What smart plug scheduling does that delay start cannot
Built-in delay start on washing machines and dishwashers is useful, but it has real limitations. You must reset it every time you want to run a cycle. You cannot control it remotely. You cannot monitor how much electricity it uses. And for appliances that do not have delay start, such as dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and electric blankets, built-in controls do not exist at all.
A smart plug solves all of these problems:
- Permanent recurring schedule: Set the schedule once and it runs every day without any further input
- Works on any appliance: No matter how old or basic the appliance, a smart plug adds scheduling capability
- Energy monitoring: Premium models show exactly how many kWh each appliance uses, so you can calculate actual savings
- Remote control: Turn appliances on or off from anywhere via the app
- Away mode: Randomise on/off patterns to simulate occupancy when on holiday
The combination of permanent scheduling and energy monitoring makes smart plugs uniquely powerful for Agile customers. You set the overnight window once, say 1am to 5am, and from then on your appliances automatically run during cheap electricity periods without any daily intervention.
Best smart plugs for Agile scheduling in 2026
| Model | Price | Energy monitoring | Voice assistants | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Tapo P110 | ~£15 | Yes | Google, Alexa | Most users; best all-round option |
| Meross MSS310 | ~£18 | Yes | Google, Alexa, HomeKit | Apple ecosystem; HomeKit integration |
| Amazon Smart Plug | ~£13 | No | Alexa only | Budget; Alexa households only |
| Kasa EP25 | ~£22 | Yes | Google, Alexa | Two appliances from one outlet |
| IKEA Tradfri Outlet | ~£12 | No | Google, Alexa, HomeKit | IKEA smart home users; cheapest option |
The TP-Link Tapo P110 is the most widely recommended smart plug for Agile scheduling in 2026. At around £15, it includes full energy monitoring, reliable scheduling, and integrates with both Google Home and Alexa. The app is polished and the scheduling interface is straightforward enough that most users have their first timer running within five minutes of unboxing.
The Meross MSS310 is the better choice for Apple HomeKit households. At £18, it costs slightly more but adds broader ecosystem compatibility.
The Amazon Smart Plug at £13 is the cheapest option but lacks energy monitoring, so you cannot verify your savings or see consumption history. If you use Alexa and want the lowest-cost entry, it works. For serious Agile optimisers, energy monitoring is worth the extra £2.
Setting daily timer schedules brand by brand
All four recommended models support recurring daily schedules. Here is how to set them up:
TP-Link Tapo P110
- Open the Tapo app and select your P110 device
- Tap the Schedule icon or navigate to the device settings and select "Schedule"
- Tap "Add Schedule"
- Set "Start time" to your chosen overnight window start (e.g. 01:00)
- Set "End time" to your chosen window end (e.g. 05:00)
- Under "Repeat", enable all seven days of the week
- Tap Save
Setup time: under three minutes. The schedule runs every day from that point without further input.
Meross MSS310
- Open the Meross app and select your device
- Tap the device settings (gear icon)
- Select "Timer" then "Add Schedule"
- Set your on time, off time, and enable daily repeat
- Save the schedule
Amazon Smart Plug (Alexa)
- Open the Alexa app on your phone
- Navigate to Devices, select your Smart Plug
- Go to Routines and create a new Routine
- Set trigger: "Schedule", daily at your chosen time
- Set action: turn the smart plug on
- Create a second routine for the off time
First setup takes around five minutes for any of these models. Once done, you do not need to touch the app again unless you want to adjust the schedule seasonally.
Which appliances benefit most from overnight scheduling
Appliances with built-in delay start (washing machines, dishwashers) do not need a smart plug. Use their own delay function. Smart plugs add the most value for appliances without delay start that still draw meaningful electricity:
| Appliance | Typical consumption | Annual saving at 3p vs 28p overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifier (2-3 hours/night) | 0.3-0.5 kWh/night | £27-46/year |
| Electric blanket (1-2 hrs pre-bed warm) | 0.1-0.2 kWh/session | £9-18/year |
| Air purifier (continuous overnight) | 0.5-1.0 kWh/night | £46-92/year |
| Portable heater (low, 1-2 hrs) | 0.5-1.0 kWh/session | £46-92/year |
| Slow cooker (overnight cooking) | 0.3-0.6 kWh/session | £27-55/year |
| Device charging station (5-6 devices) | 0.2-0.5 kWh/night | £18-46/year |
| Bread maker (overnight bake timer) | 0.4-0.6 kWh/cycle | £37-55/year |
Savings are calculated based on the difference between a typical Agile overnight rate of 3p and a typical peak or standard rate of 28p. On nights with particularly cheap Agile prices, which AgileAlert shows in advance, the saving per kWh is even larger.
These figures are per-appliance. A household with three smart plugs running three of these appliances simultaneously captures combined annual savings of £80-180 from a total investment of £45-55 in plugs.
Energy monitoring: tracking what you actually save
The Tapo P110 and Meross MSS310 both include real-time and historical energy monitoring. This feature is not just interesting. It is financially useful.
After one month of running a smart plug on your dehumidifier overnight, the energy monitoring shows exactly how many kWh it consumed. Multiply that by 25p (the saving per kWh from running at 3p instead of 28p) and you have the actual monthly saving from that one plug.
Most users discover two things from energy monitoring:
- Some appliances use significantly more than expected. A portable heater on a smart plug timer consumes considerably more than an air purifier, warranting a check of the schedule
- Some appliances are barely worth the smart plug. A device charger that only uses 0.05 kWh overnight might save less than 20p per month
Energy monitoring focuses your smart plug investment on the appliances where it genuinely delivers return. Within three months, most households know exactly which plugs are paying back fastest and which are marginal.
Multi-plug strategy: automating several appliances at once
The maximum value from smart plug investment comes from running a coordinated set of plugs, all scheduled to the same overnight cheap window. Here is a practical five-plug setup for a UK home:
| Plug | Appliance | Schedule | Annual saving estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plug 1 | Dehumidifier | 01:00-05:00 | £35-50/year |
| Plug 2 | Air purifier | 01:00-07:00 | £55-80/year |
| Plug 3 | Device charging station | 01:00-06:00 | £25-40/year |
| Plug 4 | Portable heater (winter) | 02:00-05:00 | £40-60/year |
| Plug 5 | Electric blanket (pre-warm) | 22:00-23:30 | £12-20/year |
| Total | £167-250/year |
Total investment in five smart plugs: approximately £60-75. Total annual saving from coordinated overnight scheduling: £167-250. Payback: four to five months. From month six onwards, the plugs generate pure return on a zero-effort basis.
The setup evening, buying the plugs, adding them to the app, setting the schedules, takes around two hours. After that, the only ongoing action is a monthly check of energy monitoring data and a seasonal schedule adjustment when the cheapest overnight window shifts.
For most Agile customers without solar or a battery, smart plug scheduling is the highest-ROI home energy action available after switching to Agile itself. Check AgileAlert tonight to set your initial schedule window, then pick up a few Tapo P110s.