Cheapest Time-of-Use Electricity Tariff UK (August 2026)
Time-of-use (TOU) tariffs charge you a different unit rate depending on the hour of the day. With Ofgem's July 2026 cap having risen to £1,663/yr, the best TOU plans cut your bill by 30–60% versus the standard variable tariff — but only if you have a smart meter and can run your biggest loads off-peak. This page lists every live UK TOU tariff for August 2026 with verified rates, the window times and a 60-second switching form.
- verified August 2026 off-peak rates from E.ON, Octopus, OVO, British Gas
- Honest peak-rate comparison so you can model your actual usage
- Heat pump, EV charger and night-storage homes — which tariff fits
- Whole-of-market lookup by postcode in under a minute
Why TOU tariffs win in August 2026
A typical UK home uses about 2,700 kWh of electricity a year. On the July 2026 cap that costs roughly £760 in unit charges alone (before standing charges). Shift 50% of that load into a 7p/kWh window and you save around £290 a year — without changing how much electricity you use, only when you use it. For EV drivers and heat-pump homes the saving is much larger because charging and heating dominate consumption and are highly schedulable.
The catch is the peak rate. Intelligent Octopus Go charges around 38p/kWh between 05:30 and 23:30 — about 8% more than the cap's day rate. So a household that can't shift load actually pays more. The decision comes down to one number: what fraction of your usage can you move into the cheap window? Get to 40% off-peak and almost every TOU plan beats a fixed tariff in August 2026.
Find the cheapest TOU tariff for your home
Enter your postcode and current usage and we'll match you to the live cheapest TOU plan in your DNO region. Takes about 60 seconds.
Live UK TOU tariff rates — verified August 2026
All rates below are for households with a working SMETS2 (or compatible SMETS1) smart meter. Standing charges are roughly in line with the regional Ofgem cap of ~63p/day for electricity. Off-peak windows are GMT/BST as published by each supplier.
| Tariff | Off-peak rate | Off-peak window | Peak rate (typical) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E.ON Next Drive | 9p/kWh | 00:00–07:00 | ~36p/kWh | EV drivers |
| Intelligent Octopus Go | 8p/kWh | 23:30–05:30 (+ smart extension) | ~38p/kWh | EV + battery storage |
| OVO Charge Anytime | ~14p/kWh | Smart-scheduled around your EV | ~35p/kWh | EV drivers without home assistant |
| British Gas EV Power | ~9p/kWh | 00:00–05:00 | ~37p/kWh | Existing BG dual-fuel customers |
| Octopus Cosy | 13p/kWh | 04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, 22:00–00:00 | ~42p/kWh (peak 16:00–19:00) | Heat pump homes |
Rates verified July 2026 from public supplier T&Cs. Your final unit rate depends on DNO region — get the personalised quote via the comparison form.
How time-of-use tariffs actually work
TOU tariffs need a smart meter sending half-hourly readings to your supplier. Without that, the supplier can't bill you the off-peak rate even if you genuinely used power at 02:00. If your smart meter is in "dumb mode" (no DCC connection), most suppliers will fix it free before switch-in — ask before you sign.
Static TOU
Fixed off-peak window every day (e.g. Intelligent Octopus Go 23:30–05:30). Easy to plan, no app needed for the basic schedule.
Smart-scheduled TOU
Supplier controls your EV charger or battery to grab the cheapest grid hour each night (OVO Charge Anytime, Intelligent Octopus). You get more off-peak hours than the headline window.
Multi-window TOU
Three or more cheap slots through the day (Octopus Cosy). Suits heat pumps that need to top up morning, afternoon and overnight rather than one big hit.
Cheapest EV charging tariffs in August 2026
If you charge a 60 kWh EV from 20% to 80% three times a week (~108 kWh/week) at 9p/kWh on E.ON Next Drive, that's £7.23/week — about £376/year of charging. The same charging on a fixed tariff at the July 2026 cap day rate (~28p/kWh) would cost £1,572/year. That £1,200 gap is why EV-specific TOU plans dominate.
E.ON Next Drive (9p)
Fixed overnight window, August 2026. Static 7-hour window 00:00–07:00. Works on any home charger — no smart integration required. Day rate sits slightly above the cap.
Intelligent Octopus Go (8p)
Smart-scheduled — Octopus picks the cheapest hours from 23:30 and extends the window if grid is over-supplied. Often gives 8–10 cheap hours not 6.
OVO Charge Anytime (~14p)
No fixed window — OVO charges your car at off-peak rate whenever it pulls power, even mid-afternoon. Useful for drivers who can't schedule.
British Gas EV Power (~9p)
Slightly higher rate but useful if you're already a British Gas dual-fuel customer and want one bill — switching effort is minimal.
