What is an Economy 10 tariff?

Economy 10 is a time-of-use electricity tariff that gives you around 10 hours of cheaper off-peak electricity per day (typically split across day, evening and overnight). It can reduce heating and hot-water costs if you use storage heaters, electric radiators with timers, or an immersion heater and can shift usage into off-peak periods.

Who is Economy 10 best for?

Economy 10 is usually best for homes with electric heating and hot water (such as storage heaters or an immersion tank) where you can schedule most heating and water heating into off-peak hours. If most of your electricity use happens in peak daytime hours, it may be less cost-effective.

Is Economy 10 cheaper than Economy 7 for heating?

It can be. Economy 10 provides more off-peak hours than Economy 7, which may help households that need additional heating boosts during the day. However, the peak-rate price and the exact off-peak windows vary by supplier and region, so you should compare unit rates, standing charges and your usage pattern before switching.

What times are the Economy 10 off-peak hours?

Economy 10 off-peak periods vary by region, meter type and supplier. The 10 hours are often split (for example: a few hours overnight plus shorter off-peak windows in the afternoon and late evening). Always confirm the exact switching times on your meter or with your supplier before you change tariff or set timers.

Do I need a special meter for Economy 10?

Yes. Economy 10 requires a compatible multi-rate meter (or a smart meter configured for a multi-rate tariff). If you don’t already have one, your supplier may need to install or reconfigure a meter before you can move onto Economy 10.

Can I use Economy 10 with a smart meter?

Often yes, but not always. Some suppliers can support Economy 10 (or other multi-rate tariffs) on smart meters, while others may offer alternatives. If you’re considering switching, ask the supplier to confirm they can bill your meter correctly for Economy 10 rates in your area.

Will an Economy 10 tariff help reduce my heating bills?

It may reduce your heating bills if your heating system can store heat (such as storage heaters) or you can time your heating and hot water to run mostly during off-peak windows. The biggest savings come from shifting high-consumption heating loads away from peak-rate hours.

Can I charge an EV on Economy 10?

You can charge an EV during Economy 10 off-peak periods, but Economy 10 is primarily designed around heating and hot-water demand. If your main goal is cheaper EV charging, an EV-specific smart tariff may offer longer or cheaper overnight windows. Compare your overall household use (heating + EV) to choose the best fit.

How do I compare the best Economy 10 tariff rates in the UK?

Compare (1) peak and off-peak unit rates, (2) standing charge, (3) the exact off-peak times, and (4) whether your meter and heating setup can take advantage of the schedule. To make the comparison meaningful, estimate how much of your electricity (especially heating and hot water) you can reliably shift into off-peak hours.

How can Energy Plus help me choose a cheaper tariff for electric heating?

Energy Plus can help you understand whether Economy 10 suits your home, explain typical off-peak windows, and guide you on what information to gather (meter type, heating system, and usage pattern) so you can make a confident switch. Visit https://www.energyplus.co.uk/ to explore options and get help finding a cost-effective setup.

Best Economy 10 tariff rates UK for cheaper heating

Compare whole-of-market Economy 10 options and see if off-peak electricity can cut your heating costs. Tell us a few details and we’ll show suitable tariffs for your home.

Whole-of-market comparison for UK homes (not just one supplier)
Check if Economy 10 suits electric heating, storage heaters or immersion hot water
Fast quotes with no obligation to switch

Compare Economy 10 rates How Economy 10 works

Estimates only. Availability and timings vary by region, meter type and network. Switching may require a compatible meter.

Compare Economy 10 tariff rates (whole-of-market)

Economy 10 (often shortened to E10) is a multi-rate electricity tariff designed for homes that use electric heating. Instead of one unit price all day, you get cheaper “off-peak” electricity for around 10 hours split across day and night (timings depend on your region and meter). If your heating and hot water can run mainly during those off-peak windows, E10 can reduce your total bill.

EnergyPlus helps you find the best Economy 10 tariff rates in the UK by comparing across multiple suppliers (where available) and matching results to your meter setup, region, and usage pattern. We’ll also highlight when Economy 10 is unlikely to be cost-effective (for example if most of your usage is in peak hours).

