Economy 7 and Off-Peak Tariffs: Who Still Offers Them?

Economy 7 is a special electricity tariff. It gives you cheaper electricity at night. This is good if you have storage heaters, a hot water tank, or an electric car. A lot of energy suppliers are starting to end these complex tariffs. So, you might want to know: Which companies still have Economy 7 in 2025?

This guide will help you understand how off-peak tariffs work. You will find out which suppliers still offer them. You will also learn how to read your electricity meter. Plus, you can see if Economy 7 is still a good choice for your energy use.

What Is an Economy 7 Tariff?

Economy 7 gives you 7 hours of cheaper electricity every night. The day is split into:

• A peak rate is charged during peak hours, which is usually from 7 am to midnight.
• A night rate is for the hours outside peak times, usually from midnight to 7 am.

Your electricity bill is worked out by using two different rates. You must have a type of electricity meter that can work with this system. This could be an older dual-rate meter or a smart meter that is set to smart mode.

Homes that use night storage heaters or hot water tanks the most can get real benefits from running their washing machine, tumble dryer, or dishwasher at night. People with these kinds of appliances or ways to heat their home may save more by using them during the nighttime.

Key Features

• At night, the unit rate is lower.
• The day rate is higher than what you get on normal tariffs.
• There are no cheaper gas prices—what you get is for electricity only.
• You often find this in Scotland or places with white meters.
• These are called time of use tariffs.

How Do You Know If You’re on Economy 7?

Check your electricity meter or electricity bill. If you see two rates on your bill, for example, “day” and “night”, you are most likely using Economy 7.

You may also see:

• A white meter label, which you will often see in Scotland
• A red button that you can use to switch between two readings
• Two sets of numbers, or sometimes, a single row of numbers will show up and change
• Labels like “Low” and “Normal” or “Rate 1” and “Rate 2” are there

Newer smart meters also work with Economy 7. But the first type, called SMETS1, might not always work if you switch to another supplier.

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When Are Economy 7 Hours?

Economy 7 hours change based on where you live and your electricity supplier. But most of the time, these hours are between:

During British Summer Time (BST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), your off-peak hours can change. This can happen if your electricity supply does not have a timer that moves with these changes. A timer helps you keep the same peak hours even as BST or GMT switches.

Some homes that have separate circuits may have set Economy 7 hours wired into the system. This is often true for homes that use electric storage heaters or storage heaters.

Which Suppliers Still Offer Economy 7 in 2025?

Here are UK energy companies that still support Economy 7 or off-peak tariffs:

Some new customers can get these tariffs only if they use a smart meter or already have a dual-rate setup. But, some, like Rebel Energy, do not give support for Economy 7 or time-of-use billing.

How to Read an Economy 7 Meter

Depending on your type of meter, you may see:

Digital Dual-Rate Meter

• Top row = day reading
• Bottom row = night reading

Single Display with Toggle

• Press the red button or arrow to go through the sets of numbers.
• Look for “Rate 1” (this is often at night) and “Rate 2” (this is often during the day).

Smart Meter in Smart Mode

• You can use your In-Home Display or app for this.
• The readings will show “Day” and “Night” labels, so it’s easy to tell them apart.
• You should send your meter readings often if you do not have auto-mode on.

Always give the right meter readings to your energy supplier. This helps make sure you do not get estimated energy bills.

Economy 7 vs Normal Tariff – Cost Comparison

Prices are set by the April 2025 energy price cap. You should always look at your fixed tariff details.

Is It Still Worth Using Economy 7?

It depends on the way you live, how you use heating, and the way you use your things at home.

Economy 7 is worth it if:

• You have night storage heaters or a hot water tank.
• You use more than 40% of your electricity during off-peak hours.
• You have a smart meter or a dual-rate meter that works well.
• You run appliances that use a lot of power, like a tumble dryer or a washing machine, at night.

If you use most of your electricity in the day, a normal tariff or a fixed tariff can work better for you. These types of tariff let you pay the same rate for power during the whole day. This is good if you do not use much power at night. A normal tariff or fixed tariff gives an simple way to manage power costs.

The good thing about lower energy prices at night has to be more than the extra cost you pay during the day rate. The advantage of lower energy prices is best when the money you save at night is more than what you spend more on energy during the day. This is what you need to look at when you compare energy prices and see what you may get out of a night deal with a higher day rate.

How to Switch to an Off-Peak Tariff

1. Check your meter type – You need to have a dual-rate meter or a smart meter for this.
2. Contact your electricity supplier – Call or ask your electricity supplier to find out if they have Economy 7.
3. Review your usage pattern – You can use an app or a smart display to see how you use the power.
4. Compare energy prices – Look for deals that have cheaper prices at off-peak times.
5. Switch or upgrade your meter if needed

Remember, some suppliers might not let new people sign up for Economy 7 now. But if you already have it, they will keep it for you.

Correct as of 23 July 2025

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FAQs About Economy 7 and Off-Peak Tariffs