Best Time-of-Use Electricity Tariff Deals in the UK — June 2026

Compare time-of-use electricity deals for your home

A time-of-use electricity tariff charges different unit rates depending on the time of day. If you can move some usage to cheaper periods — charging an EV at 7p overnight, timing a heat pump to Cosy's slots, or banking cheap units in a home battery — you can reduce your electricity costs even as the cap rises to £1,862 from 1 July 2026.

EnergyPlus compares whole-of-market options so you can see which TOU deals are available for your postcode and meter type, and we highlight the details that decide whether TOU actually pays off for you:

• Off-peak windows (and whether weekends or seasons differ)
• The peak rate and any "shoulder" periods — the make-or-break number
• Standing charge and tariff length
• Smart meter requirements and EV/charger compatibility
• Exit fees and price guarantee terms

EV owners & home chargers

The biggest winners. Charging overnight at 6.7–7p/kWh instead of a ~25p capped flat rate can cut EV "fuel" costs by 70%+. Intelligent Octopus Go, E.ON Next Drive, OVO Charge Anytime and British Gas Electric Driver are all built for this.

Heat-pump homes

A heat pump with a SCOP of ~3–4 paired with Octopus Cosy (13p across three daily slots) lets you pre-heat the home and run hot water in the cheap windows, cutting running cost materially versus a single-rate tariff at the capped ~£1,862 level.

Home battery owners

Charge the battery from the grid at the off-peak rate and discharge it across the expensive peak window. With a 7p import and ~30p peak, the spread can pay for a meaningful share of your daily usage — and pairs well with solar export.

Flexible / shiftable households

If you're happy to run laundry, the dishwasher, tumble dryer or immersion heater off-peak, TOU rewards that flexibility without changing how much you use. The more large loads you can time, the bigger the saving.

Smart meter customers

Modern TOU tariffs need a working smart meter sending half-hourly reads. If you already have one communicating, your choice of deals is much wider and switching is faster.

Not sure it's right?

If most of your use is in the 16:00–21:00 evening peak and can't be moved, a good flat-rate fix may be simpler and cheaper. We'll compare both, plus see our guide to the best TOU tariffs for households.

The headline 7p off-peak rate is only half the story. To fund that cheap window, TOU tariffs charge a peak rate of roughly 28–34p/kWh — higher than the ~24.7p/kWh you'd pay on a capped single-rate tariff. Every kWh you use during the day or evening peak therefore costs more than it would on a standard deal.

That's why TOU rewards shape, not just price. A household that does almost everything in the evening can lose money on a TOU tariff even though the off-peak number looks amazing.

When the peak rate bites

• Working from home all day with heating, kettle and screens running at ~30p+
• Cooking the evening meal, lights and entertainment inside a 16:00–19:00 peak band
• A heat pump on a narrow overnight-only EV tariff that can't heat the home at 8am or 6pm
• Tumble dryer / oven use that can't realistically be moved overnight

The fix is to match the tariff to your load: an overnight EV tariff for cars, Cosy's daytime-plus-night slots for heat pumps, or a flat fix if your peak use is unavoidable.

EV driver — ~8,000 miles/yr

About 2,400 kWh of charging a year. At ~24.7p flat that's ~£593; at 7p overnight it's ~£168.

Saving ≈ £425/yr on charging alone, before any other shifted load.

Heat-pump home on Cosy

Shifting ~3,000 kWh of heating/hot water from ~24.7p to Cosy's 13p slots saves ~11.7p per shifted kWh.

Saving ≈ £300–£350/yr if most heating runs in the cheap slots.

Battery + flexible loads

Banking ~6 kWh/day at 7p and using it instead of ~30p peak saves ~£1.40/day.

Saving ≈ £400–£500/yr, on top of any solar export income.