Heat-pump tariffs — Octopus Cosy and alternatives
Heat pumps run all day, so a single overnight window doesn't help. Octopus Cosy gives three 3-hour cheap blocks at 13p/kWh — total 9 cheap hours covering pre-heat, midday top-up and pre-bed. Peak (16:00–19:00) costs around 42p/kWh, so smart thermostats matter: aim to coast through peak on stored heat.
For a typical 9,000 kWh/year heat-pump home running 80% on the 13p Cosy window, annual electricity for heating works out around £1,030 — versus £2,520 on the July 2026 capped day rate. as of July 2026, Cosy is the only mainstream multi-window heat-pump tariff in the UK; OVO and Good Energy are piloting equivalents that aren't yet open to new customers.
- Confirm your SMETS2 smart meter is working in half-hourly mode.
- Set your heat pump's weather-compensation curve to pre-heat during cheap windows.
- Use a smart thermostat schedule that coasts the property between 16:00 and 19:00.
- Submit your postcode through the comparison form to confirm Cosy is available in your DNO region.
How the July 2026 cap changes the maths
Ofgem's confirmed July–September 2026 cap of £1,663/yr (typical direct-debit dual-fuel) is a 13% rise — £209 more than the current cap. Gas unit rates climb 24% and electricity 5%. About 22 million UK accounts on fixed tariffs are unaffected for now, but anyone on a standard variable tariff (SVT) will feel it on the 1 July 2026 bill.
The cheapest 12-month fixed deals on our live panel are typically priced below the £1,663 cap, several with no exit fees — run your postcode through the comparison on this page for today's exact prices.
Switching to a TOU tariff — step by step
- Check you have a SMETS2 smart meter sending half-hourly data. Open your existing supplier's app — if you see usage in 30-minute increments, you're ready.
- Note your current annual kWh usage from your latest bill (or use 2,700 kWh as a default for a typical home).
- Estimate what % of your usage you can shift off-peak. EV households often hit 60%+; heat-pump homes 70% on Cosy.
- Use the comparison form on this page to get a quote for your postcode in August 2026.
- Sign up online — switch takes 5 working days under the new Switch Guarantee.
- Set your EV charger / heat pump / battery to use the cheap window automatically.
Frequently asked questions — TOU electricity tariffs (August 2026)
What is the cheapest time-of-use electricity tariff in the UK right now?
as of early August 2026 the cheapest headline off-peak rate is E.ON Next Drive at 9p/kWh (00:00–07:00). Intelligent Octopus Go follows at 8p/kWh (23:30–05:30, often smart-extended), and OVO Charge Anytime matches at ~14p/kWh with no fixed window. Run your postcode through the comparison form to see what's available in your DNO region.
Do I need a smart meter for a TOU tariff?
Yes. Every UK TOU tariff requires a SMETS2 (or DCC-enrolled SMETS1) smart meter sending half-hourly readings. Without it the supplier can't prove when you used electricity. If you don't have one, most suppliers including Octopus, OVO and E.ON will install one free before your switch completes — use the comparison form and we'll flag suppliers with the fastest install slots in August 2026.
Will a TOU tariff save me money if I don't have an EV or heat pump?
How does the Ofgem price cap affect TOU rates?
Ofgem's July 2026 cap of £1,663/yr applies to standard variable tariffs only. TOU tariffs are contracted separately — the 8p/kWh on Intelligent Octopus Go and 13p/kWh on Octopus Cosy are not capped by Ofgem, they're commercial offers. They are however protected by the contract length you sign, typically 12 months. Switching to a fix now locks in a rate below the current cap.
What's the best TOU tariff for a heat pump in 2026?
Octopus Cosy at 13p/kWh across three windows (04:00–07:00, 13:00–16:00, 22:00–00:00) is the only mainstream multi-window heat-pump tariff in the UK as of July 2026. Peak (16:00–19:00) is around 42p/kWh, so pair it with a smart thermostat that coasts through that window. Confirm availability in your region via the comparison form.
What is the peak rate on Intelligent Octopus Go?
Peak (05:30–23:30) is around 38p/kWh in August 2026 — about 8% above the July 2026 cap's day rate of ~28p/kWh. So if you can't shift at least 25–30% of your usage off-peak, you'll pay more than on a fixed tariff. The off-peak window itself is 23:30–05:30 with smart extension when grid supply is high.
Can I switch to a TOU tariff if I have an EV but no home charger?
How long does it take to switch to a TOU tariff?
Under Ofgem's Switch Guarantee, 5 working days from accepting the quote. If you need a smart meter installed first, add 2–4 weeks for the install slot. Cooling-off period is 14 days. There are no exit fees on Intelligent Octopus Go, OVO Charge Anytime or E.ON Next Drive in August 2026.
Lock in a competitive TOU rate below the current cap
The July 2026 cap takes effect Wednesday 1 July — 30 days from today. TOU tariffs let you sidestep most of the rise if you have a smart meter and an EV, heat pump or battery. Run your postcode through the form and we'll match you to the cheapest live plan in your DNO region.
Find your best TOU tariff
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