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EDF Empower Fixed Exclusive 12m is a specialist electricity import tariff for households purchasing solar panels, battery storage, or both through EDF and its installation business, Contact Solar. It offers three electricity prices during the day, no standing charge for twelve months and no exit fee. Electricity is discounted overnight to encourage battery charging, while a higher rate applies during the evening peak. EDF promotes the tariff alongside its Export Exclusive 12m V3 export tariff. When solar generation, battery storage and export income are combined effectively, EDF says a representative household could reduce its net electricity bill to zero during the first year. This is an illustrative possibility rather than a guaranteed result. This guide was checked on 11 July 2026.
The tariff divides each day into three electricity periods. The discounted overnight period runs from 1am until 4am. The evening peak period runs from 4pm until 7pm. The standard rate applies during the remaining eighteen hours. EDF applies an overnight discount of at least 10 pence per kilowatt hour compared with the tariff's standard rate. It adds a premium of 10 pence per kilowatt hour during the evening peak. The exact prices vary by electricity region and are shown in the customer's quotation. For example, if the quoted standard rate were 25 pence per kilowatt hour, an overnight discount of 10 pence would produce a rate of 15 pence. Adding the 10 pence evening premium would produce a peak rate of 35 pence. That is only an illustration. Customers must use the actual prices quoted for their postcode and tariff start date.
Empower Fixed Exclusive is a twelve month fixed tariff. The three unit prices remain fixed during the tariff period. The customer is protected if EDF Standard Variable prices or the Ofgem price cap rise during that year. The reverse also applies. If ordinary electricity prices fall, the Empower rates do not automatically reduce. The household continues paying the prices agreed when it joined. The tariff has no early exit fee. A customer can change tariff or supplier without paying a tariff cancellation charge, although leaving would end access to the special import structure and zero standing charge.
One of the most valuable features is the zero electricity standing charge. Most domestic tariffs apply a fixed daily charge even when the property uses no electricity. The national average electricity standing charge under the Ofgem price cap from July 2026 is more than 57 pence a day, although actual regional figures vary. Removing a standing charge of that size could avoid more than ยฃ200 in fixed annual electricity costs. The precise saving depends on the standing charge the customer would otherwise have paid. A household in one electricity region may avoid a different amount from a property elsewhere in Great Britain. The zero standing charge lasts for the twelve month Empower tariff term. Customers should not assume it will continue after the tariff ends.
The higher rate between 4pm and 7pm is intended to encourage customers to reduce grid imports when national electricity demand is usually greatest. A solar and battery household can prepare for this period in several ways. Solar panels may supply some of the home during the afternoon, although generation normally declines as evening approaches. The battery can then take over, supplying lighting, cooking equipment and other household loads. The financial aim is to avoid importing significant electricity at the peak rate. A battery that is empty by 5pm may leave the household buying expensive electricity during the remainder of the peak period. Effective battery scheduling is therefore central to the tariff. Essential electricity use should not be sacrificed merely to avoid the peak. The system should be configured to meet normal household needs while reducing avoidable imports.
The discounted period from 1am to 4am is designed mainly for battery charging. During winter, solar generation may be insufficient to fill the battery. The home can then buy lower priced electricity overnight, store it and use it later during the standard or peak periods. The three hour window limits how much electricity can be stored. A battery system capable of charging at 3.6 kilowatts could theoretically draw 10.8 kilowatt hours during the complete overnight period. A system charging at 5 kilowatts could draw up to 15 kilowatt hours. The usable amount will depend on battery capacity, state of charge, inverter limits and conversion losses. A 10 kilowatt hour battery that is already half full does not need a complete three hour charge. The system should use expected solar generation and household demand to decide how much overnight energy is required. Charging unnecessarily can create losses and leave too little battery capacity for the following day's solar generation.
The overnight discount and evening premium apply to all electricity recorded by the household smart meter. The lower overnight price is not restricted to electricity entering the battery. An electric vehicle, immersion heater, dishwasher or washing machine can also receive the discounted rate when used between 1am and 4am. This creates both an opportunity and a limitation. A household with several flexible loads can make good use of the cheaper period. However, three hours may not be long enough to charge a large electric vehicle battery and a home battery fully at the same time. The electrical connection and inverter limits also matter. Running several large loads together can create a high household demand. Electric vehicle owners should compare Empower with EDF GoElectric. GoElectric offers seven cheaper hours between 11pm and 6am, which may be better suited to regular vehicle charging. Empower may be stronger where solar production, battery storage and export income are the main priorities.
Empower Fixed Exclusive is not available simply because a household already owns solar panels or a battery. Customers must purchase a qualifying combination of solar panels, battery storage, or both through EDF or Contact Solar. EDF states that enquiries and purchases made after 2 March 2026 qualify for the current offer. A customer who already has solar panels could purchase a battery through EDF and qualify. A customer without solar could purchase a solar installation, a battery, or a combined system. The tariff can normally be used only once for each qualifying Contact Solar purchase. A customer who has used the tariff within the previous twelve months cannot rejoin unless another eligible purchase has been made.
