Two more energy suppliers have signed up to a scheme to pay families to cut their power usage during peak times this winter.
Eon Next and Utilita Energy are the latest companies to launch schemes aimed at preventing power shortages in the UK in the coming months. The initiatives are in response to warnings from the National Grid ESO that this winter could be challenging for energy supplies throughout Europe, though the operator has stressed blackouts are an unlikely "worst-case scenario".
Octopus and Ovo Energy were the first two power companies to unveil their plans, followed by the UK's biggest supplier, British Gas, last week. While all schemes will ask people to reduce consumption during certain periods, how this will work depends upon the supplier. A smart meter is needed to take part in the scheme. British Gas and Eon Next are still to firm up the details of their plans, but here is the situation so far:
