The way we use energy has changed dramatically. Across the UK, homes are now active around the clock — laptops charging late into the night, electric vehicles topping up before the morning commute, and smart thermostats adjusting heating at all hours.
Yet most households are still on tariffs designed for a world where the kettle boiled at 8am, the lights went off at 11pm, and little energy was used in between. For modern 24-hour homes, those outdated pricing models simply don’t fit anymore.
How daily life has changed
Hybrid working, digital devices, and electric heating have shifted energy demand patterns. According to National Grid data, overnight electricity use in the UK is now at its highest level in over a decade. More households are working or gaming late, charging EVs, or running dishwashers on delay cycles.
But while consumption habits have evolved, most energy tariffs haven’t. Many homes are still billed at a flat rate that doesn’t reward smart, off-peak usage. That means people who use most of their energy overnight could be missing out on lower-cost options designed for flexible living.
Why dual fuel customers are missing potential savings
Dual fuel plans — where gas and electricity come from the same supplier — are convenient and often marketed as the simplest way to manage bills. But simplicity can hide inefficiency.
As energy use spreads across 24 hours, separate or dynamic tariffs can sometimes beat traditional dual fuel deals. A dual fuel energy comparison shows that while combined tariffs can save on admin, they don’t always offer the best hourly pricing or incentives for off-peak electricity use.
For instance, households using smart meters can track half-hourly consumption and shift heavy usage (like washing machines or EV charging) to cheaper times. With a flexible tariff, those savings are automatic — but not every dual fuel plan provides that benefit.
Smarter tariffs for 24-hour homes
The rise of time-of-use and tracker tariffs means more consumers can now pay less for electricity when demand is low. Some plans charge reduced rates between midnight and 6am, rewarding households that shift usage overnight.
Families with smart heating systems, electric cars, or solar batteries are already taking advantage. Yet many others remain on flat-rate dual fuel tariffs, unaware they could pay less simply by switching.
Using Free Price Compare, households can quickly see which suppliers now offer flexible or dynamic pricing. The comparison tools make it simple to identify which energy companies are adapting to new lifestyles — and which are still relying on outdated models.
The importance of comparing energy prices
Modern households have more choice than ever before, but it’s easy to overpay if you stay on the wrong tariff. Running a quick check to compare energy prices highlights how much flexibility affects cost.
For example, two homes using the same annual energy may face very different bills depending on when they use it. Those with higher evening and overnight use can benefit from variable-rate or “smart saver” deals, while daytime-heavy households might prefer fixed plans for stability.
Even within dual fuel offers, price structures vary widely. Some bundle incentives for smart meter users or EV owners, while others include green electricity options or lower standing charges for digital billing.
Balancing convenience and cost
For many households, keeping both fuels under one account remains practical — but that doesn’t mean sticking to one-size-fits-all pricing. The key is finding a dual fuel deal that reflects how you live, not how people used energy twenty years ago.
Regularly running a dual fuel energy comparison ensures that your supplier is still offering good value. Those with smart meters can take this further by checking whether a flexible tariff would reduce costs based on their real-time usage data.
In many cases, switching takes less than five minutes online, with no disruption to supply and automatic transfer of account details.
The future of home energy pricing
Energy experts expect 2026 to mark a turning point for tariff design. As the number of smart meters and connected home devices increases, suppliers will rely more on live data to personalise pricing.
That means 24-hour homes could soon see energy plans that adjust automatically to their behaviour — rewarding them for efficient use and shifting consumption to cheaper hours.
Until then, the best way to stay ahead is to compare regularly, choose flexible options where possible, and use smart technology to make every kilowatt count.
Platforms like Free Price Compare give UK households the visibility they need to make smarter choices and take full advantage of modern living patterns.
