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Original poster

People will be paid to use less electricity today

64 replies

justasking111 · 23/01/2023 11:12

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64367504

This may be of interest to those with smart meters

OP posts:
lunathestral · 23/01/2023 11:23

I have heard this but how does it work? Do you need to register with the provider or will it just come off of your bill?

YorkieTheRabbit · 23/01/2023 11:25

We’ve done it previously, I think about five times since November. We get an email from our provider and you can choose whether to opt in.

Helllooo · 23/01/2023 11:27

With Octopus you get a notification from the app. Then you have to opt in

lunathestral · 23/01/2023 11:30

that's annoying - we're with British Gas & haven't had anything at all from them & can't get through on the helpline to ask

lunathestral · 23/01/2023 11:41

apparently it's only available to customers that have been invited by email which is annoying

FourTeaFallOut · 23/01/2023 11:47

Aren't Scottish Power bothering? It looks like all the big suppliers are on board but them?

QforCucumber · 23/01/2023 11:51

Octopus been doing it a while, the odd hour here and there you opt in and then get some credit on your bill depending on how much less you use in that hour compared to normal.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 23/01/2023 11:52

It’s only available to a select few that have been invited. The reporting around this is woefully inadequate, very misleading.

BarbaraofSeville · 23/01/2023 11:52

Another Octopus customer who's done this a few times now.

It's not necessarily less electricity, just less in the specified period to spread out demand at peak times. They want you to start cooking dinner at 6 pm instead of 5 pm for example.

It's not a huge amount of money. This afternoon will be our 7th session and so far, we've earned £4.22 (plus whatever we get for last Thursday morning that's not been credited to the account yet). That's by cutting down between 20 and 80% in each session.

ReamsOfCheese · 23/01/2023 11:54

Another half-baked scheme that won't help low-income private tenants who aren't allowed to change to a smart meter. It's literally written into some tenancy agreements.

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 23/01/2023 11:54

Like YorkieTheRabbit we have also done it a few times already so I'm not sure why its being stated that this is the first time. It may be that we have been part of a trial and this is the first time it has been open to everyone on a smart meter. We get an email inviting us to take part around 24 hours before the start. There is a link to click on which leads to a place where you register to take part. So far we have earned a few pounds each time its happened which is added to our electricity account.

BarbaraofSeville · 23/01/2023 11:57

ReamsOfCheese · 23/01/2023 11:54

Another half-baked scheme that won't help low-income private tenants who aren't allowed to change to a smart meter. It's literally written into some tenancy agreements.

If they're low income they're not likely to benefit much anyway, as to get a meaningful amount of money out of it, you need to cut down from a very high usage that would never be affordable to anyone on a low income.

Most people are getting a few quid out of it.

FourTeaFallOut · 23/01/2023 11:57

Even if they just said, as a shout out, the grid will struggle today between xx and xx, I could time shift by charging up the home battery and not draining the grid in that time. It's no skin off my nose, it costs the same. But there doesn't seem any will to organise people like that.

TeenTraumaTrials · 23/01/2023 11:59

I think the previous ones have just been the providers testing the system but seems today's session is actually in response to an actual predicted issue in the grid. I've signed up to a few of the previous ones through Octopus and like a PP have generated a few £s in savings, but for me it's more about making sure that there's enough energy to stop the lights going out rather than a massive financial saving.

TimeForMeToF1y · 23/01/2023 12:02

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 23/01/2023 11:54

Like YorkieTheRabbit we have also done it a few times already so I'm not sure why its being stated that this is the first time. It may be that we have been part of a trial and this is the first time it has been open to everyone on a smart meter. We get an email inviting us to take part around 24 hours before the start. There is a link to click on which leads to a place where you register to take part. So far we have earned a few pounds each time its happened which is added to our electricity account.

According to the news only trails have been done so far. Today is the first full live day

Yesthatismychildsigh · 23/01/2023 12:02

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 23/01/2023 11:54

Like YorkieTheRabbit we have also done it a few times already so I'm not sure why its being stated that this is the first time. It may be that we have been part of a trial and this is the first time it has been open to everyone on a smart meter. We get an email inviting us to take part around 24 hours before the start. There is a link to click on which leads to a place where you register to take part. So far we have earned a few pounds each time its happened which is added to our electricity account.

It’s not open to everyone on a smart meter. It’s still only the very few that were invited to take part and accepted.

redskydelight · 23/01/2023 12:02

We've taken part before. We are quite careful users anyway, and the organisers acknowledge the scheme is unfair as it rewards people who normally use a lot but cut down, but doesn't help those who use less anyway and have limited ability to cut any further.

TimeForMeToF1y · 23/01/2023 12:06

ReamsOfCheese · 23/01/2023 11:54

Another half-baked scheme that won't help low-income private tenants who aren't allowed to change to a smart meter. It's literally written into some tenancy agreements.

The aim isn't to reduce bills that's the mechaniam to reduce consumption and try to ensure continuity of supply.

I dont think it's half baked at all and I dont have a smart meter, better that than power cuts imo

GreetingsToTheNewBrunette · 23/01/2023 12:08

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 23/01/2023 11:54

Like YorkieTheRabbit we have also done it a few times already so I'm not sure why its being stated that this is the first time. It may be that we have been part of a trial and this is the first time it has been open to everyone on a smart meter. We get an email inviting us to take part around 24 hours before the start. There is a link to click on which leads to a place where you register to take part. So far we have earned a few pounds each time its happened which is added to our electricity account.

This one is being promoted my national grid, I think previous ones were just by your supplier - I’ve done a few with Eon next.

jtaeapa · 23/01/2023 12:17

ReamsOfCheese · 23/01/2023 11:54

Another half-baked scheme that won't help low-income private tenants who aren't allowed to change to a smart meter. It's literally written into some tenancy agreements.

It’s not meant to help low income households. It’s meant to help the total electricity demand to be more even across the day.

I don’t have a smart meter.

TimeForMeToF1y · 23/01/2023 12:18

Yesthatismychildsigh · 23/01/2023 12:02

It’s not open to everyone on a smart meter. It’s still only the very few that were invited to take part and accepted.

Show quote history

That's not whats being said by the national grid, everyone with a smart meter can register Not all suppliers will do it every time but according to the BBC a million people could be doing it today

Original poster
justasking111 · 23/01/2023 13:02

We've already cut usage to the bone, have done since October when they mooted power cuts. Have candles, oil lamp, log burner, just incase. So the UK doesn't suffer power cuts. I'll cook dinner later tonight. Honestly I can't do anymore to help.

OP posts:
ureterr1blemuriel · 23/01/2023 13:10

I’ve done this with Eon a few times. The first two attempts I didn’t hit the target (although I’m sure I did) however I later found out that you need to use a higher than usual amount immediately before & then reduce for the time slot. So I saved my washing until the day and then washed & dried it before the start time. I managed to earn £8!! Am just about to do some more washing now ahead of 5pm.

It isn’t just about energy reduction, it’s more just using it at different times

Beezknees · 23/01/2023 13:15

My flat is all electric so no help to me, I'm not turning the heating off in this weather.

xogossipgirlxo · 23/01/2023 13:28

Well, not me, British Gas didn't ask me to participate :(