Time-of-use pricing reflects that electricity costs more to supply during busy periods. A TOU tariff can have:

• Off-peak rate — cheap units at set times (e.g. 7p, 23:30–05:30)
• Peak rate — higher units during busy times (~28–34p)
• Standing charge — a daily fixed cost (~58–70p/day depending on region)
• Sometimes a shoulder rate or extra daytime slots (as on Cosy)

1. Check your meter: most smart TOU tariffs need a smart meter sending half-hourly reads; Economy 7/10 use multi-rate meters.
2. Map your routine: identify what you can move — EV charging, laundry, dishwasher, immersion, heat-pump runs.
3. Compare like-for-like: annual cost estimate, standing charge, peak/off-peak windows, and contract length — not just the headline night rate.
4. Switch and schedule: set charger/appliance timers to the cheap window, then review your first month against your old bill.

What is a time-of-use electricity tariff?

A time-of-use (TOU) electricity tariff charges different unit rates at different times of day. You typically pay less during off-peak hours and more during peak hours. TOU tariffs can reduce bills if you can shift energy-heavy activities — charging an EV, running appliances, or heating water — into cheaper periods.

What are the best TOU deals right now?

In June 2026 the cheapest EV off-peak rates are E.ON Next Drive (~6.7p), Intelligent Octopus Go (7p, 23:30–05:30) and OVO Charge Anytime (~7p); British Gas Electric Driver is ~8.95p. For heat-pump homes, Octopus Cosy (13p across three daily slots) is usually the best fit.

Do I need a smart meter for a time-of-use tariff?

In most cases, yes. A smart meter records half-hourly usage so suppliers can bill accurately across multiple price periods. Some legacy multi-rate meters work for Economy 7/10, but modern smart TOU deals are designed for smart meters.

Are time-of-use electricity tariffs worth it?

They can be worth it if you can move a meaningful share of usage to cheaper off-peak times. Households with EV charging, home batteries, heat pumps, immersion heaters or flexible appliances benefit most. If most of your usage is during peak hours, costs may increase.

What's the difference between Economy 7 and newer TOU tariffs?

Economy 7 is a traditional two-rate tariff (day and night) with about 7 off-peak hours overnight. Newer TOU tariffs can have multiple off-peak/peak windows, may vary by region or season, and are often tailored to EV charging or heat-pump smart-charging behaviour.

When are peak and off-peak times?

They vary by supplier, tariff and region. Many EV off-peak windows run roughly 23:30–05:30; Cosy uses three daily slots (04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, 22:00–00:00). Peak is typically 28–34p/kWh. Always check the exact windows and your meter time settings before switching.

Can I save by charging an EV on a TOU tariff?

Usually yes. Charging at 6.7–7p overnight instead of a ~24.7p capped flat rate can cut EV running costs by 70% or more — often £400+ a year for an average mileage driver. Add a home battery and you can store cheap energy to use during peak periods too.

What should I check before switching to a TOU tariff?

Check the unit rate for each time band, the daily standing charge, contract length, exit fees, and whether prices are fixed or variable. Confirm you have (or can get) a compatible smart meter and that you can realistically shift usage into the off-peak window.

How does the July 2026 price cap affect TOU deals?

The Ofgem cap rises +13% to £1,862/yr (typical dual-fuel direct debit) from 1 July 2026. That pushes the standard capped unit rate up, so avoiding the peak by shifting load to a sub-10p TOU window saves more from this summer — making EV and heat-pump TOU deals more attractive.

Can I switch away if a TOU tariff doesn't suit me?

Yes, but check for exit fees or minimum terms. Fixed-term tariffs may have early exit charges; variable tariffs are usually simpler to leave. Always confirm your meter configuration stays compatible with the tariff you switch to.

"I wanted an EV-friendly time-of-use tariff but didn't know which peak times I'd be paying. The ranked table and comparison made the trade-offs clear."

— Homeowner, West Midlands

"Putting our heat pump on Cosy's slots made a real difference this winter. The savings example matched roughly what we actually saw."

— Customer, Greater Manchester

"Quick form, clear options. I could see which tariffs actually suited when we use energy, not just a headline night rate."

— Customer, Kent