I tend to think not too many in Ontario are using their AC at the moment
I have set the alarm for 2am to do the laundry.

since the washer uses 110v, why not to conserve energy & sleep, put it on a timer to come on whenever - load the washer first.

During the summer we keep the furnace fan on constantly circulating the air, as well as turn off the AC between 9pm to 7am

But due to the high costs of hydro bills I can't afford to buy the device that does that
Where I live my hydro rates are very manageable tbh they are cheap compared to some and thats living in a 1100 sq ft condo all hydro no gas.

what an outdoor heavy duty timer @ $29.95 versus setting a sleep timer (@post 16) just to do the laundry.... rubbish talk FL

So its really not an issue for you living in a condo?

My wife wouldn't have the timer thing or off peak use, saying 'she doesn't want her life controlled when she can do the laundry', so its 'pay the higher rates just because she likes to do laundry during the day'

No its not an issue for me and I guess my sarcasm at setting the alarm for 2am to do the laundry missed its mark. I do care about hydro rates in Ontario as my parents live there. I used to live there many years ago. Personally I would never move back there for a number of reasons.

This article shows a graph and breakdown of a rural residential home showing all in costs at 1000 kWh per month
Hydro Facts - Randy Hillier MPP

Lowest Manitoba at $81.38

Highest Hydro One Ontario $239.23.

Thanks @ post # 21 sorted

Hydro Facts - Randy Hillier MPP

Can't do that with ours, gotta push a little button to start it. It's a 2 step process, turn the knob to the cycle you want then push the start button.

But we are restricted to doing laundry from 8am to 8pm due to living in an apartment and per the lease so would never be doing laundry at 2am.,...

Does the button stay in/on?

Not that it matters if you can't do the laundry in the early hours, but presumably there are the same plug thingies with timers available here?

I used to plug my xmas tree lights and a lamp into one back in England so they came on in the evenings to make it appear I was home when I was away at my mother's over xmas.

No the button doesn't stay in. Someone has to physically be there to push the button to start it, its more of an electronic signal then an actual button. (I tried to use it with a timer and it wouldn't come on)

I use timers all over the house, mostly for fish tanks, so they have a consistent lighting cycle and for I don't forget.

Also used them for Christmas lights and tree.