Economy 10 explained — best E10 rates UK June 2026
Economy 10 (E10) gives you ten cheap off-peak hours each day, split into three windows: a morning window, an afternoon window, and an overnight window. The slightly higher off-peak unit rate (vs Economy 7) is offset by the longer total window, making it a strong fit for households with heat pumps, hot-water tanks or daytime electric load that can't sit only in a single 7-hour overnight slot. With the July 2026 price cap rising to £1,862/yr (+13%), the value of any genuine load-shifting has gone up sharply.
- Cheapest E10 off-peak today: EDF Economy 10 at ~14.8p/kWh.
- Typical windows: three slots covering morning, afternoon and overnight (10 hours total).
- Best fit: heat-pump households, hot-water tanks, daytime electric load.
- Ofgem context: July 2026 cap £1,862/yr (+13%) makes the load-shift more valuable.
Compare Economy 10 tariffs in one place
Economy 10 is the niche product of UK retail electricity — only EDF, British Gas (as “Multi-rate”) and a handful of smaller suppliers actively market it in June 2026. The compensating factor is that E10's three-window design fits modern heat-pump load profiles 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 the most honest tariff for you.
Tell us your postcode (so we can confirm your DNO and which E10 windows apply locally) plus your heat-pump / hot-water setup and we'll match you against the cheapest qualifying E10 tariff verified June 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 in June 2026. Takes about 60 seconds.
Best UK Economy 10 rates table — verified June 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 are broadly aligned with the April 2026 cap level of ~63p/day for electricity. Regional variation: highest in Merseyside & N Wales (~70p/day), lowest in East Midlands (~58p/day).
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Peak rate | Standing charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDF Economy 10 | ~14.8p/kWh | ~28p/kWh | ~63p/day |
| British Gas Multi-rate | ~15.1p/kWh | ~30p/kWh | ~63p/day |
| Default cap-tracking E10 (regional) | 16–17p/kWh | 30–32p/kWh | ~63p/day |
All rates updated June 2026. The exact split of the three off-peak 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 intention is that storage heaters and hot-water cylinders can be “topped up” both overnight and during the day, smoothing thermal output.
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 E7 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 much better. EDF Economy 10 at ~14.8p/kWh off-peak vs a flat ~27p/kWh saves £400–£700/year on a typical heat-pump household. verified June 2026.
How E10 night windows work — regional timing
Like Economy 7, Economy 10 windows are set by your DNO and vary by region. The total off-peak time is always 10 hours but the split varies. Typical May 2026 windows:
| 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 same RTS withdrawal that affects E7 also applies here — your supplier will replace it with a SMETS2 smart meter free of charge over 2025–2026, retaining your E10 tariff. Use our comparison form to start a switch.
Economy 10 vs Economy 7 — which one wins?
Storage heaters only
E7 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 deal.
Heat pump (daytime load)
E10 wins. EDF Economy 10 captures morning + afternoon + overnight heat-pump load at 14.8p whereas E7 only catches 30% of the run-time.
Hot-water tank + WFH
E10 wins. Daytime laundry / dishwasher / immersion top-up runs during the afternoon off-peak window. E7 forces it all overnight or peak.
How to switch to an Economy 10 tariff in June 2026
- Check your meter type. If you already have an E10 mechanical / 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. Submit a meter reading after a full week. If 40%+ of your consumption falls into the morning + afternoon + overnight off-peak blocks, E10 will beat a flat Fixed tariff at ~27p/kWh.
- Pick EDF Economy 10 first. At ~14.8p/kWh off-peak it's the cheapest E10 in June 2026. British Gas Multi-rate at ~15.1p is a close second, useful if you already hold British Gas gas supply.
- Use our comparison form. We confirm regional E10 window timings, DNO standing charge, and which supplier configures E10 fastest for your meter type.
- Time daytime appliance use. Dishwasher 14:00, laundry 14:00, heat pump aggressive run 13:30–16:30 to bank thermal mass for the early-evening peak. Pushing 50% load to off-peak doubles E10's payback vs a flat tariff.
Frequently asked questions — Economy 10 (June 2026)
What is the cheapest Economy 10 off-peak rate in June 2026?
as of early June 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 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. 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) E7 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 appliance use), E10 wins because the off-peak window is longer and split. Run the numbers via our comparison form.
Which suppliers offer Economy 10 in June 2026?
Only a handful actively market E10 in 2026: EDF Energy (Economy 10 tariff at ~14.8p off-peak) and British Gas (Multi-rate tariff 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 E7 or Cosy. A few independents (e.g. Utility Warehouse) also list E10 by region.
Will the July 2026 price cap affect E10 rates?
Yes. The Ofgem default tariff price cap rising to £1,862/yr from 1 July 2026 (+13%) flows through to E10 cap-tracking rates which will rise to 16–17p/kWh off-peak. Locking in EDF Economy 10 at 14.8p today shelters you from most of the increase — 30 days remaining.
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 switch date. RTS-driven E10 meters are being replaced with SMETS2 free of charge over 2025–2026.
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 £400–£700/year vs a flat 27p tariff. Compare directly against Octopus Cosy (13p/kWh, 3 slots) 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 flat single-rate tariff (~27p/kWh). That's why the savings only materialise if a meaningful slice (typically 40%+) of your consumption sits in the three off-peak windows.
Lock in a competitive E10 rate before 1 July 2026
The July 2026 Ofgem price cap takes effect in 30 days at £1,862/yr (+13% / +£221). Default cap-tracking E10 off-peak rates rise to ~16–17p/kWh — locking in EDF Economy 10 at 14.8p today shelters you from most of the increase.
Send us your postcode and heat-pump / hot-water setup. We confirm regional E10 window timing, your DNO standing charge, and the cheapest qualifying E10 tariff verified June 2026.
Find your best Economy 10 rate
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