Economy 10 and Other Restricted Meter Tariffs

An Economy 10 tariff is a restricted electricity tariff that charges a cheaper unit rate for 10 off-peak hours in every 24 and a higher rate for the rest of the day. During those off-peak hours the price of electricity could fall by up to half of the average rate, but outside them a household will typically be paying much more than that average¹.

The 10 cheap hours are usually split, with seven overnight and three during the day, most likely in the afternoon or evening. The exact times vary from supplier to supplier and region to region, standing charges are often higher than on other tariffs, there are not many Economy 10 suppliers, and most price comparison sites, Uswitch included, do not compare Economy 10 deals².

Economy 10 homes tend to be heavy electricity users. Ofgem's mean consumption value for an Economy 10 meter in Great Britain was 6,083 kWh a year as of November 2022, against 4,748 kWh for an Economy 7 or White Meter³. For household energy independence, Economy 10 offers a way to run an all-electric home without gas, but it ties the household to one grid supply, to a small pool of suppliers and to the particular meter on the wall.

What an Economy 10 tariff is: 10 off-peak hours at up to half the peak rate

Economy 10 is one of the older forms of time-of-use tariff. The National Energy Action leaflet on restricted tariffs describes it as providing 10 set hours of cheaper off-peak electricity: three hours in the afternoon, two hours in the evening and five hours through the night. To get an Economy 10 tariff, a household must have an Economy 10 meter; the tariff cannot run on an ordinary single-rate meter⁵.

Which describes the arrangement as 10 hours of cheaper electricity, usually in three blocks⁶, and Citizens Advice says a household on Economy 10 will usually get 10 hours of the off-peak rate per 24 hours, possibly split into chunks throughout the day⁷. That daytime element is what separates it from Economy 7, whose cheap hours all fall at night. Which also notes that, like Economy 7, Economy 10 tariffs only work with electricity-heated homes and not those with a gas supply⁸.

The price logic is simple. The off-peak unit rate can be up to half the peak rate², and the peak rate is set above an ordinary single-rate price to compensate¹. Whether a household gains depends on how much of its total use lands in the cheap hours. Smart Energy GB describes Economy 7 and Economy 10 as tariffs that use fixed cheaper periods, whereas newer EV and tracker tariffs can be more dynamic and usually work best with a smart meter⁹. The fixed nature is both the strength and the weakness: the times are predictable, but they do not follow the wholesale market or the household's own routine.

Some suppliers have added a third rate. Uswitch reports that, because of the complexity of the three different rates, many price comparison sites cannot support comparisons for Economy 10 meters¹⁰. For more on the wider family of tariffs, see time-of-use tariffs and the energy tariffs guide.

When the off-peak hours fall: usually 7 at night and 3 in the day

The most commonly described pattern is seven off-peak hours during the night and three during the day, most likely sometime in the afternoon or evening¹. Uswitch gives the same split: three hours in the afternoon and seven overnight¹⁰. Other sources divide the hours differently, and the variation is real rather than a disagreement: Economy 10 off-peak times vary from supplier to supplier and region to region².

Uswitch gives these examples of Economy 10 patterns in use²:

The same guide cautions that Economy 10 tariffs typically only offer five hours of heat at night, complemented by three in the afternoon and two in the evening². For a home with storage heaters, fewer consecutive night hours means less time to charge the heaters in one block than on Economy 7.

Clocks going forward and back

Not all Economy 10 tariffs operate on the same off-peak hours, and some suppliers change their off-peak hours when the clocks go forward and back¹. Citizens Advice gives an Economy 7 example: off-peak times might be midnight to 7am in winter, changing to 1am to 8am when the clocks go forward in March, depending on supplier and location¹¹. A household whose supplier does not adjust its meter will find the cheap hours shift by an hour against the clock on the wall for half the year.

How the daytime hours relate to the network peak

The afternoon and evening blocks matter because newer time-of-use tariffs typically treat 4 to 7pm as the expensive period that households should shift use away from¹². An Economy 10 afternoon block that ends before that window, or an evening block that starts after it, fits the same idea. The specific times on any meter are set by the supplier, so only the supplier can confirm them.

Economy 10, Economy 7 and white meters: which restricted tariff is which

Several restricted tariffs remain in use, and their names overlap. Economy 7 offers cheaper prices for seven hours during the night, usually between midnight and 7am¹³. White meters, usually found in Scotland and commonly known as Economy 7 meters in England, offer eight hours of off-peak rates¹⁴. Total Heat Total Control is a further arrangement, associated with Radio Teleswitch Service meters alongside Economy 7 and Economy 10¹⁵.

A white meter uses two different meters showing two different readings, one for normal consumption and one for off-peak consumption, and bills show two unit rates and two fees alongside any standing charges. Uswitch states that most white meter tariffs charge a slightly higher daytime rate than a standard tariff¹⁴.

