Households will be paid to turn on their appliances at quieter hours of the day under a new trial to reduce pressure on the National Grid and help lower household bills during an energy crisis.
From Friday, all 1.4million Octopus Energy customers with a smart meter will be invited to join a scheme that will mean they pay less if they cut their normal electricity consumption at certain two-hour periods during the day.
The pilot scheme hopes to spread out energy usage across peak and off peak times to reduce the pressure on the electricity grid as the UK ditches reliable but dirty fossil fuel plants.
