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:
British Gas
British Gas is aiming to start trialling its scheme "later this year", but was unable to confirm an exact date. You cannot register yet, but if you opt in once it is launched, you'll be asked to reduce your usage during peak times (probably between 4-7pm) by around 30% – though this could change as details are still being finalised. The company hasn't yet confirmed how much its customers will be able to earn.
Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy 's 'Savings Sessions' scheme started on November 1 and runs until March 31, 2023. If you are one of Octopus's 1.4m customers with a smart meter, you can sign up online and wait for an email and app notification in advance, telling you when to use less electricity to earn money. This is likely to include the evening peak of 4-7pm, though it could vary, and you'll need to opt in to each session or you won't earn the reward. Octopus says the average home will be able to earn around £36 in total, but it could be up to £100, depending on your usage and the number of times you're prompted to cut it. Octopus says it expects around one or two sessions per week. Rewards will be paid as 'OctoPoints', which you'll be able to redeem to your energy account as credit.
Ovo Energy
Ovo 's 'Power Move' trial launched on November 1 and will also run until March 31, 2023. It has 7,000 participants and applications are now closed. Families will be asked to cut their consumption between 4pm and 7pm. The firm says the average household uses 19% of their daily total usage during these hours and it will be asking participants to reduce this to less than 12.5%, which, according to Ovo, is the equivalent of moving three loads of washing per week from peak time. Ovo will pay you a flat reward of £20 each month if you meet the goal, up to a total of £100, paid directly into your energy account as credit.
E.On Next
E.On Next has started writing to its customers this week, inviting them to sign up to its scheme. It said households will see savings of £100 - based on £3 per kWh - if they reduce their energy usage 29 times over winter. Credit will be paid into their energy account.
Utilita
Utilita's trial lets customers receive energy credits for reducing energy usage during peak times . If the full trial is a success, the Power Payback scheme will be opened up to every Utilita household, helping to cut their bills by up to £76.44 per home. Each home taking part in the trial will get a text once a week one hour before they need to try to use less power, normally between 5.30pm to 10.30pm on the day. If households manage to use less energy in this period they will get energy credits equivalent to the cost savings.
National Grid is working with energy firms and industry regulator Ofgem to roll out its scheme more widely, and Eon/Eon Next and EDF have also told Moneysavingexpert they plan to join the initiative but there are no further details right now. Scottish Power, So Energy and Utility Warehouse have all ruled themselves out of taking part this winter, but have said they may in the future.
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