Millions of households with smart meters could soon be paid to use less energy at peak times this winter.
The new scheme would be rolled out by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) following a successful trial with Octopus Energy customers.
Under the proposals, families would be paid for changing the time they use energy-hungry appliances such as the oven and washing machine - so shifting when they cook or clean.
Households typically pay 28.34p for each kilowatt-hour of electricity they use, but could instead be paid as much as £6 for each kilowatt-hour they avoid using at peak times, according to The Times.
In the proposals seen by the newspaper, the National Grid ESO said rolling out the scheme could be a cheaper than paying fossil fuel power plants to generate more electricity - and claims it could also help reduce the risk of blackouts.
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Households would need smart meters to be paid to cut their usage through the scheme. Smart meters are self-reading gas and electricity meters that show how much energy you're using in pounds and pence.
National Grid ESO trialled the scheme with 100,000 smart meter customers with Octopus Energy earlier this year, who were told to reduce their energy consumption between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
Octopus said the average household saved 23p per two-hour period, though some saved as much as £4.35.
More energy suppliers are now said to have been written to by National Grid SEO to gauge their interest in the scheme.
The cost of the proposed scheme would reportedly be levied on household bills - however, the National Grid believes all households should benefit.
A spokeswoman for National Grid ESO told The Times: "Demand shifting has the potential to save consumers money, reduce carbon emissions and offer greater flexibility on the system."
Energy bills are expected to rise again this year, with households already paying sky-high prices for their gas and electricity.
The Ofgem energy price cap, which sets a limit on the rates a supplier can charge for each unit of gas and electricity you use, rose by 54% on April 1.
For those on default tariffs paying by direct debit, the price cap increased by £693 from £1,277 to £1,971.
Prepayment customers saw a bigger jump, with their price cap going up by £708, from £1,309 to £2,017.
The boss of Ofgem last month warned that the price cap could go up again by hundreds more pounds when it is reviewed in October.
Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley told the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee that in October it will be "in the region of £2,800".
Experts at Cornwall Insights predict the price cap will rise to a higher £2,980 in October, before hitting £3,000 in January.
