While reading this, you heard about the plan to get people away from using power-hungry appliances during peak hours. It will go live for the first time today, 5-7pm GMT. People who have already signed up will receive money on their bills for using less energy during this time.
The National Grid plans to restart the program from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. GMT tomorrow.
Thanks to a number of international factors, including the war in Ukraine, gas prices, as well as electricity prices, have skyrocketed. Not only does this mean higher bills, but it also means there may not be enough power to drive around the UK on the coldest days this winter.
The current cold spell means more people are turning on their central heating, which means increased demand and greater strain on the network.
Despite what you might imagine, there is no surplus gas and electricity available in the grid at any given time, and the UK does not have the resources to store lots in reserve.
This is the first time in a very long time that the National Grid has predicted that there won’t be enough, which is why it has come up with the demand flexibility service.
Simply put, it works by predicting when there will be a power shortage and then telling people to avoid putting their ovens, clothes dryers and other power-hungry appliances on at that time. Scheduled times will be during peak hours: approximately 4-7 p.m. on weekdays, when people are home from work and school.
The obvious question is: how can you participate and get paid to help? The key thing to know is that you cannot contact the National Grid directly. You can only join the program if your energy supplier is on board and if you meet certain conditions.
The key requirement is that you will need a smart meter, so your energy consumption can be monitored.
Which providers offer discounts for off-peak energy use?
According to the National Grid, 26 suppliers have now joined the scheme. You can consult its list of approved suppliers to find out if your energy company participates. Many major suppliers, such as British Gas, EDF and Octopus are on the list.
If your supplier is on the list, you can click on it to find out if you can apply, and if so, how. In some cases, customers have already been invited by email to participate. Some providers, like Octopus, still invite people to join. Others, like EDF, do not allow more people to join the scheme.
If you are contacted, beware of scams. As with the government’s £400 energy rebate, scammers will no doubt take full advantage of this new National Grid scheme and send fake emails with links to fake websites. Whatever you do, do not provide your bank details.
How will I get the discount?
This will depend on your provider, and each will have different terms.
For example. OVO’s program offers a fixed amount: £20 for each month a household meets its energy reduction targets, up to a maximum of £100 (trial lasts five months). The money will be credited to your account.
OVO estimates that 19% of an average household’s energy consumption occurs during peak hours (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.). It is seeking households to reduce their peak-hour energy consumption to just 12.5%. Other providers may choose different lenses.
Octopus customers can expect a refund of £4 for every 1KW saved from their normal usage during the specified period. As explained on the company’s website, rewards are given out in the form of OctoPoints, which can be “converted into prizes”, donated to charity, or received in “hard cash”.
Should I reduce the total amount of energy I use?
No. You won’t need to turn off your lights or heating, for example. You just need to avoid using energy-hungry appliances and appliances like your dishwasher or clothes dryer when asked to.
You’ll still be able to use your oven to cook dinner, but you might consider upgrading to an air fryer which, again, will use less energy and save you money.
You will need to use these devices earlier or later in the day. They usually feature delayed start timers, so it’s easy to charge them when you usually would, but have them run their cycles later, after peak hours. To save money, use their Eco modes. It will take longer, but will consume less energy.
Obviously, you’ll save money if you use less energy overall. For more energy-saving tips, find out how to know the cost of running your appliances and appliances and why longer dishwasher and washing machine cycles are key to saving money.
