Off peak electricity explained
Using off-peak electricity could help lower your energy bills while supporting a cleaner, greener energy system. In this guide, we'll explain when electricity is usually cheapest, how time-of-use tariffs work, and simple ways you could save money.
Our PeakSave tariffs can help, offering cheaper electricity during off-peak periods.
Updated on 11th August 2026 by:
Steve Hession, Propositions Manager
In this guide
- What are the peak and off-peak times for electricity?
- Is electricity cheaper at night?
- When is it cheaper to use electricity?
- What is a time-of-use tariff and how do they work?
- How to save money with off-peak electricity
- What time-of-use tariffs does British Gas offer?
- Compare peak vs off-peak electricity rates
- What appliances use the most electricity?
- What’s the advantages of using electricity during off-peak times?
- Debunking the myths of using electricity at off-peak times
- Frequently asked questions
What are the peak and off-peak times for electricity?
Peak electricity, or ‘peak electricity hours', are the times of day or night when people use more electricity as they get ready for work or school and then return in the evening.
Off-peak electricity, also known as ‘off-peak electricity hours’, is used during quieter periods when people use less electricity and demand on the grid is lower – usually overnight, on weekends and during peak holiday periods. Some energy suppliers reward customers with cheaper electricity during these off-peak hours.
Is electricity cheaper at night?
Electricity can be cheaper at night if you're on a time-of-use tariff, such as Economy 7 or certain smart tariffs. These tariffs offer lower rates during off-peak hours, which can help you save money when charging an electric vehicle or running storage heaters.
If you're also able to shift some of your energy-intensive tasks, such as the laundry or charging electrical appliances, the savings can soon add up.
When is it cheaper to use electricity?
Off-peak hours vary by supplier, location and time of year.
With Economy 7 and other two-rate tariffs, the cheaper rate typically runs for 7 hours overnight, usually between midnight and 8am. Depending on your tariff and energy demand, electricity can also be cheaper at certain times during the day or at weekends as they are with our time-of-use PeakSave tariffs.
Check your tariff details in your online account to see your exact off-peak times.
What is a time-of-use tariff and how do they work?
A time-of-use tariff (or TOU tariff) is a type of electricity plan where the price you pay depends on when you use energy, rather than having one flat rate all day. Instead of always paying the same price per unit of electricity, the day is split into different time periods, each with its own rate.
Typically, this includes:
- Off-peak times – when electricity is cheapest, usually overnight when demand is low
- Peak times – when electricity costs more, often in the morning and early evening when more households are using energy
Time-of-use tariffs are all about when you use energy, not how much.
How does a time-of-use plan work with peak and off-peak rates?
Electricity doesn’t cost the same to produce at all times of the day. When demand is high, for example when people are cooking dinner or heating their homes, energy is more expensive to generate, so prices increase. When demand is low, such as overnight, prices drop.
Time-of-use tariffs reflect this by charging higher rates during busy periods and lower rates when demand is lower. This means you’ll pay less if you use electricity during cheaper times and you’ll pay more if you use a lot of electricity during peak periods.
Each unit of electricity (kWh) is charged at the rate that applies at the time you use it.
How to save money with off-peak electricity
There are lots of times when it's cheaper to use electricity. Many suppliers, including British Gas, are helping their customers benefit from off-peak rates, through tariffs or discounts, by using more electricity when demand is lower.
You’ll need an electricity smart meter to take advantage of time-of-use tariffs. Smart meters record your energy use every 30 minutes so your supplier can bill you based on when you use electricity. Millions of people are already benefiting from smart meters and time-of-use tariffs.
If you have an Economy 7 electricity tariff, you may have a dedicated Economy 7 meter or a SMETS2 smart meter that works with your storage heaters.
There are several things you can do to make the most of off-peak electricity savings.
Understand your energy usage
Take stock of your energy consumption patterns. Identify which appliances contribute the most to peak-hour use and find ways to shift when you use them to off-peak electricity times.
Smart meters will help you to understand when you’re using the most energy and which appliances are using the most at peak times. Your smart energy monitor (in-home display) will show you how much you're using and when. If you're with British Gas, you can also track your energy use in your online account or app.
Shift your electricity use to off-peak hours
Many everyday tasks can be moved to cheaper periods. Running the washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer, charging devices or your electric vehicle during off-peak times could help reduce your bills.
