EDF Energy Economy 7 Guide: How the Tariff Works

EDF Energy Economy 7 is a two-rate electricity tariff that charges a cheaper unit rate for seven hours overnight and a higher rate during the day. It suits homes that can shift a meaningful share of their usage into the off-peak window, such as those with night storage heaters, an immersion tank, an electric vehicle or a home battery. If most of your electricity is used in the evenings on the day rate, a single-rate tariff often works out cheaper.

Whether Economy 7 saves you money depends on one thing above all: how much of your electricity you can move to the off-peak hours. Get that balance right and the cheaper night rate more than offsets the pricier day rate. Get it wrong and you pay a premium during the day for little benefit. Free Price Compare sources the figures below from Ofgem and EDF’s own published pricing.

Last updated: August 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed August 2026

How does EDF Energy Economy 7 actually work?

EDF Energy Economy 7 charges two separate unit rates for your electricity: a lower off-peak rate for seven hours overnight and a higher peak rate for the rest of the day, plus a fixed daily standing charge. According to Ofgem’s Economy 7 guidance, updated 22 August 2026, customers on this tariff pay one rate during a specified off-peak period and a more expensive rate at peak times. The night rate is designed to reward you for using electricity when national demand is low. The trade-off is that daytime electricity costs more than it would on a standard single-rate tariff, so the maths only works in your favour if you move enough usage into the cheaper window.

The standing charge is a fixed daily fee you pay regardless of how much electricity you use. It covers the cost of maintaining your connection to the grid. On EDF’s current East Midlands Economy 7 pricing, the standing charge is 53.606p per day, with unit rates of 22.957p/kWh and 12.690p/kWh (EDF). Your exact rates depend on your region, meter type and payment method.

What are my EDF Economy 7 off-peak hours?

Your EDF Economy 7 off-peak hours are seven consecutive or split hours overnight, most commonly falling between midnight and 7am, though the precise window is set by your meter and region rather than being identical for everyone. Ofgem states the seven off-peak hours are usually midnight to 7am but can vary by location and supplier. Some meters run the cheaper period as a single seven-hour block, while others split it, for example a portion after midnight and a further portion in the early morning. The only reliable way to confirm your exact times is to check your EDF account, your latest bill, or ask EDF directly, because the same tariff name can carry different windows on different meters.

Knowing your precise off-peak window matters because it decides when to run high-consumption appliances. If your cheap period ends at 7am, a dishwasher or washing machine set to finish at 6:30am costs you the night rate, while one finishing at 7:30am is charged partly at the pricier day rate. It is worth confirming the exact minutes, not just the hours.

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Do my Economy 7 times change with the clocks?

Economy 7 off-peak times generally stay fixed to the meter’s internal clock and do not automatically shift when the UK moves between Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time. Many traditional Economy 7 meters run on a set schedule, so a window that reads as midnight to 7am in winter may effectively run from 1am to 8am in summer once the clocks go forward, unless the meter or supplier adjusts it. Smart meters can update times remotely, which reduces this issue, but older meters may not. If your off-peak appliances suddenly seem to cost more after a clock change, an hour drift in your window is a likely cause, so check the actual switching times on your meter.

What meter do I need for Economy 7?

A two-rate electricity meter, also called a multi-rate or dual-rate meter, is what you need to be on Economy 7, because it records day and night usage separately. A standard single-rate meter cannot split consumption into peak and off-peak, so it cannot support two-rate pricing. Older Economy 7 setups often use a separate teleswitch or a meter with two registers, while newer installations use a smart meter configured for two rates. If you move into a property with night storage heaters or an immersion cylinder wired to a timer, there is a good chance a two-rate meter is already fitted. Ofgem says an Economy 7 setup uses a meter that records peak and off-peak electricity separately, which can be a special two-rate meter or a smart meter capable of different rates at different times.[4]

If you want Economy 7 but only have a single-rate meter, you will need a meter exchange before the tariff can apply. If you have a two-rate meter but rarely use electricity at night, EDF or another supplier can usually move you to a single-rate tariff instead. Before switching either way, it helps to understand what uses the most energy in your home, so you know how much you could realistically shift off-peak.

Which meter reading is day and which is night?

On a two-rate meter, the day reading is usually labelled ‘normal’, ‘Rate 1’ or ‘R1’, and the night reading is usually labelled ‘low’, ‘Rate 2’ or ‘R2’, though labelling varies by meter model. On many traditional meters, the lower register number is the day (peak) rate and the higher is the night (off-peak) rate, but this is not universal. On a smart meter, you can cycle through the display to see day and night totals shown separately. If you are unsure which is which, take both readings at a fixed time, then check them again after an overnight period: the one that increased most while you were asleep is your night register.

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How much does EDF Economy 7 cost under the price cap?

