A LEADING energy giant serving over 5.8 million customers is offering thousands of households free electricity on Christmas Day.
EDF Energy customers who sign up for the supplier’s Sunday Saver Challenge will get eight hours of free power on December 25.
If you haven’t already enrolled in EDF’s Sunday Saver scheme, you’ll need to do so by December 1 to take part[/caption]
The scheme rewards customers with free electricity on Sundays when they shift their usage to off-peak times during the working week.
However, this Christmas Day, EDF will be offering participating customers free hours of electricity regardless of whether they have adjusted their energy usage the week before.
If you haven’t already enrolled in EDF’s Sunday Saver scheme, you’ll need to do so by December 1 to take advantage of the free hours.
You can do this by visiting edfenergy.com/energy-efficiency/sunday-saver-challenge.
To participate, customers must have a smart meter that gives them half-hourly reads.
To get your meter on this setting, customers need to go to the “About Me” section in their EDF MyAccount by visiting edfenergy.com/myaccount/login.
Then, users must click on smart meter preferences and select half-hourly.
Rich Hughes, director of retail at EDF, said: “We know the festive period can be a time of increased costs for us all, so we’re thrilled to give back to our customers and hopefully make electricity costs one less thing to worry about when it comes to Christmas Day.
“With Sunday Saver, EDF is helping families across the country enjoy their favourite festive past-times for free, and not just on the Sundays in December – on Christmas Day too.”
If you still wish to get free electricity hours on Sundays, you’ll still need to reduce your usage during “peak hours”, which tend to be between 4pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday.
In return, you’ll get free electricity when demand for the energy grid tends to be lower.
The more electricity customers shift to off-peak times, the more free electricity they can earn.
EDF said that if you reduced your energy usage during peak times by 10%, you would earn four hours of free electricity, while a 20% reduction would earn eight hours.
Customers who manage to cut back their usage by 40% during the week can earn up to 16 hours of free electricity to use on a Sunday.
Customers will be notified by WhatsApp or SMS to let them know if they have earned free electricity.
You can find out more about the scheme by visiting edfenergy.com/energy-efficiency/sunday-saver-challenge.
What do other energy suppliers offer?
A number of other energy suppliers reward customers with discounts or credit when they change the way they use their gas and electricity usage.
These schemes, offered by the likes of British Gas, Octopus and Ovo Energy, can help customers save money this winter.
Here’s everything you need to know.
British Gas
British Gas‘ Peak Save Sundays scheme offers millions of customers half-price electricity for using their energy during certain hours.
It offers qualifying customers half-price electricity between 11am and 4pm every Sunday.
The energy firm said over 650,000 customers had already signed up for the scheme, saving a combined £13million.
You can sign up to the scheme by visiting britishgas.co.uk/energy/peak-save.html.
The supplier will then contact you if your application is successful.
After that, your savings will appear as “PeakSave Credit” on your next energy bill or online statement.
Be aware that you can only sign up for the scheme if you have a smart credit or prepayment meter that can send half-hourly meter readings.
If you don’t have a smart meter, don’t worry, British Gas will install one for free in your home.
Octopus Energy
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.
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.
Any extra electricity consumed beyond their normal usage will be credited back to their account.
Find out more by visiting octopus.energy/free-electricity/.
Ovo Energy
Ovo Energy also offers a scheme which rewards customers for reducing their energy consumption during peak times.
Power Move offers customers up to £10 a month if they use 8.50% or less of their home’s total electricity between 6-9pm, Monday to Friday.
For example, by using the dishwasher in the morning or waiting until after 9pm in the evening to catch up on TV.
You can sign up by visiting ovoenergy.com/power-move.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
