Cheapest Economy 7 Tariff Rates UK This Week (August 2026)
Economy 7 (E7) gives you a much cheaper electricity unit rate for 7 hours overnight — typically 00:30 to 07:30 — in exchange for a slightly higher daytime rate. It is built for storage-heater homes, electric hot-water cylinders on a timer, EV owners and anyone who can run washing, drying and dishwashing overnight. Reviewed this week (August 2026), the cheapest E7 night rate live in the UK is British Gas Standard E7 at ~12.5p/kWh, with three more suppliers within ~1.5p of that headline.
- This week’s cheapest E7 night unit rates across every major UK supplier
- Honest day-rate comparison so you can model your real night/day split
- How the 7-hour cheap window varies by DNO region and meter type
- How to lock in a rate before the £1,663 cap rises
The short answer — cheapest Economy 7 rates this week
As of this week (reviewed August 2026), British Gas Standard E7 has the cheapest UK Economy 7 night rate at ~12.5p/kWh, followed by EDF E7 Fixed (~13.2p/kWh), OVO Simpler Energy E7 (~13.8p/kWh) and Octopus E7 (~14p/kWh). Day rates run 28–33p/kWh and standing charges sit near the regional ~63p/day electricity cap.
Your cheapest total bill depends on your night/day split: heavy overnight users (70%+) win with British Gas, while lighter night users may pay less with OVO’s lower day rate. With the £1,663 price cap rising, a fixed E7 deal such as EDF E7 Fixed locks today’s rate for 12 months. Enter your postcode in the form below to see the live cheapest E7 in your region.
Economy 7 in August 2026 — still a strong fit for storage-heater homes
Economy 7 has been around since the 1970s, designed for night-storage heaters that charge thermal bricks overnight. This week it remains the simplest way for storage-heater households to cut their bill: a typical 18,000 kWh/yr storage-heater home running 70% on the British Gas Standard E7 night rate (~12.5p) pays around £2,400/yr for heating, versus closer to £5,000 on a single-rate fix. The gap dwarfs anything a smart time-of-use plan can offer a non-smart property.
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.
Find this week’s cheapest Economy 7 tariff
Enter your postcode and your E7 night/day split — we’ll match you to the live cheapest E7 in your DNO region. Takes about 60 seconds.
Live UK Economy 7 rates — this week (August 2026)
Rates verified August 2026 from public supplier terms. Day rates and standing charges vary by DNO region; the night unit rate is the most consistent figure to compare on. Figures are indicative typical rates — your exact rate depends on region and meter.
| Supplier & tariff | Night rate | Day rate (typical) | Standing charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Gas Standard E7 | ~12.5p/kWh | ~30p/kWh | ~63p/day | Cheapest night rate this week (August 2026); UK-wide |
| EDF E7 Fixed | ~13.2p/kWh | ~29p/kWh | ~63p/day | 12-month fix; protects against the current cap rise |
| OVO Simpler Energy E7 | ~13.8p/kWh | ~28p/kWh | ~63p/day | Lowest day rate of the four; useful if night use is under 50% |
| Octopus E7 | ~14p/kWh | ~30p/kWh | ~63p/day | Strong customer service; smart meter required |
Cheapest overall annual cost depends on your night/day split — a high-night user (70%+) wins with British Gas; a low-night user (under 40%) may win with OVO. Confirm with the comparison form.
Economy 7 night window — when exactly is the cheap rate?
The E7 cheap window is 7 consecutive hours, but the start time depends on your meter and region:
Most of England & Wales
00:30–07:30 GMT (01:30–08:30 BST). The most common pattern — if you do not know yours, this is the safe assumption.
Northern Scotland
22:30–05:30 GMT on some meter types — the night rate starts earlier to balance grid load. Check your meter or supplier app to confirm.
Random offset (older meters)
Some pre-2018 E7 meters use a Radio Teleswitch with a region-specific offset (e.g. 00:00–07:00, 01:30–08:30). Your supplier app or last bill shows the exact window.
