EDF FreePhase Dynamic is a smart electricity plan three rate time‑of‑use tariff (green/amber/red).Each day, EDF tells you tomorrow’s Green/Amber and Red using rates around 12pm
- Green (11pm to 6am) = cheapest
- Amber (6pm to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm) = normal price
- Red (4pm to 7pm) = most expensive
If you use more electricity during the green/ambers hours—like running your washing machine, dishwasher, heating or charging your electric car—you can save money on your bill compared to a normal fixed-price plan. Use referral link to get £50 switching bonus as well
What EDF FreePhase Dynamic is and how it works
In EDF free phase tariff, unit rates for Green/Amber/Red time windows daily. EDF tells about next day rates for these slot in app/website. Green hours are usually overnight and are the cheapest. This tariff requires a working smart meter (providing 30 min interval readings) to record time‑of‑use consumption. Please make sure you are checking these rates daily & responding to next day unit rates. Max unit rate is capped at 75p per unit, however I’ve never observed such high unit rate till now. Since there is no exist fee in Free phase dynamic tariff, you can leave anytime you want.
Do smart meters reduce energy bills?
To choose any time of use tariff like EDF Free phase dynamic and Octopus Agile tariff, you need working smart meters. These tariff may reduce your energy usage if you willing to shift your energy usage outside peak hours (4pm to 7pm)
EDF FreePhase vs Economy 7 — quick comparison
| Feature | Free Phase Dynamic | Economy 7 |
| Predictability | Day‑ahead prices; variable | Fixed night window; fixed night/day rates |
| Best for | Flexible users; EVs; heat pumps: Day time heating required | Homes that can run large share at night |
| Meters | Smart meters capable of sending 30 mins reads | Dual‑rate or smart meter |
| Price | Can hit very low green rates; sometimes zero | Night rate often low but day rate higher |
| Scheduling | Needs daily checking/automation | Set-and-forget overnight schedule |
Personal use case — why Economy 7 would cost me more (real numbers)
If your night usage is low, Economy 7 can cost more than FreePhase because the day rate is much higher. I live in a apartment with very poor heat retention and a storage heater that doesn’t hold heat well. That means my night electricity use is very low (I don’t rely on stored heat overnight), and most of my consumption happens during the day. Because of that profile, Economy 7 is a poor fit: it gives a cheap night rate but forces me to pay a very high day rate when I actually use electricity.
My assumptions:
- Annual electricity use: 3,800 kWh (typical UK household example).
- Night usage share on Economy 7: 10% → 380 kWh at night; day usage 3,420 kWh.
- Typical Economy 7 day rate (example): 32.5p/kWh .
- Typical EDF FreePhase day rate (example): 21p/kWh.
- Night rates: both tariffs have cheaper night/green hours, but because my night usage is low this has limited impact.
Simple comparison
Economy 7 day Cost = 3,420 x0.325 = £1,111.50
FreePhase day Cost = 3,420 x0.21 = £718.20
Estimated annual saving on day usage = £1,111.50 – £718.20 = £393.30
Bottom line: With my low night usage, the high Economy 7 day rate means I would likely pay several hundred pounds more per year than on FreePhase, even after accounting for cheaper night hours. That’s why FreePhase’s lower day rates (plus targeted shifting into green hours where possible) are a better fit for my home.
How I use FreePhase in practice
- I avoid using electricity between 4pm–7pm (your peak window) as you already do.
- I schedule the washing machine, dishwasher , heating and EV charging (when needed) for green/ Amber hours.
- I monitor next‑day prices and automate where possible with smart plugs/timers.
If your home is similar to mine — low night use and high daytime demand — FreePhase may suit you better. Claim £75 off your first bill (via referral)
Transparency note: these numbers are illustrative. Replace the kWh and unit price values with your actual meter readings and EDF Green/Amber/Red prices to get a precise estimate.
How to switch and claim the referral reward
- Click the EDF referral link , More information on referral program here EDF Referral Link – Get a £75 Switching Reward – DealsCuppa
- Enter your postcode
- Select the Standard Variable Tariff (this is very important — all other tariffs have exit fees, so please make sure you choose the Standard Variable Tariff).
- Complete your application online (Make sure you apply online to be eligible for the referral bonus).
- Wait for switch to complete it takes 3-5 working days
- Once switch is done, apply for EDF free phase dynamic tariff here
EDF manages the switch, and your electricity supply will not be interrupted.
Risks/limits
EDF Free phase dynamic rates changes daily, so you need to keep on daily rates & shift usage accordingly. Unit rate is capped at 75p / kwh.
This tariff doesn’t have any exit fee, so if you don’t see any benefits in one month, you could move to any other tariffs.
FAQ
- Do I need a smart meter? Yes, for FreePhase tariff and accurate TOU billing
- How long for the referral reward? Typically issued within within 5 days after your 1st payments
- Can prices go to zero? FreePhase green rates can be very zero on high renewable days
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