If your electricity is with British Gas and you have a smart meter, you can save on your bills and enjoy greener energy with our time-of-use PeakSave tariffs.
Invest in smart home technology
Investing in smart home devices allows you to control appliances remotely. This way, you can schedule them to run during off-peak hours even when you're not at home. Investing a little up front could reap rewards with cheaper energy bills later.
- Devices with timers – most modern washing machines and dishwashers have delay timers allowing you to run them during off-peak times
- Smart appliances – some manufacturers, including Samsung's range, allow you to control energy use and set targets with their ‘SmartThings' app. It can be programmed to switch on during off-peak times and link to your energy account to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates like our Samsung Weekend Saver tariff
- TRVs and smart thermostats – Hive smart thermostat and Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) – can help you manage your energy use by only heating your home, or areas of your home, when it's needed
- Smart plugs – such as the Hive smart plug that can transform almost any device in your home – allowing you to track its energy use, program it to switch on and off, and reduce wasted energy (vampire devices).
Make the most of eco tech
If you have eco tech like an EV charger, home battery or heat pump, off-peak electricity can help you make significant savings on your energy bills. By running these devices when electricity costs less, you can reduce the cost of charging, heating and storing energy.
- Set it yourself - most EVs, batteries and heat pumps let you schedule when they run using the manufacturer's app or the device controls. Simply set them to charge or run during your cheapest off-peak hours.
- Let technology do it for you - smart tools such as Hive EV Power+ can automatically track electricity prices and schedule charging at the cheapest times. Think of them as your personal energy assistant, helping you take advantage of lower-cost electricity without needing to watch the clock.
What time-of-use tariffs does British Gas offer?
British Gas smart time-of-use tariffs help you run your home for less by giving you cheaper electricity during off-peak hours. And by making use of cleaner, greener energy, they help lower your carbon footprint too.
Are British Gas time-of-use tariffs right for you?
EV tariff
Schedule your EV charger to charge your EV overnight, when electricity is cheaper, so your vehicle is ready for when you need it.
There are no rules on what you can use the cheaper night-time electricity for, so you can run high-energy appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher, or charge up your smartphones, laptops and tablets at the same time.
You can compare EV charging costs to how much you're currently paying per charge and annually with our EV tariff calculator giving you cheaper off-peak electricity every day between 12am and 5am.
Battery tariff
Customers with a home battery – with or without solar panels – can benefit from time-of-use tariffs, allowing you to top up your battery and store electricity overnight ready to power your home during peak times when energy prices are higher.
And depending on your battery size and how much you use, you may be able to completely avoid using any peak-rate electricity.
PeakSave tariffs
With a time-of-use PeakSave tariff, you can enjoy half-price electricity when there's more renewable energy on the grid – making it easier to cut your bills and your carbon footprint.
Heat pump tariff
Heat pumps are designed to operate at a consistent temperature throughout the day but small changes to your heating schedule can save hundreds of pounds each year.
Pre-heating your home or hot water during off-peak hours means your heat pump needs to work less hard during peak hours saving you money on your energy cost.
Economy 7 and Economy 10 tariffs
If you have electric storage heaters, you may be on an Economy 7 tariff. They provide cheaper, off peak electricity during 7 hours of the night, when demand for energy is typically lower, that can be stored and used when you need it.
Some off-peak electricity tariffs provide cheaper electricity over 10 hours of the night – called Economy 10.
Compare peak vs off peak electricity rates
Not sure which tariff is right for you? Compare our fixed, variable and smart time-of-use tariffs to see how different pricing options could work for your household.
Find a tariff that suits the way you live and use energy.
Half-price electricity with PeakSave
Save money on your bills and cut carbon by using energy at off-peak times.
What appliances use the most electricity?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the following appliances use the most electricity at home:
- Wet appliances - washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical energy bill. The power needed to heat the water that they use pushes up consumption, making them energy-hungry household appliances.
- Cold appliances - fridges and freezers account for around 13% of the average household’s energy bill. These appliances need to stay on all the time, so they’re continually drawing power to maintain a constant temperature.
- Consumer electricals - from laptops to TVs to game consoles in today’s busy households, these account for around 6% of your energy bill.
- Lighting takes up around 5% of an average home’s total energy bill.
- Cooking - around 4% of your energy bill is spent on powering kitchen appliances, including the hob, oven, kettle, and microwave.
What are the advantages of using electricity during off-peak times?
