The unusual scheduling of the 2026 men's FIFA World Cup, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States, means many UK viewers are staying up late or waking in the early hours to watch matches. According to research reported by the Guardian, that shift in routine could coincide with a practical opportunity to reduce household energy costs through time-of-use electricity tariffs.
How time-of-use tariffs work
Time-of-use tariffs charge customers different rates depending on when electricity is consumed. E.ON Next's Next Smart Saver deal, highlighted in the Guardian's report, operates across three bands: a peak rate of 39p per kilowatt hour (4pm, 7pm), an off-peak rate of 18p, and a super off-peak rate of 13p (2am, 5am).
Many World Cup fixtures fall within or close to that cheapest super off-peak window, meaning households running appliances such as washing machines while watching games could benefit from the lower rate.
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Potential national and household savings
Research carried out by Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy and climate policy at the Environmental Change Institute, compared the cost of running a washing machine during the tariff's cheapest rate across 35 World Cup match days against the government's energy price cap. The findings, cited in the Guardian, suggested a collective national saving of £93 million.
At a household level, Rosenow indicated that switching five typical daily activities, such as watching TV, ironing and using the tumble dryer, from peak to off-peak times could save up to £230 a year compared with the price cap. Running a washing machine is typically responsible for 14% of a household's energy bill, according to E.ON Next.
Julian Lennertz, chief commercial officer at E.ON Next, was quoted as saying: "Millions are set to be awake for night-time games, unaware it's also one of the cheapest times to use electricity."
Other tariff options
The Guardian also reported on EDF's dynamic electricity tariff, FreePhase, which alerts customers the day before to the following day's pricing across three bands: green (super off-peak, 11pm, 6am), amber (off-peak, 6am, 4pm and 7pm, 11pm), and red (peak, 4pm, 7pm). EDF told the Guardian that FreePhase saved customers £152 in the first five months of this year compared with a standard variable tariff.
Experts urge caution
While the potential savings have attracted attention, energy specialists stressed that these tariffs are not suitable for everyone. Joanna O'Loan, a knowledge manager at the Energy Saving Trust, told the Guardian that for households without electric vehicles, storage heating, heat pumps, home batteries or smart appliances, "savings can be small, or even negative."
O'Loan also noted that Ofgem estimates only 2, 3% of households are currently on a time-of-use tariff, with the majority being electric vehicle owners. She added that a smart meter is required to access newer smart time-of-use tariffs, as without one a supplier cannot track when electricity is used.
Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at Uswitch, told the Guardian that while interest in these tariffs is growing, users "need to watch out for the more expensive peak rates between 4pm and 7pm," and that those who use a lot of electricity during the day may not benefit.
Rising bills add context
The renewed focus on tariff flexibility comes ahead of an increase to the energy price cap in July, which the Guardian reports will raise the average annual gas and electricity bill to £1,862. For households seeking a fixed deal, Gallizzi cited Outfox Energy's rate of £1,611 a year for the average household as the cheapest available at the time of writing, £251 below the July price cap level.
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