Economy 10 explained – best E10 rates UK August 2026
Economy 10 (E10) gives you ten cheap off-peak hours each day, split into three windows: a morning slot, an afternoon slot and an overnight slot. The off-peak unit rate is a little higher than Economy 7, but the longer total window makes it a strong fit for homes with heat pumps, storage heaters or hot-water tanks and daytime electric load that cannot sit inside a single 7-hour overnight block. With the Ofgem price cap having risen to £1,663/yr, the value of genuine load-shifting has climbed sharply.
- Cheapest E10 off-peak now: EDF Economy 10 at ~14.8p/kWh.
- Typical windows: three slots covering morning, afternoon and overnight (10 hours total).
- Best fit: heat-pump homes, storage heaters, hot-water tanks and daytime electric load.
- Ofgem context: The cap is £1,663/yr, lifting the payback on every off-peak unit.
Quick answer
Economy 10 is a multi-rate electricity tariff that gives you 10 cheap off-peak hours a day across three windows – morning, afternoon and overnight – with a higher peak rate the rest of the time. In August 2026 the cheapest E10 off-peak rate is EDF Economy 10 at ~14.8p/kWh, with British Gas Multi-rate close behind at ~15.1p/kWh. It only saves money if roughly 40% or more of your usage falls inside those windows, so it suits heat-pump homes, storage heaters and hot-water tanks far more than a typical flat-usage household. It is not the same as Economy 7: E7 has a cheaper rate but only one overnight block.
Compare Economy 10 tariffs in one place
Economy 10 is a niche corner of UK retail electricity – in August 2026 only EDF, British Gas (as “Multi-rate”) and a handful of smaller suppliers actively market it. The pay-off is that E10’s three-window design fits modern heat-pump and storage-heating load profiles far better than either Economy 7’s single overnight block or a flat single-rate tariff. If you have a heat pump that runs through the day, E10 is often the most honest tariff for your home.
Tell us your postcode (so we can confirm your DNO region and which E10 windows apply locally) plus your heat-pump or hot-water setup, and we’ll match you against the cheapest qualifying E10 tariff, with rates verified August 2026.
Find the best Economy 10 tariff for your home
Send us your postcode and meter type and we’ll match the cheapest off-peak E10 rate you qualify for. Takes about 60 seconds.
Best UK Economy 10 rates table – verified August 2026
Rates below are the off-peak and peak unit rates published by each E10 supplier and verified in the last 14 days. Standing charges broadly track the price-cap level – the capped electricity standing charge is 57.19p/day (the unit rate cap is 26.11p/kWh). Regional variation is wide: highest in Merseyside & North Wales, lowest in the East Midlands.
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Peak rate | Standing charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDF Economy 10 | ~14.8p/kWh | ~28p/kWh | ~57p/day |
| British Gas Multi-rate | ~15.1p/kWh | ~30p/kWh | ~57p/day |
| Default cap-tracking E10 (regional) | 16–17p/kWh | 30–32p/kWh | ~57p/day |
All rates verified August 2026. Peak E10 rates sit a little above the 26.11p/kWh single-rate cap, so E10 only pays off if a meaningful share of your usage lands in the ten off-peak hours. The exact split of the three windows varies by DNO – see the windows section below.
How Economy 10 actually works
Economy 10 is a dual-rate electricity tariff billed off a two-register meter – either a legacy E10 mechanical meter or a SMETS2 smart meter configured for two-rate billing across three windows. The off-peak rate applies during 10 hours of the day, split across three blocks: typically a 2–3 hour morning slot, a 2–3 hour afternoon slot and a 4–5 hour overnight slot. The peak rate applies the rest of the day. The idea is that storage heaters and hot-water cylinders can be “topped up” both overnight and during the day, smoothing thermal output instead of relying on a single overnight charge.
In 2026 the most economically interesting E10 use case is heat pumps. A typical 12,000–18,000 kWh/year air-source heat pump runs throughout the day; pure Economy 7 forces all of that into a single 7-hour overnight block (often impossible without a huge buffer tank), but E10’s three windows match the heat-pump duty cycle far better. EDF Economy 10 at ~14.8p/kWh off-peak versus a flat ~26p/kWh saves an estimated £400–£700/year on a typical heat-pump home where load is actively shifted into the windows. Rates verified August 2026.