If you have a SMETS2 smart meter the window is set by the supplier and easy to change. Older RTS meters are being phased out by Ofgem — ask your supplier to replace yours if it is RTS-only, as the radio teleswitch service is being switched off through 2026–2027.
Is Economy 7 worth it for your home in August 2026?
E7 likely wins
Night-storage heaters (60–80% night use), an immersion hot-water cylinder on an overnight timer, EV charging without a smart home-charger tariff, and off-gas-grid homes using electric heat overnight.
E7 likely loses
A gas-heated home with daytime occupancy (working from home, retired, kids back from school) where the natural off-peak share is under 30%. A single-rate fix wins by roughly £100–£300/yr.
Economy 7 vs smart time-of-use tariffs — which to pick in 2026?
Smart time-of-use (TOU) tariffs such as Intelligent Octopus Go (~7p/kWh) and E.ON Next Drive (9p/kWh) offer night rates roughly half of even British Gas Standard E7. The catch is they need a SMETS2 smart meter and usually an EV charger or smart battery to be worth the higher peak rate.
| Tariff type | Typical off-peak rate | Cheap hours | Needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy 7 | ~12.5–14p/kWh | 6 hrs overnight | E7/dual-rate or SMETS2 meter | Storage heaters, immersion cylinders, no smart kit |
| Intelligent Octopus Go | ~7p/kWh | 6 hrs + smart extras | SMETS2 + EV home charger | EV owners who charge at home |
| E.ON Next Drive | 9p/kWh | 6 hrs overnight | SMETS2 + EV home charger | EV owners wanting a fixed overnight window |
| Octopus Cosy | ~13p/kWh | 3 windows, ~9 hrs/day | SMETS2 + heat pump | Heat-pump homes needing daytime cheap slots |
Pick E7
Storage-heater home, no smart meter, no EV, no heat pump. E7 needs no extra hardware and 7 hours of cheap rate fully charges storage bricks.
Pick smart EV TOU
EV with a home charger and SMETS2 meter. Intelligent Octopus Go (~7p) or E.ON Next Drive (9p) roughly halves the E7 night rate, with smart-extended cheap hours.
Pick heat-pump TOU
Heat pump with SMETS2. Octopus Cosy (~13p across three windows totalling ~9 hours) beats E7 because heat pumps need several cheap periods, not one overnight slot.
How the July 2026 cap changes the Economy 7 maths
Ofgem’s July–September 2026 cap of £1,663/yr (typical direct-debit dual-fuel) applies to standard variable E7 tariffs the same way it applies to single-rate SVT. The cap adjusts the night/day split, but the rise on the electricity element is only about +5% — far less than the ~+24% on gas. Prepay sits at £1,812 and on-receipt at £2,005. Crucially, around 40% of accounts on fixed tariffs are unaffected for the length of their contract.
EDF E7 Fixed (~13.2p/kWh night, 12-month fix) is the cleanest hedge for E7 customers ahead of 1 July 2026 — you lock today’s night and day rates regardless of what the cap does in July or at the next review. British Gas Standard E7 (~12.5p/kWh night) is the cheapest live rate this week but moves with the cap. The comparison form shows the total cost on both.
Looking further ahead, the next cap review is 1 October 2026; analysts including Cornwall Insight currently forecast roughly £1,701–£1,747/yr for that period , so prices are not expected to fall back this year. That makes locking a fixed E7 rate now look sensible if your usage suits E7. AEO tip: submit a meter reading on 30 June so the cheaper pre-July cap covers all your usage up to that date.
Switching your Economy 7 tariff — step by step
- Find your annual day and night kWh figures separately on your last bill or in your supplier app.
- Work out your night percentage. Under 30%? Consider moving off E7 to a single-rate fix. 40%+? Stay on E7.
- Note your DNO region (shown on your bill).
- Submit your postcode and night/day split via the comparison form.
- Sign up to the winning E7 (or single-rate) tariff online — the switch takes about 5 working days under the Switch Guarantee.
