Check your energy supplier’s app, online account or latest bill for your day and night electricity usage. Then work out what percentage of your total consumption happens overnight.
Night-time electricity ÷ total electricity use × 100 = night usage percentage
Generally, the more electricity you use during your off-peak hours, the more value the tariff can provide. However, your standing charges and day and night unit rates also matter. Therefore, always use your actual tariff when comparing costs.
- Under 30% overnight: A standard single-rate tariff may cost less. This is especially true when your daytime rate sits much higher.
- 30–40% overnight: You could be near the break-even point. Compare your current costs with suitable single-rate tariffs.
- Over 40% overnight: Economy 7 becomes more likely to save you money. This applies particularly when you can move a large share of your electricity use into the cheaper night period.
Who benefits most?
- Homes with storage heaters — These heaters use cheaper overnight electricity to store heat. They then release that heat during the day.
- EV owners who charge overnight — Regular overnight charging can shift a large amount of electricity use into the lower-priced period. This can make Economy 7 more useful for electric car owners.
- Homes with large hot water cylinders — These properties can heat and store hot water overnight. As a result, they can make better use of cheaper off-peak electricity.
- Homes with flexible electricity use — You may also benefit from running appliances at night. Tumble dryers, washing machines and dishwashers can all use significant amounts of electricity. However, only schedule them overnight when it is safe and practical. Economy 7 can work well when you can consistently move flexible demand into those hours.
