Comment by Bengalilol

Yes. If macOS is asleep or idle, pmset won't get triggered. It is best used with caffeinate. I used it for a museum installation where every night I'd turn it off before they cut the electricity and turn it on in the morning just after electricity is switched back on: it was a way for me to be in peace with my conscience (though after some tests, the mac didn't bother getting switched off by cutting out the electricity).