What is an Economy 10 tariff in the UK?

Economy 10 (E10) is a type of electricity tariff that gives you 10 hours of cheaper ‘off-peak’ electricity each day, split across day, evening and/or overnight time bands (the exact times depend on your meter and region). You pay a higher ‘peak’ rate outside those hours, so it’s best suited to homes that can shift a large share of electricity use into the off-peak periods—typically storage heaters and hot water cylinders. If you’re unsure whether your meter supports Economy 10, compare your current setup and usage pattern before switching.

Is Economy 10 cheaper than a standard single-rate tariff?

Economy 10 can be cheaper than a standard single-rate tariff if you can use a meaningful proportion of your electricity during the off-peak hours (for example, charging storage heaters and heating hot water during off-peak). If most of your electricity is used during peak times, you may pay more overall because the peak unit rate is typically higher. A quick way to judge is to estimate what percentage of your usage you can reliably move to off-peak and then compare annual costs across tariffs.

Who is Economy 10 best for?

Economy 10 is usually best for households with electric heating—especially storage heaters—and a hot water cylinder, where heating can be scheduled to use off-peak electricity. It can also suit households that can run high-consumption appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer) during off-peak windows. If you have gas central heating or you’re rarely at home during the day and use most electricity in the evening peak, Economy 10 may be less beneficial.

What are the off-peak times for Economy 10?

Economy 10 off-peak times vary by electricity region, meter type, and whether your meter is radio-teleswitch, smart, or another setup. The 10 cheaper hours are often split into blocks (for example overnight plus afternoon and late evening), but the exact schedule can differ. Before switching, confirm the off-peak time bands with your supplier and check whether they align with when you can actually use electricity—this is crucial to making savings.

Can I switch supplier if I’m on Economy 10?

Often yes, but your options may be more limited than for standard single-rate tariffs because not every supplier supports Economy 10 or your specific meter configuration. When comparing deals, confirm the supplier can support your existing meter (or will replace it) and that the off-peak times and rates are clear. If you’re considering a switch, it can help to have a recent bill showing your peak/off-peak split.

Is Economy 10 the same as Economy 7?

No. Economy 7 provides 7 hours of off-peak electricity (usually overnight), while Economy 10 provides 10 hours, often split across the day and night. Economy 10 can be more flexible for some electric-heating households because it may include daytime off-peak periods, but it’s not universally available and tariffs vary more by region and meter setup.

What are the risks of switching to Economy 10?

The main risk is paying more if you can’t shift enough usage into off-peak periods. Peak rates can be significantly higher, so evening-heavy households may lose out. Another risk is compatibility: some properties have complex metering (multiple registers, heating circuits) that can limit tariff choice or complicate switching. To reduce risk, confirm your meter type, understand your off-peak time bands, and compare projected annual costs using your actual peak/off-peak usage if possible.

How can I tell if I’m using enough off-peak electricity to benefit?

Check a recent bill for your peak and off-peak kWh readings (or smart meter app data if available). If a substantial share of your usage is already off-peak—or could be moved off-peak by scheduling heating and hot water—Economy 10 may be worth considering. As a practical step, list your biggest electricity uses (heating, immersion heater, dryer) and estimate which can run during off-peak windows, then compare tariff quotes based on that split.

How do I switch to an Economy 10 tariff?

To switch, first confirm your meter can support Economy 10 (or whether a meter exchange is needed). Next, compare Economy 10 rates and the off-peak schedule offered, then apply with the supplier and follow the switching process. If you’d like help understanding whether Economy 10 is right for your home, visit https://www.energyplus.co.uk/ to explore options and guidance before making a decision.

Should I switch to an Economy 10 tariff in the UK?

Q: Do I need a special meter for Economy 10?

Yes. Economy 10 requires a meter capable of recording peak and off-peak consumption separately. This may be a multi-rate meter or a compatible smart meter set up for E10 time bands. If you currently have a single-rate meter, you’ll normally need a meter change to move to Economy 10. Always ask about any meter exchange process, timelines, and whether there are any charges before you switch.

Economy 10 can cut running costs if you use lots of electric heating and can shift usage into off-peak hours. Compare whole-of-market Economy 10 and standard tariffs with EnergyPlus to see what actually works for your home.

Check if Economy 10 is available at your address and meter type
See whether your off-peak hours match your lifestyle and heating setup
Compare whole-of-market options (not just one supplier) and switch if it stacks up

Check Economy 10 deals Learn how Economy 10 works

Home energy only. Quotes are tailored to your meter and region. Switching typically takes days, with no interruption to supply.

