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EDF FreePhase Static is a fixed time of use electricity tariff with three prices during each day. It provides a lower green rate overnight, an amber rate through most of the day and a higher red rate during the evening peak. Unlike FreePhase Dynamic, the three unit rates do not change each day with the wholesale electricity market. They remain fixed for the tariff period, allowing customers to plan their electricity use without checking tomorrow's prices. This guide was checked on 11 July 2026.
FreePhase Static divides the day into three pricing periods: Green: 11pm to 6am Amber: 6am to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm Red: 4pm to 7pm The green rate is the lowest of the three. The amber rate applies for fourteen hours each day, while the more expensive red rate applies for the three hour evening peak. All electricity used in the property follows these periods. The cheaper rate is not restricted to a particular appliance, vehicle or heating system. A household could use the green period to charge an electric car, heat water, operate a dishwasher or charge a home battery. The amber period covers most ordinary daytime activity. The greatest savings normally come from reducing electricity use between 4pm and 7pm.
The main difference between FreePhase Static and FreePhase Dynamic is price certainty. FreePhase Dynamic calculates new green, amber and red prices from the day ahead wholesale electricity market. FreePhase Static secures the three quoted unit rates for twelve months. The Static customer does not need to check a price tracker each afternoon or change appliance schedules according to tomorrow's market. The same timetable and the same three rates can be used throughout the contract. EDF describes this as a set and forget approach to flexible electricity use. The customer can establish a regular overnight charging schedule and repeat it each day without wondering whether the next green period will be cheaper or more expensive. Fixing the rates also creates a trade off. A Static customer is protected if wholesale prices rise, but does not automatically benefit if FreePhase Dynamic prices fall substantially.
EDF does not publish one national set of FreePhase Static rates. Electricity prices vary according to the customer's distribution region and the particular tariff version available when the quotation is produced. Customers must enter their postcode and energy information to see the current green, amber and red rates. The quotation should also show the standing charge, tariff end date and estimated annual cost. EDF reported in July 2026 that its current Static amber prices were up to 10 per cent below the previous month's Standard Variable rate, while green prices were up to 37 per cent lower. Earlier comparisons produced different percentages because both Standard Variable and FreePhase offers change over time. These percentages should therefore be treated as dated illustrations rather than permanent tariff rules. The actual value for a household depends on its postcode and the proportion of electricity used during each period.
The red period runs from 4pm until 7pm and carries the highest unit rate. This is the time when national electricity demand commonly increases as people return home, prepare food, use appliances and heat their properties. EDF uses the higher rate to encourage customers to reduce avoidable demand during these hours. The tariff does not require the household to stop using electricity. Refrigerators, lighting, medical equipment and essential heating can continue operating. The practical aim is to move flexible loads rather than compromise comfort or safety. A dishwasher could be delayed until after 7pm. An electric vehicle could begin charging at 11pm. A battery could supply some of the home's evening demand. Laundry could be completed earlier in the day or during the green period. Households using most of their electricity from 4pm to 7pm may find FreePhase unsuitable, even though its green rate is attractive.
The green period provides seven hours of lower priced electricity every night. For an electric vehicle driver using a 7 kilowatt charger, seven hours provides a theoretical maximum of 49 kilowatt hours before charging losses. The energy reaching the vehicle battery may be closer to 43 or 45 kilowatt hours, depending on the car, charger and temperature. That is enough for a substantial vehicle recharge. It may also allow the household to run a dishwasher, charge a home battery and heat a hot water cylinder during the same window. The household electrical supply and equipment limits still apply. Several large loads operating together can exceed the available connection capacity or create unnecessary peaks inside the property. The customer should arrange schedules sensibly rather than switching every appliance on at 11pm.
FreePhase Static customers may receive free electricity when the electricity system has abundant generation and comparatively low demand. These events are often associated with periods of strong renewable output and negative wholesale electricity prices. EDF sends customers a text message before an eligible event. The Static tariff handles free electricity differently from FreePhase Dynamic. A Dynamic customer sees the qualifying electricity billed at zero pence. A Static customer initially pays the normal fixed rate and later receives an account credit for the electricity used during the free period. Free electricity events are not guaranteed. Their timing, frequency and length depend on electricity market and system conditions. EDF states that FreePhase customers received 238 hours of free electricity between 3 June 2025 and 17 June 2026. That historical figure does not guarantee the same result in another twelve month period.
FreePhase Static requires a working smart electricity meter capable of sending readings to EDF every thirty minutes. Half hourly data allows EDF to identify how much electricity was consumed during the green, amber and red periods. Without that information, the supplier could not reliably apply three different rates to the account. The customer must also pay by monthly Direct Debit and consent to the required smart meter data collection. EDF currently states that three phase electricity meters are not compatible with FreePhase. This may affect large homes, farms, workshops or properties with high capacity electrical installations. Customers who are not already supplied by EDF normally join on Standard Variable first. EDF then checks that it can communicate with the smart meter and receive suitable readings. EDF says these checks usually take about five working days. Existing EDF customers with a suitable connected meter may also be moved to FreePhase within approximately five working days.
