What are the current Economy 7 rates?

Rates vary by supplier and region, but the off-peak rate is typically around 40–50% below the day rate while the day rate sits above a standard single-rate tariff. The break-even point is usually around 40% off-peak usage — check your supplier's actual figures.

Can I use Economy 7 without storage heaters?

You can, but it rarely pays. Without heating or hot water shifted overnight, most households use too little off-peak electricity to beat a standard tariff. The tariff was designed around overnight storage.

Are Economy 7 radiators a real thing?

They are standard electric radiators marketed at Economy 7 customers. Running them during the day on Economy 7 is expensive because the day rate is high. They only make sense on a standard tariff or with genuine off-peak usage.

Is infrared heating cheaper than Economy 7 storage heaters?

For all-day heating of a whole home, storage heaters on a genuine off-peak rate are usually cheaper. For homes where rooms are used at different times, infrared often wins because you only heat occupied rooms. We model both against your actual usage.

How do I switch away from Economy 7?

Contact your supplier to move to a single-rate tariff — this is usually free. Sort the replacement heating first, and check whether your meter needs exchanging, which your supplier arranges.

Economy 7 heating: the honest guide

Economy 7 gives you around seven hours of cheaper electricity overnight and a higher rate during the day. Whether it still makes sense depends entirely on how much of your usage you can shift into those hours — and most advice online skips that question entirely.

Quick answer

Is Economy 7 worth it for heating?

Economy 7 is worth it only if you can shift at least 40% of your electricity use into the off-peak window — typically with storage heaters, a hot water cylinder on a timer, and overnight appliance use. The off-peak rate is roughly 40–50% cheaper than the day rate, but the day rate is higher than a standard tariff. If you heat mostly during the day, a standard tariff with on-demand heating such as infrared panels is usually cheaper overall.

How Economy 7 actually works

Your meter records two rates: a cheap rate for roughly seven overnight hours (the exact window varies by region and supplier) and a day rate that is noticeably higher than a standard single-rate tariff. The classic setup pairs this with storage heaters that charge overnight and release heat through the day, plus a hot water cylinder on an off-peak timer.

The maths is simple but unforgiving. If most of your electricity is used during the day — cooking, working from home, topping up heating in the evening — the higher day rate can wipe out the overnight saving. Check your actual split before assuming the tariff is saving you money.

Economy 7 heaters versus the alternatives

Modern high-retention storage heaters are far better than the 1980s units most people picture: better insulation, controllable output and fan-assisted release. On a genuine off-peak rate they remain one of the cheapest ways to heat a well-insulated home all day.

The alternatives each have a case. Infrared panels heat rooms on demand at the standard rate, which suits homes occupied at irregular times — nothing is heated when a room is empty, and there is no overnight charging gamble. A heat pump delivers heat at two to three times the efficiency of any direct electric system but needs good insulation and a meaningful budget. Economy 7 radiators — oil-filled electric radiators marketed at Economy 7 users — are simply standard-rate heaters unless you can run them off-peak, which defeats their purpose.

When to leave Economy 7 — and when to stay

Leave if you have removed or plan to remove storage heating, work from home with heavy daytime usage, or cannot shift hot water heating off-peak. Stay if your home suits storage heating, your insulation is decent, and your off-peak share is genuinely above the break-even point — your supplier can tell you your actual split.

If you switch off the tariff, replace the heating at the same time. Running storage heaters on a standard tariff is the most expensive way to use them, and keeping Economy 7 without storage heaters usually means overpaying during the day.

A sensible shortlist

Ask your supplier for your actual off-peak usage percentage before changing anything.
Compare total annual cost on both tariffs, not just the overnight rate.
If keeping storage heating, size modern high-retention units room by room.
If leaving, plan the heating replacement and the tariff switch together.
Confirm your consumer unit and wiring suit any new electric heating load.
Use NICEIC or NAPIT registered electricians for heater replacement work.

Frequently asked questions

Reviewed by the Infrared Heat Solutions technical team · Last updated July 2026 · Data sources: Ofgem price cap, Energy Saving Trust, first-party running-cost model

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