How the E10 windows work – regional timing
Like Economy 7, Economy 10 windows are set by your DNO (distribution network operator) and vary by region. The total off-peak time is always 10 hours, but the split between the three slots differs. Typical 2026 windows look like this:
| DNO region | Morning slot | Afternoon slot | Overnight slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| London & South East | 04:30–07:30 | 13:30–16:30 | 20:30–00:30 |
| East Midlands | 05:00–07:00 | 13:00–16:00 | 20:00–01:00 |
| North Scotland | 04:30–07:30 | 13:30–16:30 | 20:30–00:30 |
| South West | 04:30–07:30 | 13:30–16:30 | 20:30–00:30 |
If you have an older RTS-driven E10 meter, the Radio Teleswitch Service withdrawal that affects Economy 7 applies here too – your supplier will replace it with a SMETS2 smart meter free of charge, keeping your E10 tariff and windows. Use the comparison form above to start a switch and confirm your exact local times.
What the current price cap means for E10
The Ofgem energy price cap rose to £1,663/yr for a typical dual-fuel direct-debit home . The cap unit rates are 26.11p/kWh + 57.19p/day for electricity and 7.33p/kWh + 29.04p/day for gas. The rise is driven almost entirely by wholesale gas: gas is up about 24% while electricity is up only about 5%.
- Only Standard Variable (capped) tariffs rise. Around 40% of households on fixed deals are unaffected until their fix ends – if you are on a fix, your rates are protected.
- Default cap-tracking E10 off-peak rates move up to roughly 16–17p/kWh, so locking EDF Economy 10 at ~14.8p shelters you from most of the increase.
- Meter-reading tip: submit a reading on 30 June so the cheaper pre-July cap covers all your usage up to that date.
- Looking ahead: the next cap review is 1 October 2026; analysts including Cornwall Insight currently forecast about £1,701–£1,747/yr for the October period , so prices are not expected to fall back materially this year.
Because the cap sets the do-nothing baseline, the only way to beat it is a competitive fixed or off-peak deal. For the right load profile, E10 is one of the tools that can land you below the capped flat rate – use the comparison form above to see your numbers.
Economy 10 vs Economy 7 – which one wins?
Storage heaters only
Economy 7 usually wins. Storage heaters charge purely overnight, and a single 7-hour block at ~12.5p/kWh (British Gas Standard E7) beats E10’s ~14.8p split-window rate.
Heat pump (daytime load)
Economy 10 wins. EDF Economy 10 captures morning + afternoon + overnight heat-pump load at ~14.8p, whereas E7 only catches the slice that runs in its single overnight block.
Hot-water tank + WFH
Economy 10 wins. Daytime laundry, dishwasher and immersion top-ups run during the afternoon off-peak window. E7 forces them all overnight or onto the peak rate.
| Feature | Economy 7 | Economy 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Off-peak hours | 7 hours, one overnight block | 10 hours, three windows |
| Best off-peak rate (August 2026) | ~12.5p/kWh | ~14.8p/kWh |
| Best for | Overnight-only load: storage heaters, EV charging | Spread load: heat pumps, hot water, WFH appliances |
| Availability | Widely offered | Niche – mainly EDF & British Gas |
Economy 10 pitfalls to watch
- The peak rate is higher than single-rate. At ~28–30p/kWh, the E10 peak rate sits above the 26.11p/kWh capped flat rate, so usage outside the windows costs you more than it would on a standard tariff.
- You need to genuinely shift load. If you cannot move at least ~40% of consumption into the ten off-peak hours, a flat or fixed tariff is usually cheaper.
- Few suppliers offer it. Switching choice is limited mainly to EDF and British Gas, so you may not always find the cheapest headline tariff on E10.
- Window timing is fixed by your DNO. You cannot choose your slots, and the afternoon window may not line up with when you are home – check the regional times before committing.
