More Octopus innovation

[AE-NMidlands]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... ricity-use

Trial scheme will pay householders to delay electricity use: Octopus Energy and National Grid aim to reduce peak demand on path to zero carbon electricity grid
Thousands of homes could soon be paid to halve their electricity usage for a couple of hours daily when the UK’s power demand is high under a new scheme to help reduce energy bills and create a zero carbon power supply system.

From next week the trial by Octopus Energy and National Grid’s electricity system operator will offer the household supplier’s customers the chance to earn money by cutting their power use by between 40% and 60% below normal levels during a set two-hour period.

They could be asked to delay a laundry cycle or a dishwasher load when demand on the UK’s power grid typically climbs, such as between 9am and 11am and again between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. If they meet their electricity reduction targets they could earn up to 35p for every kilowatt-hour of electricity saved.
etc...

[Tinbum]

Would that mean I could move charging my batteries from during the GO period and get paid for doing it? (I've not looked at it in detail)

[Stinsy]

I'd be well up for getting on that gravy train! I use nothing 9-11am, and very little 430-630pm!

This was January:

[AE-NMidlands]

I'd be well up for getting on that gravy train! I use nothing 9-11am, and very little 430-630pm!

With the awareness we have here about power availability etc. you are already years ahead of 99.9% (99.999%?) of the population! I think you are doing what they are experimenting with here, seeing if they can tempt the hoi polloi into more helpful (to the grid) behaviour by offering tarriffs designed to alter behaviour...
But in the same way as there are still people on tarriffs dating back decades (who ironically are having the last laugh now) I bet there is a large proportion of consumers who just couldn't act smart and take advantage of an offer like this.
A

[Moxi]

Seems like a very good suggestion and I would have a go at that even without batteries and despite the fact that I work from home. What I don't see is how reducing my peak morning and tea time loads would really help as around those times I would say I am using maybe 0.5kWh to 1kWh max.

However despite this I will look into it as its innovative and proactive.

Moxi

[AE-NMidlands]

Me too!
Seeing as we only use between 5 and 6 units a day year-round we probably couldn't halve our use at any point, and even if we did we would probably wouldn't even take 1 unit off in a 2-hour period, so not even a discount of 35p on a bill of about £1 per day!

Mind you, when we are getting paid for the electricity generated by our share in the wind-farm(s) we might start using more. I'm tempted to experiment with an induction hob to replace some of the gas used for cooking - but of course that is trivial compared with the central heating consumption. That will be addressed after I have finished rebuilding the front room...
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[Stinsy]

Seems like a very good suggestion and I would have a go at that even without batteries and despite the fact that I work from home. What I don't see is how reducing my peak morning and tea time loads would really help as around those times I would say I am using maybe 0.5kWh to 1kWh max.

However despite this I will look into it as its innovative and proactive.

Moxi

I think the problem is shops/offices/factories cranking up their energy consumption between 9-11am, and cooking the kids dinner/ turning on the TVs/games consoles between 430/630pm. All that "additional" usage is powered by gas, every kWh shifted out of those periods has huge cost and environmental benefits.

If you wait until 1105am for your 2nd coffee of the day, and wait until 630pm to put your dinner on you're saving vast amounts of pollution and cost without actually reducing your energy consumption.

[nowty]

Bit more info on the trial here,

If its measured against the average household, I'm quids in .
If its against my usual import, then I cannot reduce it any lower than the zero it normally is.

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/co ... 73429.html

The two-month trial, which will begin this week and be available to Octopus Energy’s 1.4 million smart meter customers, will pay households if they reduce their power consumption below their usual levels for specific periods when demand is high, for example between 9am-11am and 4.30pm-6.30pm.

James Eddison, chief technology officer and co-founder of Octopus Energy, added: “The findings of our previous home energy trials and the demand for our smart tariffs show that homes can play a key role in improving grid stability and making sure that we’re making the most of home-grown green energy when it’s abundant.

“By joining forces with ESO, we’re now taking this research to the next level, inviting 1.4 million customers to take part in a trial that will allow them to potentially benefit from cheaper, greener power and help build the energy system of the future.”

[Stinsy]

Same here. If it is comparing to *MY* usual use during those periods then this is no good for me. The only grid power I use during those periods is beyond my control. Eg stuff that turns on and off quicker than my inverter can react, or my batteries being depleted mid-afternoon on very cloudy days.

I'm hoping they give a credit of £10 a month if less than 10% of your grid consumption is between the stated hours (or something similar).

[Moxi]

No good to me either for the reasons you’ve all stated and because I don’t have a smart meter

I hope it works for the general population though as it’s the right thing to do.

Moxi