A SCHEME to pay families for cutting electricity use has been extended as sub-zero temperatures grip Britain.
About one million households have signed up for the National Grid scheme.
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They will receive cash in exchange for reducing energy use between 5pm and 6pm last night and 4.30pm and 6pm tomorrow.
It is the first time the National Grid has pulled the trigger on its demand flexibility service to help save the country from being plunged into rolling blackouts.
Customers, who must have smart meters, will get on average £3 back from National Grid if they reduce energy usage by a minimum 30 per cent and will get more if they cut back further.
Sub-zero temperatures meant more energy was needed to power central heating.
A drop in wind has also meant the grid relying on tight gas supplies — a reversal from the past couple of months when blustery conditions have provided almost half the country’s power needs.
London had its coldest January night in 36 years as temperatures dived to a bone-chilling -8.4C.
In a switch of usual weather patterns, the capital endured the big freeze, while Scotland enjoyed a relatively balmy 10C.
The Met Office said: “What a contrast this morning. Stepping out of the door across the northwest of the UK and you can ditch the gloves… though ice scrapers at the ready in the South East.”
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Energy supplies are so tight that National Grid also put three back-up coal power stations on notice that they might be needed on Sunday afternoon — but has since stood them down.
Big energy suppliers including British Gas, Octopus and EDF have signed up to the customer cashback scheme, designed to reduce demand at peak times.
A dishwasher typically uses between 1.2 and 1.5 kWH per load while a tumble dryer uses 4.5 kWh per cycle.
Colin McKellar, 49, from Ayrshire, has taken part in Octopus Energy’s five use-cutting sessions and has so far saved about £20.
He said: “I’ve seen it as a way to do a digital detox. We make sure everything is switched off apart from a couple of side lamps, sit in bed with the cats and read a book. It’s lovely and quiet.
“The saving isn’t that much, especially in the context of our bills, but I like that we can do something by taking the pressure off the grid.
“We eat dinner a wee bit earlier and make sure the washing is done.
“We don’t sit there in the dark waiting for the hour to be up. We’ve actually come to quite enjoy it.”
Octopus said that it had already paid £1.7million back to customers for scaling back on six hours of usage, saving about £4 a session.
Critics have branded it a gimmick, with experts stating it is a way to penalise those without smart meters.
Supply chain expert Richard Bartlett told GBNews: “I can’t see how it’s going to work.
“It’s just the Government’s way of rolling through situations without tackling the issue.”
Mr Bartlett said he had concerns about the number of people who might go without heating.
He added: “The savings that it is going to amount to doesn’t seem worth the amount of work involved.
“I can’t see myself doing it and I can’t see many others doing it either.”
Wireless technology expert Nick Hunn said: “If it has an impact, then expect to see a lot more events like this as it effectively lets suppliers increase costs for users without smart meters.
“It’s a very similar approach to what they’ve been doing by moving customers to prepay meters, i.e. penalising the ones who don’t do what the suppliers want.
“Given the suppliers have failed dismally to meet their smart meter-fitting obligations, they may see this as a way of offsetting their penalties by blaming customers who not have signed up.”
Craig Dyke, National Grid ESO head of national control, told Sky News: “We took the decision over the weekend to warm three coal-fired power stations, just for contingency, so not necessarily to run.
“Just to ensure that as we get through the evening peak today, we can ensure society that there will be electricity for them to use when they want to use it.”
The company added: “People should not be worried. These are precautionary measures.”
Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of British Energy regulator Ofgem, said the power supply outlook has improved from when National Grid first warned of power cuts.
He said high gas stocks in Europe and an improvement in the operation of French nuclear plants, which often provide electricity to Britain, had eased supply fears.
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