Economy 7 Tariffs UK 2026: Compare the Cheapest Day & Night Rates

Compare Economy 7 tariffs — whole-of-market, updated daily

Economy 7 tariffs charge two electricity unit rates: a higher day rate and a cheaper night rate for a set block of off-peak hours. Whether you save money depends on how much electricity you can shift to overnight and what appliances you're running.

Use the comparison form to get a tailored result. We'll match you against Economy 7 tariffs available for your meter type and region, and flag any options likely to cut your annual bill.

What you'll need (takes about 2 minutes)

• Your postcode (to check which Economy 7 tariffs are available in your region)
• A contact email and number (so we can send your personalised tariff results)
• Optional: your current supplier and whether you have storage heating or an EV

Cheaper overnight electricity

Pay a lower unit rate for up to seven off-peak hours every night — ideal for heating water, running storage heaters, or charging an EV when grid demand is at its lowest.

Built for electric heating homes

Economy 7 is the standard tariff for flats and houses with storage heaters — charge cheaply overnight and release warmth throughout the day without touching the day rate.

A clearer switching decision

Comparing day and night rates side-by-side makes it easy to see whether Economy 7 beats a single-rate tariff for your usage pattern — or whether switching away could save you more.

What you pay for

Best overnight uses for Economy 7

1. Storage heaters — charge at the cheap night rate, release heat during the day.
2. Immersion hot water heater — set on a timer to heat during off-peak hours.
3. EV home charging — plug in overnight for the cheapest possible charge cost.
4. Timered appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) — run during off-peak hours where safe.

If the majority of your electricity is used in the daytime — cooking, home working, electric showers — Economy 7's higher day rate may leave you paying more overall than a standard single-rate tariff.

Economy 7 is likely to save you money if…

• You heat your home with storage heaters that charge overnight.
• You can shift a significant share of electricity to nights — hot water, EV charging, appliances.
• Your property is all-electric (no mains gas) and you use timers or smart controls.
• You know your off-peak window and can reliably use it.

A single-rate tariff may be cheaper if…

• Most of your electricity is used during the day — cooking, working from home, showers.
• You have little or no overnight load and don't use storage heating or charge an EV.
• The Economy 7 day rate is noticeably higher than equivalent single-rate tariffs.
• You prefer simpler billing with a single unit rate.

The gap between day and night unit rates

The wider the spread between your day rate and night rate, the more you can save by shifting usage — as long as your daytime electricity consumption stays low.

Standing charge

Standing charges vary significantly between suppliers and regions. For low-usage households, the daily standing charge can matter as much as unit rates when calculating total annual cost.

Your day/night usage split

If most of your electricity use falls during the day, Economy 7's higher day rate can wipe out your night savings. Storage heaters and overnight EV charging are the fastest ways to improve your night usage share.

Best practice for storage heater Economy 7 savings

• Set your heater to charge only during confirmed off-peak hours (check your meter timings with your supplier).
• Adjust input and output controls daily to avoid running out of stored heat before the evening.
• Use the boost function sparingly — boost electricity is almost always billed at the higher day rate.
• Improve insulation and draught-proofing to retain stored heat longer and reduce the need for boost.

Signs your Economy 7 storage heating isn't working efficiently

• You're relying on daytime boost most days — this means you're paying the high day rate for most of your heating.
• Your hot water is heating during the day due to a mis-set timer.
• You're only home in the evenings — a modern heat pump or EV tariff may suit you better.
• Your Economy 7 day rate is notably higher than comparable single-rate tariffs in your region.

Not knowing your exact off-peak hours

Economy 7 off-peak hours vary by region and supplier — they're not always 11pm–7am. Confirm the exact window with your supplier and set all timers (immersion heater, EV charger, appliances) to match.

Assuming Economy 7 is automatically cheaper

The Economy 7 day rate is typically higher than a standard single-rate tariff. If your overnight usage is low, you may end up paying more overall — always compare total annual costs before committing.

Submitting meter readings in the wrong order

Swapping day and night meter readings can significantly distort your bill. Check your meter or bill carefully to confirm which register is Rate 1 (day) and which is Rate 2 (night) before submitting.

What time does Economy 7 switch to the cheaper night rate?

There is no single universal Economy 7 start time. The off-peak window is typically seven hours overnight — often between 11pm and 7am — but exact timings vary by region, meter and supplier. Always confirm your specific off-peak hours with your supplier before setting timers or switching tariff.

Can I get Economy 7 without storage heaters?

Yes — Economy 7 is available to any household with a compatible meter, including those without storage heaters. It's worth considering if you charge an EV overnight, use an immersion water heater, or can reliably shift appliance usage to off-peak hours. Without significant overnight load, a single-rate tariff is usually cheaper.

What is the difference between Economy 7 and Economy 10?

Economy 10 provides around ten hours of cheaper electricity per day — often split across three separate windows (morning, afternoon and overnight) rather than one continuous block. It's less widely available than Economy 7 and better suited to homes with high electric heating loads. Availability depends on your region, meter type and supplier.

Will switching tariff mean replacing my meter?

Not always. Some UK energy suppliers can switch you between Economy 7 and a single-rate tariff without a physical meter replacement, while others require a reconfiguration or full meter exchange. We'll flag any meter requirements during your comparison so there are no surprises.

Why are my Economy 7 bills higher in winter?

Higher winter bills on Economy 7 are usually driven by increased electric heating demand. If your storage heaters run out of overnight charge and you top up using the daytime boost, that extra usage is billed at the higher day rate — which can add substantially to winter bills compared to summer months.

Do I need to submit two meter readings on Economy 7?

Yes — Economy 7 meters have two registers that record day and night usage separately. Your bill will show two readings and two kWh totals. Smart meter customers may have this split reported automatically, but it's worth checking your supplier app to confirm both registers are being tracked correctly.

Whole-of-market, updated daily

We compare Economy 7 and single-rate tariffs from every UK supplier — not just a panel — so you always see the cheapest deals available in your region and for your meter type.

Plain-English guidance on day/night rates

We translate day and night unit rates into real annual costs — not just p/kWh figures — so you can see clearly whether Economy 7 saves you money based on how you actually use electricity.

Help with confusing Economy 7 meters

Rate 1 / Rate 2, smart meter screens, multi-register readings — we'll help you make sense of what you have, confirm your off-peak hours, and identify what you can switch to.