Important: Economy 10 availability is more limited than single-rate tariffs, and not all suppliers support it in every area. Some homes may need a compatible multi-rate meter to switch.

What you’ll need (takes 2 minutes)

Postcode (to check regional E10 timings and availability)
Meter type (e.g. Economy 10 / multi-rate / smart meter)
Heating setup (storage heaters, panel heaters, heat pump, immersion)
Rough usage (annual kWh if you know it, or your current bill estimate)

Get Economy 10 quotes

Fill in your details and we’ll show suitable off-peak tariffs for your home.

Postcode Current meter Main heating type Email Phone (optional)

Read FAQs

By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your quote. We’ll use your data to provide comparison results and support your switch.

Tip: If you’re unsure of your meter, check your bill for multiple readings (e.g. Day/Night or Rate 1/Rate 2/Rate 3) or tell us “Not sure” and we’ll guide you.

Is Economy 10 right for your home?

Best fit

Storage heaters (especially if you can charge them in off-peak windows)
Electric hot water via immersion with a timer
Households home in the day who can shift usage (washing/dishwasher) into off-peak
Homes with higher heating demand and good heat retention

Maybe (needs checking)

Heat pumps (benefit depends on your off-peak windows and how much you can pre-heat)
Mixed heating (electric + other fuel) where electricity use varies by season
Smart meter households where the supplier may offer alternative time-of-use deals

Often poor fit

Most consumption happens in peak periods (late afternoon/evening)
You can’t control heating/hot water times (no timers, no storage)
Low electricity usage overall (savings may not outweigh higher peak rates)

Why households choose Economy 10 for cheaper heating

More off-peak hours than Economy 7

E10 typically gives you 10 off-peak hours spread across the day and night, which can suit heating systems that need top-ups in daytime.

Better match for storage heating patterns

If your home cools down quickly, a daytime off-peak window can help you recharge storage heaters without paying peak unit rates.

Potential savings on hot water

Timed immersion heating during off-peak windows can cut the cost of hot water, particularly for larger households.

Useful for day-time energy shifting

Some regions include an afternoon off-peak block. If you’re at home, you can run appliances in off-peak periods more easily than on Economy 7.

Supports whole-home electrification

If you’re moving away from gas and relying on electricity for heating, an off-peak tariff can be part of keeping running costs manageable.

You can still choose a fixed or variable deal

Where offered, E10 tariffs may come as fixed-term or variable products. We’ll show you which options are available for your meter and postcode.

How Economy 10 works (rates, hours and meters)

The basics

Two or more unit rates: cheaper off-peak and higher peak (some meters have multiple off-peak registers).
Off-peak split: often delivered across night + daytime blocks (exact times vary).
Standing charge: still applies daily, as with most tariffs.
Best savings: when you can shift a meaningful share of kWh into off-peak windows.

Good rule of thumb: Economy 10 tends to help when a large portion of your heating/hot water use can be timed to off-peak. If your lifestyle forces most usage into peak hours, a single-rate deal can be cheaper overall.

Typical E10 timings (illustrative)

Economy 10 off-peak windows are set by your region/network and meter configuration. Below is an example pattern you might see (your actual hours may differ):

Window	Example off-peak period	What it’s useful for
Night	e.g. 00:00–05:00	Charging storage heaters; heating hot water overnight
Morning	e.g. 13:00–16:00	Top-up heat; run appliances if you’re home
Evening	e.g. 20:00–22:00	Boost hot water; short heating boost before bed

Times shown are examples only. Your meter and supplier determine actual switching times.

How to find your current off-peak hours

Check your electricity bill for Rate 1/Rate 2/Rate 3 (or Day/Night) and any listed time bands.
Look at your meter: multi-rate meters often show different registers when you press a button.
If you have a smart meter, your supplier may label time-of-use periods in your online account.
If you’re unsure, use the form above and select “Not sure”—we’ll help you identify the right setup.

