EnergyPlus · May 2026

Cheapest night rate electricity tariff for UK homes (June 2026)

Night-rate (off-peak) electricity tariffs let you pay less for kWh used outside peak hours. In May 2026 the cheapest options for UK homes are SMETS2 smart-meter EV tariffs — Intelligent Octopus Go, Octopus Cosy, EDF GoElectric and ScottishPower's EV tariff all offer overnight rates as low as 5–10p/kWh. Traditional Economy 7 is still around for legacy meters but has been overtaken on price. This page covers what's cheapest, who each tariff suits, and how to switch.

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Editorial information, not financial advice. Prices and policy can change — always confirm against the supplier and Ofgem.

Cheapest UK night-rate electricity tariffs — June 2026

EV-style smart-meter off-peak tariffs lead the market in May 2026 with overnight rates of 5–10p/kWh. Intelligent Octopus Go (6.7p/kWh equivalent during a 6-hour off-peak window) and EDF GoElectric remain the headline picks. Traditional Economy 7 night rates sit higher (~17–22p/kWh) and only make sense on legacy meters that can't be upgraded.

Quick checklist (May 2026):

  • Cheapest off-peak window: 5–10p/kWh on smart-meter EV tariffs in May 2026.
  • Intelligent Octopus Go, Octopus Cosy, EDF GoElectric, ScottishPower EV are the leading off-peak tariffs.
  • Traditional Economy 7 sits at 17–22p/kWh on the night rate — only for legacy meters.
  • SMETS2 smart meter required for the cheapest off-peak rates.
Last updated
May 2026
Reviewed by
Energy Specialist
Audience
UK households & small businesses

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Cheapest UK night-rate electricity tariffs (June 2026)

A clear, current overview to help you choose with confidence.

What ‘night rate’ actually means

Two flavours: traditional Economy 7 (7 hours of cheaper night-rate, typically 00:30–07:30, on a legacy two-rate meter) or smart time-of-use (off-peak windows defined per tariff, 5–10p/kWh on EV-style products).

Smart EV tariffs lead in 2026

Intelligent Octopus Go uses smart-charger integration to offer 6.7p/kWh equivalent during off-peak. Octopus Cosy offers two off-peak windows for heat-pump homes. EDF GoElectric and ScottishPower's EV tariff are competitive in different regions.

Who Economy 7 still suits

Legacy storage-heater homes that can't accept a smart-meter EV tariff because they don't have an EV or compatible smart appliance. Economy 7 night rates are higher than smart off-peak but still cheaper than single-rate for >40% night usage.

Peak-rate caution

Off-peak tariffs have higher peak rates than a single-rate tariff (often 30–40p/kWh). Make sure your usage genuinely shifts to off-peak — if more than ~60% is during peak hours, a single-rate tariff is usually cheaper.

Compare like-for-like

May 2026 product comparison for UK households shopping a night-rate tariff. Specific rates vary by region and time of switching.

What to compare Typical range (May 2026) Notes
Intelligent Octopus Go ~6.7p/kWh off-peak Smart-charger integrated; 6-hour off-peak window. SMETS2 required.
Octopus Cosy ~13p/kWh in two cosy windows Two off-peak windows aimed at heat-pump homes; SMETS2 required.
EDF GoElectric (Overnight) ~5–9p/kWh off-peak EV-focused 5-hour off-peak window; SMETS2 required.
ScottishPower EV tariff ~7p/kWh off-peak EV charger required to qualify; SMETS2 required.
Economy 7 ~17–22p/kWh night rate Legacy two-rate meter; suits storage-heater homes only.
Single-rate variable Cap-set unit rate Reference point for comparison.

How to switch to a cheaper UK night-rate tariff (June 2026)

  1. 1. Confirm your meter type

    SMETS2 unlocks the cheapest off-peak tariffs. Legacy Economy 7 meters limit you to Economy 7 products.

  2. 2. Check eligibility for EV / heat-pump tariffs

    Intelligent Octopus Go needs an EV; Octopus Cosy is open to heat-pump homes; EDF GoElectric covers more chargers.

  3. 3. Estimate your night kWh share

    From your smart-meter data or a manual log — if night use is >40–50%, off-peak tariffs usually win.

  4. 4. Get whole-of-market quotes

    Use the form on this page to surface off-peak tariffs for your postcode and meter.

  5. 5. Pick a tariff and apply

    Switch completes in 5 working days under Faster Switching.

  6. 6. Shift load to off-peak

    Set EV charging, washing, drying and water heating to off-peak hours via timers or smart-charger schedules.

Common pitfalls to avoid

The most frequent issues we see when households and businesses act on what looks like a good deal.

  • Picking a low off-peak rate without checking the peak rate — if usage is mostly peak, single-rate wins.
  • Switching to Intelligent Octopus Go without an EV or compatible smart charger — it won't qualify.
  • Forgetting heat-pump tariffs (Octopus Cosy) for non-EV electrified-heat homes.
  • Staying on legacy Economy 7 when a smart-meter EV tariff would cut bills significantly.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest night-rate electricity tariff in June 2026?

On the cheapest off-peak unit rate alone, Intelligent Octopus Go (6.7p/kWh equivalent in a 6-hour off-peak window) and EDF GoElectric are leading in May 2026. Best value depends on your overall use profile — use the form on this page to model your annual cost.

Do I need an EV for a smart-meter night tariff?

Most of the cheapest off-peak tariffs require an EV (Intelligent Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric, ScottishPower's EV tariff). Heat-pump homes can pick Octopus Cosy without an EV. Some lower-tier off-peak products are open to general households.

Is Economy 7 still worth it in June 2026?

Only for legacy two-rate meters that can't accept a smart-meter EV tariff. Economy 7 night rates are typically 17–22p/kWh — cheaper than single-rate for >40% night usage, but more expensive than smart-meter off-peak tariffs at 5–10p/kWh.

Do I need a smart meter for night rates?

Yes for the cheapest products — all sub-10p/kWh night rates in May 2026 require a SMETS2 smart meter. Economy 7 works on legacy two-rate meters. Your current supplier installs SMETS2 for free.

What's the peak rate on an off-peak tariff?

Higher than single-rate, typically 30–40p/kWh during peak hours. The economics only work if you genuinely shift the majority of high-use loads (EV charging, water heating, washing) to the off-peak window.

Can I use any EV charger?

Intelligent Octopus Go integrates with selected smart chargers — the supplier publishes a compatibility list. EDF GoElectric and ScottishPower's EV tariff work with a wider range of chargers. Check each tariff's requirements before switching.

Should I switch from Economy 7 to a smart EV tariff?

If you have an EV or are installing one, yes — the off-peak rate is half or less of Economy 7. If you have storage heaters only and no EV, Economy 7 remains a reasonable fit.

Can I stack a night tariff with solar export?

Yes — your import tariff is independent of your Smart Export Guarantee tariff. Octopus Outgoing Fixed and EDF Export+ pay 12–15p/kWh for export in May 2026 and can pair with any off-peak import.

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Page governance

Reviewed by
Energy Specialist
Last updated
May 2026

How we keep this page current

We refresh this page each month against the latest Ofgem cap, supplier tariff changes and current scheme guidance. Worked numbers are illustrative; quotes you receive via the comparison form are personalised to your meter and postcode.

Editorial independence: our priority is clarity and like-for-like comparison. Where commercial relationships exist, options are still presented on suitability and the information available at the time.

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Updated on 13 Jun 2026