geezer wrote:

What with the escalating cost of electricity, it strikes me maybe I
can save some bucks by putting a timer on my hot water heater.
I could set it to heat HW only when needed (assuming Frau and I can
regulate our needs). Certainly it could be off, say, midnight to
wake-up. Maybe I am dreaming here?

Yes. If your water heater is insulated, it's likely the timer will use
more electrical energy than it saves.

Nick