Economy 10 vs Economy 7 vs single-rate (quick comparison)

Feature	Economy 10	Economy 7	Single-rate
Off-peak hours	~10 hours split (varies)	7 hours overnight (varies)	None
Typical best use	Storage heating + daytime top-ups	Overnight charging only	Even spread of usage
Peak rate risk	Higher peak rates can outweigh savings if you can’t shift use	Similar risk, especially evenings	Lower complexity; one rate
Availability	More limited; depends on region/meter	More common than E10	Very widely available
Who should consider it	High electric heating use + flexibility	Overnight heavy users	Most households; simple billing

Not sure which tariff is best? We can compare Economy 10 against Economy 7 and single-rate options so you can see the estimated annual cost side-by-side.

What affects Economy 10 prices and savings?

Key drivers of your rate

Region and network: standing charges and unit rates vary across the UK.
Metering setup: multi-rate configurations can affect what’s available.
Tariff type: fixed deals offer price certainty; variable can change.
Payment method: some products are limited by payment type.
Supplier appetite: fewer suppliers offer E10, which can influence competitiveness.

What makes E10 cheaper (or more expensive)

Savings come from paying the off-peak unit rate for a big chunk of your electricity—particularly heating and hot water. Costs rise when:

Most of your electricity is used at peak times (cooking, evening heating boosts).
Your storage heating isn’t configured properly (e.g. charging outside off-peak).
You switch to E10 but can’t access an E10 product in your area (leading to a less suitable tariff).

We’ll help you estimate whether E10 makes sense based on your setup, not just the headline unit rates.

Common Economy 10 mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Switching without checking your meter

Some homes need a compatible multi-rate meter to access E10 products. If your meter setup doesn’t match, you could end up on an unsuitable tariff.

Not timing hot water heating

An immersion heater left “always on” can wipe out off-peak savings. A timer matched to off-peak windows is usually essential.

Underestimating peak-rate usage

Cooking, tumble drying, and evening heating boosts often land in peak hours. We’ll help you sanity-check your peak/off-peak split before you switch.

Quick check: If you have storage heaters, confirm the charging circuit is linked to your off-peak register(s). If you’re unsure, choose “Not sure” on the form and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Economy 10 tariff FAQs

What are the best Economy 10 tariff rates in the UK right now?

The “best” Economy 10 rate depends on your postcode, meter configuration, and how much electricity you use in off-peak windows. Because E10 is region- and meter-dependent (and not offered by every supplier), the most reliable way to find the best available rates is to run a whole-of-market comparison for your home.

Do all suppliers offer Economy 10?

No. Economy 10 is typically less widely available than Economy 7 and single-rate tariffs. Some suppliers only support it in certain regions or for certain meter types. EnergyPlus compares what’s available for your postcode and setup.

Can I get Economy 10 with a smart meter?

Sometimes. A smart meter can support multiple registers, but whether you can access an Economy 10 product depends on the supplier and your regional arrangements. In some cases, a supplier may offer a different time-of-use tariff instead. We’ll show suitable options based on what’s available.

Will I lose Economy 10 if I switch supplier?

Not necessarily, but it’s a common risk if the new supplier doesn’t support Economy 10 for your meter/region. A whole-of-market comparison helps reduce the chance of switching to a tariff that doesn’t match your metering setup.

Is Economy 10 only for storage heaters?

It’s most commonly used with storage heaters, but it can also help if you use electric hot water (immersion) and can run it off-peak. For heat pumps, suitability depends on insulation, controls, and the off-peak windows available in your area.

What if I don’t know my off-peak times?

That’s normal. Off-peak times can be confusing, especially on older multi-rate meters. Use the form and select “Not sure” for your meter type—we’ll help identify what you have and which tariffs are compatible.

Ready to check the best Economy 10 rates for your postcode?

Get tailored results for your meter and heating setup. If Economy 10 isn’t the best fit, we’ll show other tariffs that could lower your heating costs.

Whole-of-market options (where available)
Clear peak vs off-peak cost comparison
No obligation to switch

Start my Economy 10 comparison Review how it works first

Switching support depends on supplier and meter compatibility.

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Updated on 25 Dec 2025