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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Katie Williams

Octopus Energy customers offered cash for using less electricity in new trial

As energy bills are set to soar, an energy company will offer homes to earn back some money in a new trial.

Customers will be given the chance to earn cash by cutting their power use down by between 40 and 60 percent below normal levels during a set two-hour period.

In a scheme by Octopus Energy and National Green, customers could be asked to delay a laundry cycle or a dishwasher load when demand on the UK’s power grid typically climbs, such as between 9am and 11am and again between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, as reported by the Guardian.

READ MORE- Edinburgh weather: Yellow warning for strong wind issued amid freezing temperatures

And they could earn up to 35p for every kilowatt-hour of electricity saved if they meet the set target.

Bill payers can choose whether to opt-in or out after they are told about each two-hour trial window the day before its scheduled by 4pm.

Greg Jackson, CEO and founder of Octopus Energy Group, said: "UK households are currently suffering from huge energy bill increases caused by the global gas crisis. We speak to 30,000 customers a day and know first-hand how hard the situation is for many in this country.

"Octopus Energy has pioneered energy trials that put consumers in the driver’s seat, allowing them to save money when energy is cheaper and greener. We are glad that National Grid ESO have now joined us in our efforts to build a smart grid that puts money back into peoples’ pockets and drives the green energy revolution - and this trial is an incredibly important step to make it a reality."

This trial could mark a new way for tariffs and show that it could be possible for households to cut their power bills while helping the UK to become more energy efficient.

All 1.4 million customers of Octopus Energy who have a smart meter will be invited to take part from Friday.

It is expected 100,000 homes will sign up to the trial which runs until the end of March.

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