Time of use tariffs and the clocks going back
The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, according to GOV.UK. That means an extra hour in bed, and darker evenings from the very next day.
It also happens to be a good moment to look at a time of use tariff. These tariffs charge different rates at different times of day, and the evening is when many of us are cooking, charging things and putting the heating on. Your supplier is counting on you not looking, which is the Do-Nothing Default doing what it does best.
A time of use tariff is not for everyone. This guide explains how it works, who it tends to suit, and what to check before you move.
Key takeaways
- A time of use tariff charges less at off peak times and more at peak times.
- You usually need a smart meter, though some tariffs work with a two rate or dual rate meter.
- Whether it saves you money depends on how much electricity you can move to the cheaper hours.
- Check the exact hours, the rates and whether the price can change before you commit.
What is a time of use tariff?
A time of use tariff charges you different rates at different times of the day. Citizens Advice says the times are often split into a peak rate, sometimes called a day rate, and an off peak rate, sometimes called a night rate.
Energy companies charge less at off peak times to encourage you to use more energy when demand is low. Some tariffs have more than two rates, so read the details rather than assuming.
There are two main types of time of use tariff, according to Citizens Advice:
- Static: fixed prices for peak and off peak rates, so you know the exact hours your electricity will be cheaper.
- Dynamic: rates that change with wholesale market prices. Some rates might even be negative, which means you could be paid to use electricity at that time.
Economy 7 is a familiar example of a time of use arrangement. If you are weighing that up, our guide to whether Economy 7 is worth it in 2026 goes through it in detail.
Who might a time of use tariff suit?
A time of use tariff tends to suit people who can move some of their electricity use to the cheaper hours. A report from Cornwall Insight, published on 22 September 2026, says that could include night shift workers, busy families, heat pump owners and people with home batteries. It also names vulnerable and low income customers, and prepayment customers.
The report was commissioned by Secure Meters, a smart metering company, so treat its enthusiasm with a small pinch of salt. The numbers it quotes are still useful context.
Cornwall Insight says around 70% of households in Great Britain now have a smart meter capable of supporting a time of use tariff. Yet these tariffs make up fewer than 3% of the domestic energy market.
It also says electric vehicle charging accounts for 78% of time of use customers, and that customer numbers grew by 68% year on year to July. In other words, the tariffs are mostly built around drivers of electric cars so far.
The report cites an estimate, which it attributes to EDF, that a time of use tariff could save hundreds of pounds a year against the price cap, especially if you can shift your use off peak. That is somebody else’s estimate rather than a promise. What you would actually save depends on your usage and the tariff you pick.
What should you check before you switch to a time of use tariff?
Before you move to a time of use tariff, check the following, based on the points Citizens Advice highlights:
- The hours. Find out exactly when the cheaper rate applies and whether that fits your routine.
- The rates. Compare the peak and off peak unit rates with what you pay now, not just the headline off peak figure.
- Whether prices can change. For a dynamic tariff, check how often rates change and how and when you will be told.
- Any price cap. Citizens Advice says the cap a supplier sets on a dynamic tariff might be higher than the Ofgem price cap, and that the Ofgem price cap does not apply to tracker tariffs.
- Your meter. You usually need a smart meter, or in some cases a two rate or dual rate meter.
On a dynamic tariff you might get only a day’s notice of a cheap period, or less than an hour. If your evenings are busy and unpredictable, a static tariff may be easier to live with.
One point of scope worth knowing: the Ofgem price cap applies to Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a separate energy market with its own rules and its own suppliers.
How do you test whether a time of use tariff would work for you?
Start with your own habits. When does your household use most of its electricity, and how much of that could realistically move to a cheaper window? Washing machines and dishwashers can often be delayed. Cooking and the kettle cannot.
If you have a smart meter, your supplier’s app or in home display may show when you use the most. A week of notes is enough to get a feel for it.
Then compare actual deals. Our guides to dynamic energy tariffs and choosing the best energy tariff can help you work out where a time of use tariff fits, and a comparison takes only a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions about time of use tariffs
- When do the clocks go back in 2026?
- GOV.UK says the clocks go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, and the UK returns to Greenwich Mean Time.
- Do I need a smart meter for a time of use tariff?
- Usually, yes. Citizens Advice says that without a smart meter you might still be able to use some time of use tariffs if you have a two rate or dual rate meter.
- Is a time of use tariff always cheaper?
- No. It depends on how much of your electricity you can use at the cheaper times. If most of your use falls at peak times, you could pay more.
- What is the difference between static and dynamic?
- A static tariff has fixed peak and off peak prices. A dynamic tariff has rates that change with wholesale market prices.
- Does the Ofgem price cap apply to every time of use tariff?
- Not always. Citizens Advice says the Ofgem price cap does not apply to tracker tariffs, and that the cap a supplier sets on a dynamic tariff might be higher than the Ofgem cap. The Ofgem cap covers Great Britain only.
Sources
- GOV.UK: when do the clocks change: the clocks going back one hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026.
- Citizens Advice: choosing your energy tariff: how peak and off peak rates work, the static and dynamic split, negative rates, the smart meter and two rate meter requirement, the notice you get on a dynamic tariff, and the point that the Ofgem price cap does not apply to tracker tariffs while a supplier’s own cap may sit higher.
- Cornwall Insight press release, 22 September 2026: the report commissioned by Secure Meters, the roughly 70% smart meter figure for Great Britain, time of use tariffs at fewer than 3% of the domestic market, electric vehicle charging at 78% of time of use customers, 68% year on year customer growth to July, the groups said to benefit, and the saving estimate attributed to EDF.
Checked 13 October 2026.
