Economy 10: 3 Simple Checks to Avoid a Mistake

What is Economy 10?

Economy 10 is a multi rate electricity tariff that gives you around 10 hours of cheaper power spread across the day, split into three windows instead of one long overnight block. Think a couple of hours in the morning, a stretch in the afternoon, and a chunk overnight.

It was built for homes with storage heaters, electric hot water tanks or immersion heaters that can be charged up whenever the cheap rate kicks in, rather than needing power the moment you flick a switch. If none of that describes your house, keep reading before you request one.

How do Economy 10 hours actually work?

There’s no single national timetable. Your supplier and region set the exact windows, but a typical Economy 10 day looks something like a morning slot, an afternoon slot and a longer overnight block, adding up to roughly 10 off peak hours in total.

That’s the whole point of the “10” in the name, and the thing that separates it from Economy 7, which packs its cheaper hours into one continuous overnight window instead of three scattered ones.

Your supplier will confirm your exact times when you sign up or switch to Economy 10, and it’s worth writing them down somewhere you’ll actually check, because getting them wrong means paying peak rates for what you thought was a bargain.

Is Economy 10 actually cheaper than Economy 7 or a standard tariff?

It depends entirely on when you use electricity, not how much. Economy 10’s off peak rate usually sits well below the standard single rate, but you need a meaningful share of your annual usage, roughly 40 to 45% or more, falling inside those off peak windows before the maths works in your favour.

Under Ofgem’s price cap for July to September 2026, a typical single rate Direct Debit household pays around 26.11p per kWh plus a standing charge of about 57.19p a day. Our energy price cap guide breaks that figure down further if you want the full picture.

Economy 10’s off peak rate is usually well below that standard figure, though the exact saving depends on your supplier, region and how much of your day to day life you can actually shift into the cheap windows. If a fixed schedule doesn’t suit you, a dynamic energy tariff that tracks wholesale prices hour by hour is worth a look too.

Households that heat with gas and use electricity in short, spread out bursts, kettle, lights, telly, tend to do worse on Economy 10 than on a standard single rate tariff, simply because too little of their usage lands in the off peak hours to offset the higher daytime rate.

Which suppliers offer Economy 10 in 2026?

Economy 10 has quietly become a niche product. Far fewer suppliers actively market it in 2026 than offer Economy 7, and some will only set one up if you already have a compatible meter installed.

EDF and British Gas are among the suppliers still actively offering multi rate tariffs that include an Economy 10 style structure. Others, including Octopus Energy and OVO, can configure a smart meter to run Economy 10 rates on request, even though it isn’t one of their headline products.

Availability shifts often enough that the safest move is to ask any supplier directly whether they still support Economy 10 before you switch, rather than assuming last year’s list still holds.

Start by asking your current supplier whether they still offer it and whether your existing meter can support it. If they can’t help, you’ll need to compare suppliers that do, then request an Economy 10 meter or ask for your existing smart meter to be reconfigured. Some households find this takes a little longer than a standard tariff move, so ask for a realistic timeline rather than assuming it’ll happen overnight.

Who does Economy 10 actually suit?

Storage heater households are the classic fit, since the heaters store warmth overnight and through the day using cheap rate power, then release it when you need it. Homes with an immersion hot water tank on a timer benefit for the same reason.

It suits you less if your usage is flat across the day. A household glued to the telly every evening at peak rate, with little shifted into the off peak windows, is unlikely to come out ahead. Roo would tell you to run the numbers before you switch, not after.

If you’re not sure which camp you’re in, check a few months of usage data through your online account or smart meter app and see roughly what share falls inside typical Economy 10 hours before you commit. Once you’re set up, keep an eye on your first couple of bills. They’ll show you exactly how much of your usage landed in the off peak windows, which is the clearest sign of whether Economy 10 was the right call for your household.

Frequently asked questions about Economy 10

Doing nothing means staying on whatever rate you happen to be on, which might be costing you more than either option. A quick compare takes a couple of minutes and tells you exactly where you stand.

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