Economy 7 rates with Octopus
Two registers: day and night · Electricity
Economy 7 is the original time-of-use tariff: a meter with two registers, one cheap for seven hours overnight and one dearer for the other seventeen.
Economy 7 in London right now
- Unit rate now
- 26.60p/kWh
- Standing charge
- 41.39p/day
- Cheapest today
- 26.60p/kWh
- Dearest today
- 26.60p/kWh
- Tariff code
- E-1R-VAR-22-11-01-C
Prices include VAT and are for London (region C). Change region · Full half-hourly view
When the cheap seven hours run
There is no single national answer, and this catches people out constantly. Your night rate window depends on your meter and your region, typically starting somewhere between 23:00 and 00:30, and on some older meters it shifts by an hour with British Summer Time while on others it does not.
The only reliable way to find yours is to check what the meter records: run a known load, or read the registers before and after midnight. Guessing wrong means running storage heaters on the day rate all winter.
Is Economy 7 still worth it?
Economy 7 pays if roughly 40% or more of your electricity is used in the night window — realistically only with storage heating, an electric hot-water cylinder or overnight EV charging. Below that, the day-rate premium eats the saving.
With a smart meter you can usually do better on a modern time-of-use tariff. Cosy suits a heat pump, Snug suits storage heating, and Go suits EV charging — all with more usable windows than a fixed seven hours. Full explainer: Economy 7 explained.
Common questions
What time does Economy 7 start?
It varies by meter and region, typically starting somewhere between 23:00 and 00:30. Some older meters shift with British Summer Time and some do not, so the only reliable check is the meter itself.
Is Economy 7 cheaper?
Only if a large share of your usage — around 40% or more — falls in the night window. Otherwise the higher day rate costs more than the night rate saves.
Which tariff is cheapest for you? Headline rates cannot answer that. Connect your Octopus account and halfhourly.uk prices your last 28 days of real half-hourly readings against every tariff's real rates, standing charge included.