- Compare against single-rate heat-pump tariffs. Products like Octopus Cosy (three daily cheap slots) can beat E10 for some heat-pump homes – always run both through the comparison.
How to switch to an Economy 10 tariff
- Check your meter type. If you already have an E10 mechanical or RTS meter, you can switch directly. If you have a single-rate SMETS2 smart meter, EDF or British Gas will reconfigure it for E10 – typically 1–2 weeks.
- Estimate your off-peak share. Take a meter reading after a full week. If 40% or more of your consumption falls into the morning, afternoon and overnight off-peak blocks, E10 will beat a flat tariff at the ~26p/kWh cap rate.
- Pick EDF Economy 10 first. At ~14.8p/kWh off-peak it is the cheapest E10 in August 2026. British Gas Multi-rate at ~15.1p is a close second, handy if you already hold British Gas gas supply.
- Use the comparison form. We confirm regional E10 window timings, your DNO standing charge, and which supplier configures E10 fastest for your meter type.
- Time your daytime appliance use. Run the dishwasher and laundry around 14:00 and let the heat pump run hard 13:30–16:30 to bank thermal mass for the early-evening peak. Pushing 50% of load to off-peak roughly doubles E10’s payback versus a flat tariff.
Frequently asked questions – Economy 10
What is the cheapest Economy 10 off-peak rate in August 2026?
In August 2026 the cheapest E10 off-peak unit rate is EDF Economy 10 at approximately 14.8p/kWh across all three windows, followed by British Gas Multi-rate at ~15.1p/kWh. Default cap-tracking E10 sits at 16–17p/kWh depending on region. Confirm your local rate via our comparison form.
When do the three E10 off-peak windows occur?
Window times are set by your DNO and total 10 hours per day. The most common pattern is a 3-hour morning window (~04:30–07:30), a 3-hour afternoon window (~13:30–16:30) and a 4-hour overnight window (~20:30–00:30). Exact times vary by region and meter type – check your bill or meter docket.
Is Economy 10 better than Economy 7?
It depends on your load profile. For pure overnight loads (storage heaters, EV charging) Economy 7 wins because the off-peak unit rate is lower (~12.5p vs ~14.8p). For load that spreads across the day (heat pumps, hot-water top-ups, work-from-home appliances), Economy 10 wins because the off-peak window is longer and split into three. Run both via our comparison form.
Which suppliers offer Economy 10 in August 2026?
Only a handful actively market E10 in 2026: EDF Energy (Economy 10 at ~14.8p off-peak) and British Gas (Multi-rate at ~15.1p off-peak) are the two main offerings. Octopus and OVO will configure smart meters for E10 on request, but their headline products are Economy 7 or Cosy. A few independents also list E10 by region.
Will the July 2026 price cap rise affect E10 rates?
Yes. The Ofgem price cap is £1,663/yr flows through to cap-tracking E10 rates, which move up to roughly 16–17p/kWh off-peak. Only Standard Variable tariffs rise – fixed deals are protected. Locking in EDF Economy 10 at ~14.8p shelters you from most of the increase.
Can I get Economy 10 on a SMETS2 smart meter?
Yes. SMETS2 smart meters can be configured for multi-rate billing including the three E10 windows. Your new supplier handles the reconfiguration via the DCC after switching – typically 1–2 weeks from the switch date. RTS-driven E10 meters are being replaced with SMETS2 free of charge.
Is Economy 10 worth it for a heat pump?
In most cases yes. A 12,000–18,000 kWh/year heat pump that runs through the day will see 50–70% of its consumption fall into the three E10 off-peak windows, saving an estimated £400–£700/year versus a flat ~26p tariff. Compare it against Octopus Cosy via our comparison form – Cosy is sometimes cheaper still.
What happens if I use electricity during the E10 peak rate?
You pay the peak rate (~28–30p/kWh on EDF Economy 10 or British Gas Multi-rate), which is slightly above the equivalent single-rate cap of 26.11p/kWh. That is why the savings only materialise if a meaningful slice – typically 40% or more – of your consumption sits in the three off-peak windows.
Find your best Economy 10 rate
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