Yes remotely switchable "off peak" is a very useful tool for the power retailers enabling them to soak up the solar peaks when required. Much better than the old timers that used to switch on our hot water systems in the middle of the night to provide a load for the idling coal fired power stations.
I used to consider using high grade mains power to provide heat a bit wasteful when just about any form of energy can be converted to heat but now realise that electric hot water systems perform an important stability function in todays modern power grid with its less consistent renewable energy supply.
