Off-peak is whatever your tariff says it is. One deal might be a four-hour night window, another a longer Economy 7 block, another a smart tariff that moves cheap slots. There is no UK law that says electricity is cheap from midnight to 5am for every household. If you set the charger to a rumour and your tariff window is different, you will pay the peak rate for a 'cheap' charge.
Write what counts as off-peak for EV charging into the quote
Write the window on the handover sheet and test one night while you can still watch the meter or the app.
What counts as off-peak for EV charging
Read the tariff PDF, then set one schedule. Include the smart charge point randomised delay so you do not miss the window by starting too late or by starting outside it.
- Off-peak hours come from your tariff
- There is no single national cheap period
- Allow for the randomised delay
- Check the first bill
Check what counts as off-peak for EV charging before you accept a price
Check the times on a bill after the first month. Apps can display a session that looks off-peak while the meter disagreed.
The price effect of what counts as off-peak for EV charging
Getting the window right is free money compared with arguing about charger brands. Getting it wrong can wipe out the saving you used to justify the car.
A miss that shows up later: what counts as off-peak for EV charging
The mistake is stacking an old Economy 7 timer, a car timer and a new smart tariff. Also, a neighbour's hours are not your hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is overnight always cheaper?
Only on a time-of-use tariff. A flat-rate tariff costs the same at 3am.
Does the standing charge fall at night?
No. Off-peak deals change the unit rate in a window. The standing charge is separate.
What about weekends?
Some tariffs do, some do not. Read yours.
Can the charger find the window automatically?
Only if it is integrated with that supplier. Otherwise you type the hours in.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local EV Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.