NEARLY 425,000 British Gas customers can get paid to cut their energy use this evening.
It comes as the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) confirmed that it will activate its Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) for the second time in the same week due to cold weather.
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The DFS pays those who take part for using less energy at the busiest times.
The scheme was first launched last winter in a bid to prevent potential blackouts and ease pressure on the UK’s energy network.
The National Grid ESO (Electricity System Operator), has brought it back again, despite the risk of blackouts all but gone.
It means households that use less electricity than they normally do during certain allotted hours are paid for the savings.
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Families don’t have to switch off lights during a DFS period but are instead urged to switch off appliances such as washing machines.
Each participating energy provider has its own eligibility criteria to take part in the scheme – including British Gas.
Its version of the DFS scheme is known as PeakSave and you need to be a British Gas customer to enrol.
Customers must also have a working smart meter which issues 30-minute meter readings to take part.
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You’ll also need to pay for your energy via a direct debit.
Eligible households will be offered cash back to cut down their usage between 4.30pm and 6pm this evening (December 1).
The firm says the overall goal is to use 30% less energy, but you’ll earn money however much you save.
British Gas says that it passes on 100% of the money it is paid by National Grid ESO for each kWh saved unlike some suppliers.
During this event, the supplier has said that customers will be paid £5 per kWh saved during the time period.
Always remember that the exact amount you’ll get will depend on how much less energy you use.
Customers can sign up online and then you’ll be invited to take part in each event by email, either on the day or the day before.
If you’re not a British Gas customer, we’ve listed all the other energy firms paying customers to use less energy this winter.
British Gas customers signed up to its Peak Save scheme will also continue to get half-price electricity on each Sunday until December 31.
Customers who sign up can get a 50% discount on all electricity used each Sunday between 11am and 4pm.
Demand for electricity is low on Sundays so the firm is encouraging families to use as much as they want during these hours rather than at peak times.
The scheme, which began on June 25, has seen hundreds of thousands of households sign up so far.
Again, you can register your interest for the scheme on the British Gas website.
You only have to sign up once and you will be credited half of what you spend each Sunday back to your account.
The credit will show up as “PeakSave Credit” on your bill or online statement.
Each month, British Gas will send you a breakdown of how much you have saved.
