here’s the bigger picture: experts believe these plans could reshape consumption patterns, leading to a more efficient grid. Geneco’s Lim explains that the grid is built to handle peak demand, even if off-peak usage is low. By shifting some of that peak load to off-peak hours, we could reduce the need for costly infrastructure expansions. EMA predicts that national grid demand will rise annually over the next five years, making this shift even more critical.
Tuas Power’s COO, Michael Wong, adds that balancing demand with supply can lower costs. “If demand remains high during peak hours, the supply capacity needed to meet it will be more expensive,” he says. Spreading energy use throughout the day also stabilizes the grid, preventing sudden surges that could cause instability.
Finally, these plans could support Singapore’s transition to sustainable energy. As Tan puts it, “As more consumers adopt time-of-use plans, the collective impact creates a more balanced demand profile, making it easier to integrate renewable energy sources like solar into our power mix.” This is a crucial step toward Singapore’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
So, here’s the million-dollar question: Are time-of-use plans the future of energy consumption, or just a niche solution for the savvy few? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear how you’re tackling your electricity bills!
