Octopus Energy paid its customers more than £1million using less energy on Tuesday (January 24) evening. The energy supplier said more than 400,000 customers took part in the challenge between 4.30pm and 6pm.
By taking part in the energy saving scheme the company was able to pay customers for reducing the strain on the national grid. Customers were paid 3,200 OctoPoints per kWh of reduced energy, which is the equivalent of £4.
The average customer was paid £2.50 in the special points. The top 5% of energy savers were paid £15 in points.
Octopus claimed initial data showed the scheme reduced the UK's energy by 250MWh. This was the equivalent of turning all of Liverpool off for one hour.
The scheme is formally known as the Demand Flexibility Scheme and was launched by National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO). It aims to reduce energy consumption during peak times.
The scheme went live on Monday and several other energy suppliers took part in the system. It had been tested on several occasions previously.