FreePhase Static is a fixed term tariff, but EDF currently applies no early exit fee. A customer who finds that the evening rate is too expensive or that the household cannot move enough electricity into the cheaper periods can change to another EDF tariff without paying a leaving charge. EDF also says that an existing customer moving from another EDF tariff to FreePhase will not pay the previous tariff's exit fee. There is an important restriction after leaving. A customer who leaves either FreePhase tariff may be unable to join another FreePhase product for nine months. This prevents repeated movement between products according to short term market conditions.
FreePhase Static includes a daily standing charge in addition to the three unit rates. The exact amount should be taken from the customer's tariff quotation. It must be included when comparing FreePhase with Standard Variable, Simply Tracker, Simply Fixed or another electricity tariff. A low green rate can attract attention, but the annual standing charge remains payable every day. For a low consumption household, this fixed cost can make up a substantial portion of the annual bill. Eligible lower use customers may be offered EDF's FreePhase Low Standing Charge Trial. The trial applies a ยฃ6.25 monthly reduction per fuel, equivalent to ยฃ75 a year for electricity or ยฃ150 for a dual fuel household. It is a separate trial with its own eligibility requirements and should not be assumed to apply automatically to every FreePhase Static customer.
EDF states that FreePhase bills are accurate, but acknowledges temporary presentation limitations because the product remains in beta. The red, amber and green rates may not yet appear clearly on every bill. Customers can use Energy Hub, MyAccount and the EDF app to review consumption and cost. An ordinary smart meter in home display may also show an incorrect monetary amount because these displays were not designed for advanced smart tariff pricing. The consumption figure can remain useful even where the estimated cost is wrong. The monthly Direct Debit should not be confused with the tariff cost. EDF may alter the payment according to estimated annual use and the account balance even though the Static unit rates remain fixed.
FreePhase Static can suit an electric vehicle owner who wants a long and predictable overnight period. Its seven hour green window is longer than some dedicated EV tariff windows. The lower rate also applies to the whole home, so batteries, appliances and water heating can benefit alongside the vehicle. The important comparison is the actual green rate against EDF GoElectric and other available EV tariffs. GoElectric may offer a lower overnight price, while FreePhase provides a different balance between its green, amber and red rates. A driver should estimate annual home charging consumption and calculate how much will fit inside the seven hour period. Daytime household costs must then be added.
A heat pump can operate during green and amber periods and reduce output during the red period, provided the building remains comfortable. A well insulated home with suitable controls may preheat before 4pm, allowing indoor temperature to drift slightly through the peak. A hot water cylinder can also be heated during the green or amber periods. Direct electric heating creates a more difficult comparison. A property needing substantial heating between 4pm and 7pm may pay the red rate for a large amount of essential consumption. FreePhase Static should therefore be assessed using winter demand, not only summer electricity use. EDF Heat Pump Tracker may provide a better arrangement for some heat pump homes because it offers defined discounts during two daily heating periods without using the same three rate structure.
Solar panels can reduce amber imports during daylight hours. A home battery can store solar electricity or charge during the green period, then supply the house during the red period. The battery schedule should retain enough energy to cover evening household use. Exporting stored energy while simultaneously importing at the red rate would usually undermine the intended saving. Battery efficiency also matters. Some energy is lost during charging and discharging, and repeated cycling contributes to gradual wear. The difference between the green and red prices should therefore be large enough to cover energy losses and any reasonable allowance for battery degradation.
Static is designed for customers who want predictable rates. Dynamic is designed for customers comfortable following the day ahead market. Dynamic may provide lower prices when wholesale electricity is cheap. It can also become more expensive when market prices rise. Static removes those daily movements. The customer gives up the opportunity to benefit immediately from falling wholesale prices in exchange for known rates and simpler scheduling. Both tariffs use the same green, amber and red times. Both require half hourly smart meter data and monthly Direct Debit. Both can provide free electricity events, and neither currently has an exit fee.
FreePhase Static is most suitable for households that can regularly move meaningful electricity use into the seven hour green period and avoid heavy consumption between 4pm and 7pm. It may work well for electric vehicle owners, battery users, homes with timed appliances and some heat pump households. It may be less suitable for families with unavoidable evening demand, direct electric heating during the red period or limited ability to schedule appliances. The correct comparison divides annual electricity use between the three periods, multiplies each portion by the quoted rate and adds the annual standing charge. FreePhase Static offers a useful middle ground between a conventional fixed tariff and a fully dynamic product. It provides predictable prices while still rewarding households that change when they use electricity.
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