Mean consumption by meter type

Ofgem publishes typical consumption values for each restricted meter type. The figures show Economy 10 meters consistently above Economy 7 and White Meters, and both falling over time.

Ofgem cautions that these values are calculated per meter and not per household, so averages may underestimate the consumption of customers on restricted meters¹⁷. A home with two MPANs, one for the off-peak circuit, would have its use split across two meter points. For a direct comparison of the two main tariffs, see Economy 7 vs Economy 10 and the page on Economy 7 tariffs.

Where Economy 10 falls short: peak rates, standing charges and few suppliers

The main limits of Economy 10 are cost outside the cheap hours and a lack of choice. Smart Energy GB states that standing charges can be higher on an Economy 10 tariff than on Economy 7¹⁸, and Uswitch says that while Economy 10 offers unit rates of up to half the price of peak rates, the standing charges are often higher². Every hour outside the 10 off-peak hours is charged at a peak rate that is typically much more than the average¹.

Supply is thin. Uswitch describes one of the main problems with Economy 10 as the fact that "there simply aren't many Economy 10 suppliers available"², and states elsewhere that many suppliers do not support Economy 10, or may not offer tariffs to new customers¹⁹. National Energy Action notes it is not as widely used as Economy 7⁵, and those suppliers who do offer it do not always advertise the fact¹. Consumer Scotland, responding to Ofgem on metering obligations in March 2025, put the consequence plainly:

The price cap treats restricted electricity separately. For July to September 2025, Ofgem set an annual cap level of £1,115 for electricity-only Economy 7 customers paying by prepayment, and the Direct Debit Economy 7 cap fell by 5%²¹.

Evidence also shows many households are not using the tariff as intended. Ofgem reported that 15% of customers on restricted meters in the Competition and Markets Authority's final sample had less than 20% of annual usage in off-peak times²². The CMA found, across GB, roughly 93% of customers on restricted meters were on a Standard Variable Rate tariff²³. A household using most of its electricity at peak times pays more for every unit than it would on a single rate.

Getting an Economy 10 meter, and the cost of switching away

An Economy 10 tariff needs an Economy 10 meter⁵. A household can request one from its energy supplier, but the supplier may charge to install it¹⁸; Uswitch attributes the fee to such meters being fairly uncommon². The move away is costly too. If a household wants to return to a fixed, single-rate tariff, it will need to pay to replace the meter with a regular one¹, and Uswitch says a fee may be payable to have a standard meter installed².

Changing between Economy 10 deals is not straightforward either. Switching from one Economy 10 plan to another may require the meter to be reprogrammed by an engineer, because off-peak times differ between suppliers². Uswitch does not support Economy 10 switching and directs households to go to suppliers to see which tariffs are available¹⁹.

For white meters, a change to a standard meter means calling the electricity provider, and may involve installation costs and meeting certain criteria¹⁴. Home Energy Scotland's case study of one householder's change from a restricted to a single meter notes that households with restricted meters have two MPANs, which might limit the range of electricity suppliers and tariffs available²⁴.

The process in order:

1. Confirm with the current supplier which restricted tariff and off-peak times apply, and how many MPANs the property has.
2. Ask suppliers directly which tariffs they offer for that meter type, since comparison sites mostly cannot quote them.
3. Ask about any fee for reprogramming, replacing or removing the meter, and any exit fee on the current contract.
4. Arrange the meter work before or alongside the tariff change.

Which reports that these tariffs are becoming less common as the legacy meters that support them are being phased out²⁵. Related pages cover the cost of an Economy 10 meter, exit fees and contract terms and closed and withdrawn tariffs.

Smart meters on Economy 10: it depends on the supplier

Smart Energy GB states: "Yes, you can get a smart meter if you're on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff." It lists as a barrier a household that has storage heaters, is on Economy 7 or 10, and whose supplier does not yet offer smart meters that work with those tariffs²⁶. The Energy Ombudsman says all smart meters can support tariffs charging different prices at different times of day and night, and that compatible Economy 10 meters are also available²⁷. Smart Energy GB adds that Economy 7 and 10 households can get one as part of the national rollout depending on which supplier is ready to install, with larger scale availability later in the rollout²⁸.

Not every source agrees. Which states that "Economy 10 tariffs don't work with existing smart meters, however, and many energy suppliers don't sell tariffs for them"⁶. The documents therefore disagree, and energyhelpline's position sits between them: a smart meter might be possible with an Economy 10 tariff, but this depends on the supplier¹. Smart Energy GB says a smart meter can be requested at no additional cost, unlike an Economy 10 meter¹⁸.

The appeal for independence is flexibility. Ofgem says a smart meter can give access to more flexible tariffs, including dual-rate tariffs²⁹, and a smart meter allows a tariff change without changing the meter¹⁸. That loosens the tie between the household and one meter type, though it adds a dependence on the meter's communications and the supplier's systems. See which tariffs your meter allows.