Compare Economy 10 vs standard tariffs (whole-of-market)

Economy 10 (often written E10) is a multi-rate electricity tariff with 10 off-peak hours split across the day and night. It’s usually aimed at homes with electric storage heating, panel heaters, or high electric hot-water use.

The catch: Economy 10 isn’t available everywhere, and the off-peak times vary by region, meter and supplier. That’s why the safest way to answer “should I switch?” is to compare your options based on your postcode and meter type.

Good to know: You can usually switch supplier without any visit. Your electricity stays on throughout. If you have a smart meter, suppliers may still treat you as Economy 10 depending on how your meter is configured.

What we’ll check for you

Whether Economy 10 is offered for your region and meter setup
Whether a single-rate tariff could be cheaper for your usage pattern
How your standing charge and day/night rates compare across suppliers
If switching meter type could be worthwhile (and what to watch for)

Get personalised Economy 10 options

Tell us where you live and how to contact you. We’ll use this to match you with suitable tariffs for your meter and area.

Tip: If you’re on storage heaters or you heat water with electricity, Economy 10 can be worth checking. If you’re mostly out during the day, Economy 7 may sometimes fit better.

Is Economy 10 right for your home?

Economy 10 is designed for households that can move a meaningful amount of electricity use into cheaper off-peak windows. You’ll usually benefit most when you have electric heating and can run high-load appliances or immersion heating during off-peak periods.

You may suit Economy 10 if…

You use storage heaters or other electric heating
You can heat water off-peak (e.g., immersion)
You’re at home for part of the day and can time usage
You’re happy to use timers/controls to avoid peak rates

You may be better staying on single-rate if…

You have gas central heating and low electric demand
Most usage is evenings (cooking, laundry, entertainment)
You can’t control heating/hot water times
You prefer simple billing and predictable rates

Questions to answer before switching

What are your actual off-peak hours on your meter?
How much usage can you move off-peak (realistically)?
Is the standing charge higher than your current tariff?
Will a meter change cost money or affect your heating controls?

Economy 10: benefits, drawbacks and who it helps

The best Economy 10 tariff for you depends on your household routine and heating setup. Here’s a balanced view so you can decide quickly.

Potential advantages

More off-peak hours than Economy 7 (useful if you’re home in daytime)
Can reduce costs for electric heating and hot water when timed well
May improve comfort by allowing some cheaper daytime top-up heating
Useful for heavy users who can run appliances off-peak (dishwasher, washing machine)

Common drawbacks

Peak unit rates can be higher than single-rate tariffs
Availability can be limited by supplier, region and meter type
Off-peak times vary and may not match your routine
Some homes may need a meter configuration change to access E10 deals

Quick rule of thumb: The more electricity you can shift into off-peak hours (especially heating and hot water), the more likely Economy 10 can beat a single-rate tariff. If you can’t shift much, a single-rate tariff often wins.

How Economy 10 works (hours, rates and billing)

Economy 10 tariffs charge different rates depending on time of day. You’ll typically see a day (peak) rate and an off-peak rate applied to 10 hours total, often split across overnight + daytime + evening blocks. Your exact times are set by your meter configuration and network region.

Typical Economy 10 schedule (example)

Times vary, but an example split could look like this:

Period	Lower-rate hours	Why it matters
Night	~ 00:00–05:00	Charging storage heaters / heating water overnight
Daytime	~ 13:00–16:00	Top-up heat and run appliances when you’re home
Evening	~ 20:00–22:00	Cheaper cooking/laundry window for some households

Example only. Your meter may have different blocks or seasonal changes.

How to confirm your off-peak times

Check your bill: look for “Rate 1 / Rate 2” (or similar) and any timing notes.
Look at your meter: some Economy meters show which register is active at certain times.
Ask your current supplier: request your Economy 10 switching times for your meter serial number.
Compare tariffs that match: the “best deal” only works if the hours line up with your usage.

Meter registers: Many Economy 10 setups use two registers (day/off-peak). Some legacy setups can be more complex. We can still compare, but accuracy depends on matching the correct tariff type.

Will Economy 10 save you money?

Savings come down to one question: what percentage of your electricity can you use at the off-peak rate? Economy 10 often has a cheaper off-peak unit rate, but a higher peak unit rate (and sometimes a different standing charge).

A practical way to estimate

Find your current annual kWh usage (electricity only).
Estimate your shiftable usage (heating, hot water, appliances on timers).
Compare with the Economy 10 day rate, off-peak rate and standing charge.
Don’t forget seasonal behaviour: winter heating use can change everything.