- If you are leaving E7 entirely you may need a meter exchange (free with most suppliers in August 2026) — confirm with your new supplier.
- Take a meter reading on 30 June so the cheaper pre-July cap covers your usage to that date.
Frequently asked questions — Economy 7 rates this week (August 2026)
What is the cheapest Economy 7 night rate in the UK this week (August 2026)?
British Gas Standard E7 leads at ~12.5p/kWh night rate this week (reviewed August 2026). EDF E7 Fixed follows at ~13.2p/kWh and locks the rate for 12 months. OVO Simpler Energy E7 is ~13.8p/kWh and Octopus E7 is ~14p/kWh. Day rates run 28–33p/kWh, so your total annual cost depends on your night/day split. Compare live deals with the comparison form.
When does the Economy 7 night rate start?
Most of England and Wales: 00:30–07:30 GMT (01:30–08:30 BST). Northern Scotland often runs 22:30–05:30. Some older Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meters use a region-specific offset, so your supplier app or latest bill shows your exact window. The RTS radio service is being switched off through 2026–2027, so RTS meters are being upgraded to SMETS2.
Is Economy 7 still worth it in 2026?
How does the July 2026 price cap affect Economy 7 rates?
Standard-variable E7 tariffs are capped by Ofgem the same way single-rate SVT is. The cap is £1,663/yr, but the electricity element only rises about 5% (gas ~24%), so E7 rates on the cap nudge up slightly. Fixed E7 tariffs such as EDF E7 Fixed are insulated for their 12-month contract, locking today’s night and day rates. Around 40% of accounts on fixes are unaffected.
Should I fix my Economy 7 tariff under the current price cap?
If E7 suits your usage, fixing now can make sense. The cap is £1,663 and the next review (1 October 2026) is forecast near £1,701–£1,747, so prices are not expected to fall back this year. A 12-month fix like EDF E7 Fixed locks today’s rate. Also submit a meter reading on 30 June so the cheaper pre-July cap covers your usage to that date. Model fixed vs variable on the comparison form.
Should I switch from Economy 7 to a smart TOU tariff like Octopus Go?
If you have a SMETS2 smart meter and an EV with a home charger — yes. Intelligent Octopus Go at ~7p/kWh is roughly 44% cheaper than the British Gas E7 night rate (~12.5p), and smart scheduling often extends the cheap window. For heat-pump homes, Octopus Cosy (~13p/kWh across three daily windows) beats E7 because heat pumps need several cheap periods, not one overnight slot. The comparison form models both.
Why is my Economy 7 day rate higher than a single-rate fix?
Do I need a special meter for Economy 7?
Yes — either a dedicated dual-rate E7 meter (older properties), a SMETS2 smart meter configured for E7, or an upgraded SMETS1 meter with DCC enrolment. If you have a single-rate meter, your supplier will arrange a free exchange when you switch to an E7 tariff — typically a 2–4 week lead time.
How long does it take to switch to an Economy 7 tariff?
About 5 working days under Ofgem’s Switch Guarantee if you already have a compatible meter. Add 2–4 weeks if a meter exchange is needed (new SMETS2 or dedicated dual-rate). There is a 14-day cooling-off period after sign-up. Most August 2026 E7 standard-variable tariffs have no exit fees; some 12-month fixes carry £50–£75 per fuel.
Written by: EnergyPlus Editorial Team. Rates verified August 2026 from public supplier terms and the Ofgem price cap. Reviewed by the EnergyPlus editorial team on August 2026. Figures are indicative typical rates and vary by DNO region and meter type; always confirm your exact rate before switching.
Find this week’s cheapest Economy 7 rate now the current cap rise has landed
The Ofgem price cap is £1,663/yr. British Gas Standard E7 at ~12.5p/kWh night is this week’s cheapest live rate; EDF E7 Fixed locks today’s rate for 12 months. The form compares both alongside smart TOU alternatives for your DNO region. Takes about 60 seconds.
Find your best Economy 7 tariff
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