Economy 7 Times UK 2026 — When Is Off-Peak Electricity?

Economy 7 Times UK 2026: When Is Off-Peak Electricity?

Chandraketu Tripathi

Finance Editor, Kaeltripton

Published 7 Apr 2026

Last reviewed 18 Apr 2026

✓ Fact-checked

What are Economy 7 times in the UK?

Economy 7 (E7) is a time-of-use electricity tariff that offers a cheaper overnight rate for 7 hours and a higher daytime rate for the remaining 17 hours. The exact off-peak hours vary by region and sometimes by season. The most common window is midnight to 7am, but some areas use 11pm to 6am or 1am to 8am.

Economy 7 off-peak hours vary by region. The most common window is midnight to 7am GMT (1am to 8am BST in summer). Check your electricity bill or contact your supplier to confirm your specific off-peak window.

Economy 7 off-peak hours by region

Region	Typical off-peak window (GMT)	BST equivalent (summer)
London and South East	Midnight to 7am	1am to 8am
Midlands	Midnight to 7am	1am to 8am
North West	12:30am to 7:30am	1:30am to 8:30am
Yorkshire	12:30am to 7:30am	1:30am to 8:30am
Scotland	11pm to 6am	Midnight to 7am
South West	Midnight to 7am	1am to 8am

These are typical windows — your actual window depends on your meter and supplier. Run a test appliance overnight with a smart plug to identify your exact window, or contact your energy supplier directly.

Economy 7 rates vs standard rates April 2026

Rate type	Typical Economy 7 rate	Standard Ofgem cap rate
Off-peak (7 hours overnight)	8 to 12p per kWh	24.50p per kWh
Peak (17 hours daytime)	28 to 35p per kWh	24.50p per kWh
Standing charge	Similar to standard	61.64p per day

Is Economy 7 still worth it in 2026?

Economy 7 is worth it if you can shift at least 40 to 50% of your electricity use to the off-peak window. For most households without electric storage heaters or an overnight EV charger, this is difficult. The higher daytime rate typically penalises normal usage patterns.

Household type	Economy 7 suitable?
Electric storage heaters (primary heating)	Yes — designed for this use case
EV owner charging overnight	Good fit — use with an EV tariff instead if possible
Standard gas central heating	Unlikely to benefit — daytime rate premium too high
Heat pump (charging overnight buffer tank)	Possibly — depends on usage pattern
Immersion water heater on timer	Good fit if timed to off-peak window

Better alternatives to Economy 7 in 2026

Octopus Go — 7p/kWh overnight (midnight to 6am); much cheaper than Economy 7 off-peak and no daytime premium
Intelligent Octopus Go — smart tariff automatically finds cheapest slots; best for EVs
Agile Octopus — half-hourly pricing; can be very cheap at low-demand periods but complex to manage
Standard single-rate tariff — simpler if you cannot shift significant usage to off-peak

Verdict

Check your off-peak window before relying on it

Economy 7 times vary significantly by region and meter. Always confirm your specific window with your supplier before scheduling appliances. For EV owners, a dedicated EV tariff like Octopus Go is almost always better value than Economy 7.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I am on Economy 7?

Your electricity meter will have two registers — one for peak and one for off-peak — usually labelled Day and Night. Your electricity bill will show two different unit rates. If you have a single rate, you are on a standard tariff.

Can I switch from Economy 7 to a standard tariff?

Yes, but you may need a meter change. Economy 7 uses a dual-register meter. Switching to a single-rate tariff requires your supplier to reprogramme or replace the meter. Contact your supplier for the process and any charges.

Does Economy 7 work with a smart meter?

Yes. Smart meters can be set up for Economy 7 or other time-of-use tariffs. A smart meter also gives you more accurate data on when you are using power, helping you optimise your usage around off-peak times.

Is Economy 7 good for charging an EV?

It can work if you time charging to the off-peak window. However, dedicated EV tariffs like Octopus Go (7p/kWh) typically offer lower overnight rates than Economy 7 off-peak rates, and without the higher daytime rate penalty.