The property must have a compatible electricity smart meter. The customer must consent to half hourly meter readings and pay by Direct Debit. EDF uses the half hourly data to identify electricity consumed during the overnight, standard and evening peak periods. The smart meter must continue communicating with EDF. If EDF can no longer obtain the required readings, it may be unable to keep the property on Empower Fixed Exclusive and can move the account to its single rate Standard Variable tariff. New EDF customers must normally join EDF Standard Variable first. Once the electricity supply has transferred, the smart meter is connected and the solar or battery installation has been completed, the customer can contact EDF to join Empower Fixed Exclusive.
Empower Fixed Exclusive determines the price the household pays when importing electricity from the grid. It does not pay for electricity exported from solar panels or battery storage. Export is handled through a separate Smart Export Guarantee tariff. Eligible customers purchasing equipment through EDF can currently apply for Export Exclusive 12m V3, which pays 18 pence per kilowatt hour for qualifying electricity exported to the grid. The export product has its own eligibility rules, metering requirements and contract. The financial result should therefore combine: Electricity purchased from the grid Electricity generated and used in the home Electricity stored in the battery Conversion losses Electricity exported Export payments The zero standing charge Looking only at the import rate or the export rate can give a misleading picture.
EDF states that a typical household could achieve a net electricity bill of zero during the first year when using Empower Fixed Exclusive with Export Exclusive 12m V3. Its published illustration uses a household of two or three people with approximately ten to twelve solar panels, annual electricity use of 2,500 kilowatt hours, solar generation of 2,500 kilowatt hours and a 3 kilowatt hour battery. The model assumes that solar generation is used in the home first, excess generation charges the battery, the battery supplies the home during peak hours and surplus electricity is exported. It also assumes the battery is topped up with discounted overnight electricity when required. This does not mean that every customer will receive a zero bill. A north facing or shaded solar installation may produce less energy. A larger family may consume much more than 2,500 kilowatt hours. An electric vehicle or heat pump can increase annual demand substantially. Battery capacity, export timing, regional tariff prices, weather and household behaviour all affect the result. The cost of purchasing and installing solar panels and battery storage is also separate from the electricity bill calculation. A zero net electricity bill does not mean the equipment itself was free.
Battery storage involves energy losses. A battery with 90 per cent round trip efficiency returns approximately 9 kilowatt hours for every 10 kilowatt hours charged. The missing energy is lost during conversion and storage. This means the difference between the overnight and peak rates should not be treated as pure profit. Some of the purchased electricity will not be available later. Battery cycling also contributes to degradation. Modern batteries are designed for frequent use, but their warranties may contain cycle, throughput or retained capacity conditions. The household should prioritise using solar energy directly where practical, then use the battery to avoid expensive imports and export genuine surplus electricity.
Empower Fixed Exclusive may perform very differently in summer and winter. During summer, solar panels may generate more electricity than the household can use. The battery can fill during the day and surplus energy can be exported. Overnight grid charging may be unnecessary on a bright summer day. Filling the battery from the grid at 3am could leave no room for free solar generation later. During winter, solar production is lower and household electricity use may be higher. Overnight battery charging can become more important, particularly where the battery is used to avoid the 4pm to 7pm peak. An effective control strategy should therefore change with the season rather than using one schedule throughout the year.
Empower Fixed Exclusive is best suited to a household purchasing solar or battery equipment through EDF and willing to manage its energy around the three tariff periods. The strongest candidates are likely to have: A suitable solar installation Enough battery capacity to cover much of the evening peak A compatible half hourly smart meter Low unavoidable grid demand between 4pm and 7pm Battery controls that can charge between 1am and 4am Sufficient export to benefit from the separate exclusive export tariff The tariff may be less suitable for a home with heavy evening demand that exceeds the battery's output or capacity. It may also be less suitable for an electric vehicle owner whose charging requires more than the three hour overnight window. The household should compare the full annual cost with EDF GoElectric, FreePhase and the standard Empower Fixed tariff.
A realistic comparison should use half hourly electricity data where available. Consumption should be divided between: The overnight period from 1am to 4am The evening peak from 4pm to 7pm The remaining standard periods Solar generation should then be matched against household demand. Battery charging, discharge, usable capacity and round trip losses should be included. Expected exports should be multiplied by the applicable export tariff rate. The avoided standing charge should also be included. EDF Empower Fixed Exclusive 12m combines fixed prices, discounted overnight electricity, zero standing charges and no exit fee. Its greatest value comes from the way solar generation, battery storage and export payments work together. The tariff is not automatically the cheapest option for every solar home. It is an exclusive package intended to increase the value of equipment purchased through EDF, and its success depends on the household having enough generation and storage to avoid expensive evening imports.
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