British Gas customers urged to follow 11am to 4pm rule this weekend to get half-price electricity
A MAJOR energy supplier will give customers two days of half price electricity this weekend.
British Gas offers half-price electricity through its PeakSave scheme on Sundays between 11am-4pm.
The scheme rewards customers for shifting their electricity usage to times when there’s less demand.
To sign up customers need to be a British Gas customers, have a smart meter and then register online for the PeakSave scheme.
But this bank holiday, the energy supplier to over seven million households is giving customers an extra day to save on costs.
That means the scheme will also run as usual on Sunday May 25, as well as on Monday, May 25.
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If you are already signed up for the scheme you do not need to anything extra to cash in on the savings.
That means cut price bills for anyone doing the washing, cooking, or charging devices during the discount window.
Catherine O’Kelly, managing director of British Gas, said: "We’re proud to have supported a million customers through our PeakSave scheme, helping them make simple yet impactful changes to how they use energy.
"By shifting energy usage to lower-demand periods, households can not only reduce their bills but also support a more flexible, greener energy future.
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"This extended Bank Holiday offer is our way of saying thank you, and encouraging even more people to take part.”
If you are a British Gas customer you should also look out for its Green Flex offers throughout the year.
These events offer two hours of half-price electricity when it's windy or sunny and lots of renewable energy is available.
And if you are not with British Gas don't worry plenty of other suppliers run similar schemes.
EDF gives customers up to four days of free electricity through its Sunday Saver challenges.
This is a scheme where customers can earn free electricity on Sundays by shifting the electricity they use during the week.
To participate, visit ww.edfenergy.com/energy-efficiency/sunday-saver-challenge.
ENERGY SAVING SCHEMES
Meanwhile, ScottishPower offers half-price electricity at weekends to its smart meter customers on both Saturday and Sunday.
Those registered for Power Saver will receive the discounted rate every Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 4pm.
Scottish Power will then credit your bill with money you’ve saved.
To join the scheme you will need to have a smart meter and then register for the scheme online.
You can register online by visiting /www.scottishpower.co.uk/login?go=/hem/power-saver-eligibility-checker.
For every month a customer’s peak energy usage is less than 15% they are entered into a prize draw.
Five customers win the top prize of £2,000 worth of energy to use over one year, with 200 winning £50 prizes and 22,850 receiving £2 of free energy.
Meanwhile, Octopus Energy customers who are signed up for the "Octoplus" can take part in free electricity sessions when wholesale prices fall below zero.
The sessions last an hour, and customers can use electricity for free and receive credits for using more than they typically would.
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All customers with a smart meter, including smart prepay meters, receive an alert the day before each session.
When the session begins, they can ramp up their electricity usage - whether it's charging gadgets, running a laundry marathon, or any other household activity.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.