The “Power Move” Trial, facilitated by OVO Energy, has revealed that the UK could save £95.4 million if households switched to using energy at off-peak times.
“Power Move” was launched at the beginning of this month as part of the National Grid ESO’s Demand Flexibility Service to incentivise the reduction of energy use during peak times.
Participants of OVO’s trial, which rewards customers £20 a month and up to £100 in total for using energy outside of the weekday peak hours of 4pm-7pm, saved £22,000 collectively in the first month.
These savings would increase to £8 million a month if the trial was expanded to all customers.
OVO have stated that if a similar scheme was made available to all consumers in the UK, households could save £95.4 million collectively each month, whilst carbon emissions could be reduced by almost 20,000 tons.
“We need a resilient grid to get us through this winter and beyond,” said Raman Bhatia, OVO CEO.
“This trial has rewarded customers for taking action to reduce their energy consumption habits at a time when households are looking to reduce costs. We have a responsibility as industry and Government to support households with energy efficiency measures, now and for winters to come.”
It also found that young people, such as students, were more responsive in modifying their energy usage, alongside those renting social housing in high rise buildings, illustrating the eagerness of UK households to make simple changes in their energy consumption in return for cost benefits.
The UK Government’s energy efficiency campaign ‘It All Adds Up’ promotes similar simple and cost effective changes, such as reducing boiler flow temperature from 75ºC to 60ºC, which substantially reduces energy consumption without affecting room temperature; or else, turning off appliances at the plug which can save £70 a year per household.
“The government’s ‘It All Adds Up’ energy saving campaign is getting important messaging out to millions of households across the country, showing them low and no-cost tips to cut their energy use and bills this winter,” said Lord Callanan, Energy and Business Minister.
“Simple steps like turning down the flow temperature on a boiler, switching appliances off at the plug and putting draught excluders around doors can help to cut energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year, while keeping homes warm and safe.” OVO has also recently launched an “Energy Experts” trail to upgrade UK households to become more energy efficient. OVO has forecast that these simple changes could save up to £260 on energy bills.
