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Households could get discounts on electricity bills if they use less energy at peak times.

National Grid hopes to roll out a scheme where people can save cash if they avoid high-power activities, such as cooking or charging electric cars, when demand is high.
The move follows a trial where Octopus Energy offered incentives for 100,000 customers who reduced consumption.

National Grid is asking all suppliers for feedback on its plans.
The company said the scheme was "not about energy rationing", despite fears over energy supplies after Russia's invasion of Ukraine affected oil and gas supplies to Europe.
A spokesman told the BBC the move was to "create flexibility" in its network and was part of longer-term plans to not add to the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
He added it "should not have a negative impact" on consumers as its aim was to balance the power grid at times of the year when heating and lighting causes overall electricity demand to be higher.

Last week, National Grid ESO hosted a webinar with energy suppliers to ask and understand how feasible its proposals would be if it rolled out the scheme country-wide, following its trial with Octopus Energy in February. It is understood a scheme could be established across suitable homes in Britain within months if energy firms agree.

The Times, which first reported the story, said it had seen estimates that households, which typically pay 28.34p for each kilowatt-hour of electricity they use, could potentially be paid as much as £6 for each kilowatt-hour that they avoid using at peak times. The way customers would redeem savings has not been established, but Octopus Energy said its consumers received credit on their energy accounts and also had a "self-refund option" where they could get cash transferred to their bank accounts.

Prices overall are continuing to rise at their fastest rate for 40 years, with UK inflation at 9.1%, the highest level since March 1982, biting into household budgets. Changes to the energy price cap meant typical energy bills rose by an unprecedented £700-a-year in April, and are due to rise by even more in October.

Energy supplier Octopus Energy, which trialled National Grid's proposals, said smart meter customers who reduced their consumption on evenings when demand is highest manged to save cash. It said consumers on average saved 23p per each two-hour trial window, but some participants saved up to £4.35.

Moxi wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 11:41 am Presumably another carrot to get people to install smart meters as well ? Are there any take up figures for SMETS ?


Moxi

cojmh wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:00 pm I am afraid this is exactly where it will go ..... probably the aim from the outset.

Still waiting to work out what they are going to do with VED now that they will be loosing a lot of that due to EVs .... charging by mile will be interesting.

Tinbum wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:27 pm I'm continuously being bombarded and bullied into getting a smart meter by EonNext by text and letter. Even threatening to take me off my tariff if I don't get one. I'd really like them to try that, as I'm sure I'd win.
I do have a smart meter but I also have a dumb one that I intend to keep dumb.

Stinsy wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:00 pm Road Fuel Duty is a MUCH bigger problem to solve. Forcing us all to pay for and install trackers that send you a bill every month for the number of miles driven would be very unpopular. But they have to find another big source of revenue otherwise the exchequer is in big trouble.