One of the UK's biggest energy suppliers is set to launch a trail scheme that rewards customers for not using energy during specific times.
The feature, entitled the Power Payback trial, is being tested by 1,000 right now, reports Hull Live. This could save those who are Utilita subscribers up to £61 million altogether annually.
Customers will be incentivised to avoid power usage between the hours of 5pm and 10:30pm - by crediting their meters the equivalent to the supplier’s cost savings.
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During the scheme, customers will receive a text one hour before each 'payback' event, of which there will be one a week. If the trial is successful, Utilita plans to offer this scheme to all eligible customers from winter 2023 onwards.
George Walters, chief home services officer, said: “As a result of consumer champions encouraging suppliers to compete not on value, but price, during the last decade, households have been able to access energy at an unsustainably low price, hence why more than 30 suppliers who joined the race to the bottom have folded.
“As a result, many households have got into the habit of using whatever energy they want, and whenever they want, which comes at a high price today. For households who are able and willing to avoid peak times, there are some substantial savings to be made.
“It’s important to clarify that the fearmongering of power blackouts this winter must be detached from the innovations associated with peak-time energy savings.
"Our Power Payback trial has been in development for well over a year and has nothing to do with the very unlikely event that the National Grid is forced to ask customers to use less energy.”
According to usage data obtained by the supplier, Utilita has estimated that customers would be able to earn up to £61.2 million back by avoiding using power during peak times. It would also cut carbon emissions by the equivalent to driving 600,000 miles.
These savings could be further increased by following the energy advice available on Utilita's Smart Score app feature. This feature helps households to save up to a fifth on their energy usage.
Archie Lasseter, sustainability lead from the energy firm, said: “The associated carbon saving is just over seven per cent of last year’s total Utilita carbon footprint.
“At the moment we aim to reduce our carbon footprint by a little over nine percent a year to meet our net zero targets, so that is a great potential contribution.”
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