What are my Economy 7 hours?
Find your cheap electricity hours, and see whether you're on the cheap rate right now.
Economy 7 hours checker
Economy 7 lasts 7 hours, so we'll work out when it ends.
These are guides, not guarantees. Your exact hours are set on your meter, so your bill or meter is always right.How to find your exact times.
Typical Economy 7 times by region
Each electricity region sets its own night-time window, and your supplier picks 7 hours inside it. These are the usual winter (GMT) times. If your meter doesn't change with the clocks, add one hour in summer.
| Region | Winter (GMT) | Summer (BST) if your meter doesn't change |
|---|---|---|
| North East England | 00:30 – 07:30 | 01:30 – 08:30 |
| Yorkshire | 00:30 – 07:30 | 01:30 – 08:30 |
| North West England | 00:30 – 07:30 | 01:30 – 08:30 |
| Merseyside & North Wales | 7 hours between 00:00 and 08:00 | 7 hours between 01:00 and 09:00 |
| East Midlands | 7 hours between 23:00 and 07:00 | 7 hours between 00:00 and 08:00 |
| West Midlands | 7 hours between 23:30 and 08:00 | 7 hours between 00:30 and 09:00 |
| Eastern England | 7 hours between 23:00 and 07:00 | 7 hours between 00:00 and 08:00 |
| London | 7 hours between 23:00 and 07:00 | 7 hours between 00:00 and 08:00 |
| Southern England | 23:30 – 06:30 | 00:30 – 07:30 |
| South East England | 7 hours between 22:30 and 07:30 | 7 hours between 23:30 and 08:30 |
| South West England | 7 hours between 22:00 and 08:30 | 7 hours between 23:00 and 09:30 |
| South Wales | 7 hours between 22:00 and 08:30 | 7 hours between 23:00 and 09:30 |
| South of Scotland | 7 hours between 22:00 and 08:30 | 7 hours between 23:00 and 09:30 |
| North of Scotland | 7 hours between 22:00 and 08:30 | 7 hours between 23:00 and 09:30 |
Northern Ireland uses different off-peak tariffs, so it isn't listed.
Why do my Economy 7 hours change in summer?
Most Economy 7 meters run on winter time (GMT) all year round. They don't move when the clocks go forward in March. So if your cheap rate starts at 00:30 in winter, it starts at 01:30 by the clock in summer, and ends an hour later too.
Octopus says its smart meters work the same way: a fixed 00:30–07:30 on UTC (the same as winter time), which is 01:30–08:30 during British Summer Time.
How to find your exact Economy 7 times
- Check your bill. Many suppliers print your off-peak or "night" hours on the bill or in your online account.
- Look at your meter. An Economy 7 meter shows two readings, often labelled "low" and "normal", or "night" and "day". Many meters show which rate is running right now.
- Ask your supplier. They can tell you the exact times set on your meter.
Economy 7 times: quick answers
What time is Economy 7?
It's usually 7 hours overnight, somewhere between 10pm and 8:30am. The most common window is 00:30 to 07:30 in winter. It varies by region and by meter.
How many hours is Economy 7?
Seven hours every night. (Economy 10 is a different tariff that gives 10 cheap hours, usually split across the day.)
Is Economy 7 cheaper at weekends?
No. Economy 7 is the same 7 hours every night, including Saturdays and Sundays.
Do Economy 7 times change when the clocks change?
Usually not. Most meters stay on winter time, so your cheap hours move one hour later by the clock in summer. Some meters do follow the clocks. Check your bill or meter if you're not sure.
What should I run during my cheap hours?
Anything you can put on a timer: storage heaters, the immersion heater, the washing machine, the dishwasher, the tumble dryer, and charging an electric car. Most of the saving comes from heating and hot water.