OVER a million households will be paid to cut down their energy usage tomorrow as part of a National Grid scheme.
The first Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) session of the year will take place between 5pm and 6.30pm after launching on October 30.
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The service encourages households to reduce their energy when there is high demand on the network.
The idea is that if electricity demand is lowered, the National Grid doesn’t have to rely on generators using fossil fuels, which is both more expensive and adds pollution to the air.
So far 1.4million businesses and households and 37 energy suppliers have signed up to take part in the scheme.
Those who have signed up will be contacted by their firm telling them when in the hour and a half window they can take part.
Some will be asked to participate between 5-6pm while others will be asked to reduce their usage between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.
For example, Octopus Energy customers will able to take part between 5.30pm and 6.30pm. They’ll be told about the hour window via their apps, email or WhatsApp.
Energy customers who haven’t signed up to the DFS already can, if their provider is one of the list of 37.
The registered list of providers is on the National Grid’s website, but a number of the UK’s largest, including British Gas, EDF and E.ON, are involved.
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Claire Dykta, director of markets at National Grid ESO, said: “We’re excited to see that providers, consumer households and businesses are getting engaged in such numbers this year with the Demand Flexibility Service.
“We’re really pleased to see the high level of participation at this early stage and expect this only to grow as more people get engaged in demand flexibility for the first time, following the success of the service last year.”
It’s worth bearing in mind, you can only take part in the DFS if you have a smart energy meter.
Plus, how you will be rewarded for reducing your energy usage depends on who your supplier is.
Some firms might hand out credit, while others could provide loyalty points or prizes.
There are expected to be 12 test events between November this year and March 2024, following 22 last winter.
How else can I save money on my energy bills?
If you can’t sign up to the DFS, or even if you have and want to save more money on your bills, there’s a few avenues you can take.
First, you can take direct action to save electricity, which means switching any old halogen lightbulbs for LED ones.
You can turn off any so-called “vampire appliances” too – some could be adding £100s to your bills.
Meanwhile, try switching over from using your tumble dryer to a heated airer – they cost just 6p an hour to run.
You can cut back on your heating bills with some simple tricks as well – including closing any curtains to lock in warmth.
Block any draughts for the same reason.
Plus, if you’ve got the budget, it’s well worth your time installing loft insulation.
It can be a pricey option but also save you £300 a year, according to consumer campaign group Which?, making for a worthwhile long-term investment.
You might also be eligible for a whole host of support on offer from the Government.
Households in England can get help via the Household Support Fund (HSF), which is worth £842million a year.
Each local authority has been allotted a unique share of the pie and is distributing it differently.
That means what you can get depends on where you live, but it can range from vouchers to direct cash transfers to your bank account.
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You can find what local authority area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
Meanwhile, you might be in line for help via a Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment or cost of living payment.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