Hint: Storage heater homes can often shift a large chunk of usage overnight. If your daytime/evening usage is high (cooking, laundry), those units may be charged at the higher rate unless they fall in your off-peak blocks.

Common “money-leak” mistakes

Using immersion heating during peak hours by accident (no timer or mis-set timer)
Storage heater controls set too low overnight, then relying on expensive boost heating later
Not checking that your off-peak times changed after a meter/supplier update
Switching to Economy 10 when you actually need Economy 7 or single-rate

Economy 10 vs Economy 7 vs single-rate (at a glance)

Tariff type	Cheaper hours	Best for	Watch out for
Economy 10	10 hours split	Electric heating + daytime home use	Limited availability; higher peak rate
Economy 7	7 hours overnight	Storage heating with overnight charging	Less helpful if you need cheap daytime energy
Single-rate	One rate	Most gas-heated homes; simple billing	No cheap window for heavy electric heating

Economy 10 eligibility: meters, regions and switching

Economy 10 isn’t just a “tariff choice” — it’s often tied to the type of meter setup you have. Some suppliers offer fewer Economy 10 options than Economy 7 or single-rate, and some regions have more legacy Economy 10 metering than others.

Meter types you might have

Two-rate meter (day / off-peak)
Smart meter configured for multi-rate billing
Legacy heating meter setups (varies by region)

When Economy 10 can be tricky

Your supplier doesn’t support Economy 10 in your area
Your meter is set up for Economy 7, not Economy 10
Heating controls depend on a specific switching signal

Before you request any meter change

Ask if there are fees or minimum terms
Check impact on storage heaters and hot-water timing
Confirm whether you can revert if it doesn’t work out

Whole-of-market comparison helps here: rather than guessing, we’ll check which suppliers can actually bill your meter correctly and what rates are available for your postcode.

Economy 10 FAQs

Is Economy 10 cheaper than Economy 7?

Not always. Economy 10 gives you more off-peak hours, which can be better if you need cheaper energy during the day. But the peak rate can be higher, and availability is more limited. The best choice depends on your usage pattern and the exact rates available for your meter and region.

Do I need a special meter for Economy 10?

Usually you need a multi-rate meter setup that supports Economy 10 switching times. Some smart meters can support multi-rate billing, but it depends on configuration and supplier support. If you’re unsure, use the comparison form and we’ll help identify suitable options.

What are the Economy 10 off-peak times?

They vary by region and meter configuration. Many Economy 10 meters split the 10 hours into 2–3 blocks across the day. Always confirm your actual off-peak windows before switching or changing routines.

Can I switch away from Economy 10 to a normal tariff?

Often yes, but it may involve changing how your meter is billed or configured. In some cases a meter exchange may be needed. It’s worth checking potential charges and the impact on electric heating controls before you switch.

Is Economy 10 good for electric cars?

It can be, if your charging can be scheduled inside your off-peak windows. However, some EV tariffs have different structures that may beat Economy 10. A whole-of-market comparison is the quickest way to check what’s best for your home setup.

Will switching supplier affect my electricity supply?

No. Your electricity stays on. Switching changes who bills you, not who physically supplies the electricity to your home.

Looking for a faster answer? Check Economy 10 availability by postcode — it’s the quickest way to see if switching is likely to help.

Trust & reassurance

Whole-of-market approach

We compare across the market to help you find an Economy 10 or alternative tariff that fits your meter and routine — not just one provider’s range.

Tailored to your meter

Economy tariffs are easy to mis-quote if the meter type isn’t matched. We focus on correct tariff eligibility for your setup and postcode.

Clear next steps

If Economy 10 isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you what usually is — for example, Economy 7 or a single-rate tariff — so you can make a confident decision.

What customers say

“We weren’t sure if Economy 10 was even available for our meter. The comparison made it clear what we could switch to and what hours applied.”

Homeowner, Great Britain

“The biggest help was understanding day vs off-peak. We switched to a tariff that matched our storage heaters and stopped wasting peak units.”

Homeowner, UK

Ready to see if Economy 10 works for you?

Get a tailored comparison based on your postcode and contact details. If Economy 10 isn’t the best fit, we’ll help you compare suitable alternatives.

Whole-of-market comparison
Checks meter/tariff compatibility
No interruption to your supply

Start your comparison

Use the form above Read FAQs

If you’re unsure whether you have Economy 10, submit your postcode — we’ll help identify the right tariff type.

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Updated on 24 Feb 2026