HOUSEHOLDS will be paid to turn of their appliances this evening as coal-fire power supplies are put on alert.
The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) said its electricity supply margins are expected to be tighter than normal.
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The National Grid is to run its “demand flexibility service” between 5pm and 6pm.
But the ESO said it doesn’t mean energy supplies are at risk, and people don’t need to worry.
The scheme has been set up to help lower the nations energy usage at peak-times and to help lower the risk of households facing blackouts this winter.
Participating households could be paid to put on their dishwashers or charge their electric cars during off-peak hours.
You’ll only be able to take part in the scheme if you have a smart meter.
You’ll also need to sign up through your supplier, otherwise you won’t be able to take part – they may have contacted you already inviting you to join.
Once you have signed up, your supplier will contact just before the event to confirm that you want to participate.
Tonight will be the first time ever that the National Grid has used the scheme officially to reduce pressure on the grid.
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An ESO spokesperson said: “Our forecasts show electricity supply margins are expected to be tighter than normal on Monday evening.
“We have instructed coal-fired power units to be available to increase electricity supplies should it be needed.
“We are also activating a Live Demand Flexibility Service event between 5-6pm.
“This does not mean electricity supplies are at risk and people should not be worried. These are precautionary measures to maintain the buffer of spare capacity we need.”
It comes after British Gas, EDF Energy and Ovo Energy paid customers for using less energy last week.
National Grid had previously warned that the UK could face rolling three-hour blackouts in January and February to help manage energy supplies if there is a shortage.
The UK typically imports half of its energy and global supplies have shrunk since Russia has weaponised its resources after the invasion of Ukraine.
What is the demand flexibility service?
National Grid has established the demand flexibility service to help encourage households to use their most energy intensive applianced during off-peak times during the night.
The scheme has been set up to help lower the nations energy usage at peak-times and to help lower the risk of households facing blackouts this winter.
The scheme will run 12 times from November through to March and it’s up to energy suppliers to set their own eligibility criteria and pay households.
It’s expected that homes will need to reduce their energy usage by a certain amount between certain hours including 9-11am and 4.30-6.30pm.
How much could I get for taking part in the scheme and who’s eligible?
If households use less electricity than they normally do during the allotted hours, they will be paid for the savings.
But you’ll need to be with a supplier that’s taking part in the scheme, and have signed up to take part.
British Gas, EON and Octopus are among those taking part in the Demand Flexibility Scheme.
Customers could be paid up to £6 per kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy saved compared to their normal usage during an allocated two-hour time period.
This would mean that if a customer reduced their energy usage by two kilowatt hour, then the maximum amount that the customer could earn back is £12.
Those who have opted into taking part should get a text or email from their energy supplier to notify them of the hours at which the scheme is running.
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