There are significant advantages to using electricity during off-peak times.
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Save money – lower electricity rates during off peak hours
Greener choice – helps use cleaner, greener energy more efficiently
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Supports the grid – helps balance the energy load by reducing energy demand during peak times
More control – of your energy use and costs
Debunking the myths of using electricity at off peak times
You may need to think about how making small changes to how and when you use electricity can work for you, but if you're on the right tariff, there are really no reasons why you shouldn't give it a go.
- Off-peak hours are inconvenient
On the contrary. With appliances like dishwashers and washing machines equipped with timers, you can set them to operate during off-peak hours, and build that into your daily routine. - Off-peak electricity is inferior
Not true. Off-peak electricity is the same high-quality power you receive during peak hours. The only difference is the time you choose to use it. - It’s only for night-owls
While off-peak hours do include night-time, many time-of-use tariffs now offer cheaper electricity at other times too, such as early mornings, during the day, and on weekends and holidays. And with the help of programmable timers, you can set your appliances to come on and off at times to fit in with your schedule.
Off-peak electricity offers a host of benefits in savings, the environment and energy efficiency. By embracing this approach, you’re not only making a smart financial choice, but also contributing to a more sustainable future with the power to take control of your energy use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do British Gas offer off-peak electricity?
British Gas offers a range of schemes and tariffs to provide you with cheaper off-peak electricity. Explore our smart time-of-use tariffs.
Millions of customers signed up to PeakSave with half-price electricity on Sundays. Now we have PeakSave time-of-use tariffs that offer half-price electricity for longer and at times to suit your lifestyle.
If you have an electric vehicle, our Electric Vehicle tariff offers cheaper off-peak electricity every day between 12am and 5am.
Our Heat Power tariff is designed for homes with a heat pump or electric heating system, offering half-price electricity every day between 12am and 7am, and 1pm and 4pm. That's 70 hours of off-peak savings every week, helping you run your heat pump, heat water and power other household appliances for less during cheaper periods.
Customers with a home battery - with or without solar panels - can benefit from our home battery tariff, allowing you to top up your battery and store electricity overnight ready to power your home during peak times when energy prices are higher.
You’ll need an electricity smart meter to benefit from off-peak electricity rates. If you have an Economy 7 or Economy 10 electricity tariff, you may have a dedicated Economy 7 meter or a SMETS2 smart meter that works with your storage heaters.
Am I eligible for off-peak electricity?
If you have a smart meter, check your energy provider’s website to find out what offers or tariffs they provide for off-peak electricity use.
How do I know if I have an off-peak electricity tariff?
Have a look on your electricity bill or smart meter monitor. If it shows both a day and a night rate, you’re on a time-of-use tariff. You can also look directly at your meter. This might show two dials, one for peak and one for off-peak times.
With some off-peak tariffs, electricity is charged at the standard rate first, with off-peak savings credited back to your account. Again, these credits will appear on your electricity bill or statement.
Can I switch from a peak and off-peak electricity tariff back to a single rate plan?
Check if your current provider will let you move to a single-rate plan. If you have smart meters, your data will continue to be collected half-hourly, but you can still opt for a single rate tariff.
Is electricity cheaper on weekends?
It depends on the specific electricity plan and provider. While time-of-use (TOU) plans and peak/off-peak hours include night-time, they can also extend to early mornings, weekends and holiday periods. Check your electricity bill to understand your current electricity plan. If you’re with British Gas, you can easily check your tariff details in your online account.
What is the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS)?
The Demand Flexibility Service is run by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and energy suppliers help to deliver it. The ESO is responsible for making sure there’s enough energy available to power Great Britain whenever it’s needed.
When demand for energy is high, sometimes there’s not enough energy for everyone who needs it. In these situations, ESO must switch on fossil fuel power plants. These power plants are bad for the environment and make energy bills higher for us all.
The Demand Flexibility Service reduces the need to turn on these power plants. It also helps the ESO maintain a steady supply of electricity, helping us all save money on our bills and lower our collective carbon footprint.
What are time-of-use tariffs?
Time-of-use tariffs use different prices to encourage consumers to use electricity at off-peak times. They work with an electricity smart meter and offer people cheaper electricity prices when demand and energy prices are at their lowest.
It's a win-win for everyone – helping Britain to better balance energy demand and customers to lower their bills.
Check out our smart time-of-use tariffs for cheaper off-peak electricity to suit you.