For the cap period 1 July to 30 September 2026, Ofgem’s Economy 7 (Direct Debit) cap level is £1,108 a year for a typical electricity-only customer, and the Economy 7 (Prepayment) level is £1,081, according to Ofgem’s price cap summary published July 2026. These are illustrative figures for a typical electricity-only household, not a guaranteed bill, because your actual cost depends on how much electricity you use and how much of it falls in the off-peak window. The price cap limits the unit rates and standing charge a supplier can charge on a default tariff; it does not cap your total bill.

These cap levels fell over 2026. Ofgem’s April 2026 update confirmed the Economy 7 electricity-only Direct Debit cap dropped from £1,229 to £1,108, and the Prepayment cap fell from £1,198 to £1,081. If you are on EDF’s standard variable Economy 7 pricing, your rates track the cap. If you are on a fixed Economy 7 deal, your rates are locked for the contract length instead. To understand how these limits are set and enforced, see our guide to the role of Ofgem in enforcing the energy price cap.

Figures are indicative typical-household levels from Ofgem and may change at the next cap review.

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Is Economy 7 cheaper than a standard tariff?

Economy 7 is cheaper than a standard single-rate tariff only when you use a large enough share of your electricity during the off-peak hours to outweigh the higher day rate. The night rate can be less than half the day rate, so households running night storage heaters, an immersion heater on a timer, an electric vehicle charger, or a home battery that charges overnight often come out ahead. Households that use most of their electricity in the evening on the day rate usually pay more than they would on a single-rate deal, because they get little benefit from the cheap window while paying a premium during the day. Ofgem says that if you don’t use much electricity at night, you’re likely to be better off on a single-rate tariff, because Economy 7-type tariffs have different peak and off-peak rates and the day rate is usually higher.[2][4][19]

As a working rule, the more of your usage you can move overnight, the stronger the case for Economy 7. Suppliers sometimes recommend switching two-rate customers back to a single rate when their night use is low. E.ON Next, for example, notes it will combine Economy 7 readings onto a single-rate tariff and recommends this for customers using less than around a third of their electricity at night (E.ON Next, August 2026). The exact break-even point depends on your specific day and night rates, so compare your own figures before deciding.

How can I get the most from the Economy 7 night rate?

Getting the most from the Economy 7 night rate means scheduling high-consumption appliances to run inside your off-peak window and avoiding heavy daytime use. The practical steps are straightforward and cost nothing to try:

• Set washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers to finish before your off-peak window ends, using their delay timers.
• Heat water with an immersion heater or storage heaters on a timer during the cheap hours, then draw on the stored heat during the day.
• Charge an electric vehicle, e-bike or home battery overnight rather than during the day.
• Avoid running high-draw appliances like electric ovens and tumble dryers during peak hours where you can.
• Check your exact off-peak times so appliances actually finish inside the cheaper window, not just start in it.

Even a battery charged overnight and used to run the house by day can shift a large share of usage to the night rate without changing your habits. For homes considering solar and storage, our guide to the environmental benefits of solar panels covers how these systems fit alongside a two-rate tariff.

What happens to my Economy 7 meter with the RTS switch-off?

Economy 7 meters that rely on the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) are being phased out, and affected customers need a smart meter fitted to keep their two-rate pricing working correctly. The RTS is the ageing radio signal that told some older meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates. As this service is withdrawn, meters that depend on it can lose the ability to switch rates automatically, which risks incorrect billing or heating and hot water controls not operating as intended. If you have an RTS-controlled Economy 7 meter, your supplier should contact you to arrange a replacement. Ofgem says meters and heat cost allocators covered by the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations must be continuously operating and properly maintained, and the supplier must ensure bills and billing information are accurate and based on actual consumption; if you have an RTS-controlled Economy 7 meter, your supplier should contact you to arrange a replacement.

The fix is a smart meter set up for two rates, which manages your day and night switching remotely without needing the radio signal. If EDF or another supplier gets in touch about an RTS upgrade, it is worth arranging promptly to avoid disruption to your storage heaters or hot water. A correctly configured smart meter also removes the clock-drift issue that affects some older Economy 7 meters, keeping your off-peak hours accurate through the year.

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Can I switch from Economy 7 to a standard tariff?

Yes, you can switch from Economy 7 to a standard single-rate tariff, and it is often the right move if you use little electricity overnight. If you have a smart meter, your supplier can usually reconfigure it or move your readings onto a single rate without a physical meter change. If you have an older two-rate meter, you may need a meter exchange first. Before switching, compare your day and night usage split against the single-rate price, because the higher Economy 7 day rate means you could pay more on a two-rate tariff if you are not using the night window. Switching away is generally free on a variable tariff, though a fixed deal may carry exit fees.

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Information correct as of 24 August 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).