Do you really know?
Is it still worth doing your washing during off-peak hours these days?
12 Jun 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: Is it still worth doing your laundry during off-peak hours?
Is it still worth doing your laundry during off-peak hours?
Thanks for asking. The gentle rumble of a washing machine spinning in the middle of the night. Practical, but is it really saving you money? In the UK, many households are on the time of use tariffs, like Economy 7. It's often seen as a smart choice, but in reality, whether it pays off depends entirely on your routine. First of all, how exactly does it work? It's simple in principle.
Electricity is cheaper for a set period of each day, usually around seven hours overnight, and more expensive the rest of the time.
The lower rate can be around 20 to 30% cheaper, but the daytime rate is higher than the standard tariffs. So the benefit only kicks in if you shift a significant share of your usage into those off-peak hours. And that's where it gets complicated. Those cheaper hours aren't chosen by you, they're set by your supplier and can vary depending on your meter and region.
While they're typically overnight, newer tariffs are becoming more flexible, sometimes offering cheaper slots at different times of the day. So it's no longer just a case of run everything at night. You need to know when the cheaper periods apply. Why aren't we all on the same tariff? Because electricity supply is evolving.
With more renewable energy in the mix, there's a push to encourage people to use power when it's more readily available and greener, rather than during peak demand in the evening. What uses the most energy in our homes? If you rely on electricity for heating, that's by far the biggest expense. Hot water, particularly with an immersion heater, comes next.
By comparison, appliances like washing machines, dishwashers and dryers use much less overall. And a washing machine on its own is a relatively small contributor. And yet that's often what people delay until off-peak hours. In reality, the savings are minimal. Shifting your laundry might only save a few pounds over a year.
By contrast, timing your hot water or heating to run during cheaper hours can make a more noticeable difference, especially in all-electric homes. So is it worth it or not? It depends on your habits.
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Chapter 2: How do time-of-use tariffs like Economy 7 work?
To make a time of use tariff worthwhile, you generally need to shift roughly a third or more of your electricity use into off-peak periods. It works best for heavy users, homes with electric heating, people who can programme appliances or those charging an electric vehicle overnight. But it does require attention and some adjustment to your routine.
On the other hand, if your heating and hot water run on gas, the savings are likely to be minimal and the effort may outweigh the benefit.
There you have it. Now you know whether it's still worth doing your laundry during off-peak hours. In under three minutes we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you really will know for sure.