Reading your meter and bill: registers, MPANs and off-peak times

Economy 10 tariffs require a meter that can record and keep separate how much energy is used in peak and off-peak hours¹. National Energy Action lists the signs: two meter readings; a low or off-peak rate; a normal, high or on-peak rate; or a button to press to see each rate on an electronic meter⁵. Each register is billed at its own unit rate, and the standing charge is added per day.

The meter's identity is its Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN), or S number, shown on the bill and the meter³⁰. UK Power Networks says it is usually 13 digits long and found in a grid of numbers with a large letter "S", made up of the bottom row³¹. Citizens Advice in Wales explains that a household can check the MPAN on its bill against the MPAN registered to the address through the network operator's "Find my supplier" service, and contact the supplier if they do not match³². Ofgem notes that restricted metering usually means more than one MPAN at the property³³; a white meter shows two supply numbers and has an MPAN starting with "02"¹⁴.

The off-peak circuit itself is switched by the meter or a timer switch, and the heater charges automatically during the cheaper hours³⁴. Act on Energy suggests checking the bill for two different day and night rates, or checking the tariff type for Economy 7 or Economy 10³⁵.

When comparing offers, the Energy Saving Trust lists what to weigh: off-peak rates and times, peak rates (important if use cannot be shifted), and any standing charges or exit fees³⁶.

Pairing Economy 10 with storage heaters, appliances and solar

Economy 7 and Economy 10 are mainly intended for homes that run on electric heating and use storage heaters¹⁸. Storage heaters store heat generated from cheaper night-time rates on these tariffs³⁸, and Which describes both as older time-of-use tariffs typically used with electric storage heaters³⁹. The Centre for Sustainable Energy notes that on Economy 7, night-time electricity is typically about half the price, with daytime electricity more expensive⁴⁰. Home Energy Scotland lists Total Heat with Total Control, Economy 7 and Comfort Plus as meters and tariffs designed to work with storage heating⁴¹.

The daytime blocks are Economy 10's distinguishing feature: a heater or cylinder can top up in the afternoon rather than running down through the evening. On white meters, where all cheap hours fall at night, hot water will be hottest first thing in the morning and coolest in the evening¹⁴. The trade-off on Economy 10 is the shorter night block described above. A storage heater's boost function may use the most expensive rate³⁴, which erodes savings if used in peak hours.

Appliances with timers help. Uswitch lists suitable appliances with timer systems as a requirement for making a white meter work¹⁴, and the same logic applies to washing machines, dishwashers and immersion heaters on Economy 10. See shifting electricity use to cheap rates.

Solar, batteries and electric vehicles

The Welsh Government's climate action site notes time-of-use tariffs may suit households especially with green tech such as a heat pump, battery storage or an electric or hybrid car⁴². For a battery only, the Energy Saving Trust suggests either a dynamic tariff or Economy 7⁴³. The value of a battery rests on the gap between cheap and dear rates; Cenex put the Economy 7 price spread at only 7p⁴⁴, narrower than on many newer tariffs, whose overnight rates often fall between 00:30 and 04:30⁴⁵. Economy 10 does not appear in these recommendations. Solar generation peaks at midday, when Economy 10's afternoon block may already be cheap, so the tariff and the panels can overlap rather than complement each other. See solar and battery import tariffs.

How common restricted meters are, and who is on them

Restricted meters are a sizeable minority. Around 14% of all electricity meter points are in profile class 2, the class that covers restricted meters, and Economy 7, White Meters and Economy 10 together account for around 90% of those meter points¹⁶. Ofgem repeated the 90% figure in its 2023 call for input³. The 2017 letter described the three most common restricted types as Economy 7, Economy 10 and DTS meters¹⁷.

Economy 7 metering is concentrated in the East of England, East Midlands and South East: 60% of all Economy 7 meters in Ofgem's 2017 letter¹⁷ and 59% in its 2019 letter¹⁶. White meters are usually found in Scotland¹⁴, where rural homes off the gas grid depend heavily on electric heating. Which estimates around 3 million consumers are on legacy time-of-use tariffs of this kind, with concerns around fair treatment raised in recent years⁴.

Engagement has historically been low: roughly 93% of restricted meter customers in the CMA's 2016 findings were on a Standard Variable Rate²³. In Northern Ireland, which has its own market, the Consumer Council publishes a monthly Economy 7 price comparison table of tariffs available there, correct on the day of comparison, most recently dated 28 August 2026⁴⁶. See tariffs in Northern Ireland and tariffs in Scotland.

For independence, the picture is mixed. An Economy 10 home avoids gas entirely, but remains fully dependent on the grid, on a shrinking set of suppliers willing to serve the meter, and on the meter itself continuing to switch correctly. More on this balance is at tariffs and energy independence.