Monday 28 November 2022 11:56 AM National Grid could activate emergency winter plan to PAY homeowners to use ... trends now
Homeowners could be paid to use less energy at peak times tomorrow under emergency National Grid plans to ration supplies this winter.
The system operator has warned suppliers it may need to activate its Demand Flexibility Service, which rewards people for taking less power in a bid to avoid blackouts across winter.
According energy data firm EnAppSys cold weather and problems with France's nuclear power plants is driving a spike in short-term supplies and prices.
DFS, which was unveiled earlier this month, is designed to ease stress on the grid, making better use of the country's electricity generation by ironing out some of the peaks.
Most customers tend to use electricity at similar times, with a particularly big spike in the evening when people get back from work, start cooking and switch the TV on.
The Grid's electricity system operator (ESO) will run a total of 12 test days to see how customers respond.
A previous estimate from Octopus suggested consumers could save as much as £240 if they rationed their power use over the winter months.
It came as ministers urged households to turn their boilers down to 60C, leave radiators off in empty rooms and draughtproof windows and doors under a £1billion energy efficiency drive.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps is planning an £18million public information campaign to offer advice and technical tips to help households cut their energy use while keeping warm.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps is planning an £18million public information campaign to offer advice and technical tips to help households cut their energy use (pictured on November 1)
The National Grid is encouraging homeowners to take part in the scheme in a bid to avoid potential blackouts. Earlier energy company Octopus suggested its customers could save as much as £240
It will suggest measures such as reducing the boiler flow temperature from 75C to 60C, turning down radiators in empty rooms and draught
