Get paid to cut your energy use
How to earn bill credit or shopping vouchers by using less electricity
Energy suppliers are running schemes that pay customers to cut their electricity use at peak times, either as part of the ongoing 'demand flexibility service' offered by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) or through their own energy-saving schemes. This guide explains how these initiatives work, who's eligible and how you can sign up.
What are energy use-cutting schemes?
The schemes reward customers who can shift their energy use away from peak times, and some will reward you for using more electricity when there is plenty of renewable energy available.
Energy supplier schemes
Many providers run their own schemes, offering 'savings sessions' where they pay you or offer discounted rates to shift energy use to off-peak times. For details on how each scheme works, see our firm-by-firm table below.
Alongside these schemes, many suppliers also offer time-of-use tariffs, which give you different rates depending on when you use energy throughout the day, to encourage the shift to off-peak electricity use on more long-term basis.
In addition to energy-cutting schemes and time-of-use tariffs, many suppliers offer other rewards and benefits for being a customer. See 'Energy supplier rewards and referral schemes' for more info.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) Demand Flexibility Service
Some schemes are part of a wider initiative by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) (formerly National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO)), the body responsible for transporting electricity around England, Scotland and Wales and keeping homes and businesses powered. Called the 'Demand Flexibility Service' (DFS), it aims to balance supply and demand, reduce the need to fire up fossil-fuel plants and, in the worst case scenario, avoid power cuts.
During specified energy-cutting events, the NESO will pay participating suppliers and third-party providers a certain amount for each unit (kilowatt hour) of electricity saved by any of their users signed up to the schemes. Suppliers and providers then pass on some or all of this payment to households.
Since winter 2023/2024, there have been changes to the scheme, and several suppliers are no longer taking part. The scheme is now run all year round (not just in winter). However, it's no longer clear how much you can make from these energy-cutting events, but we've heard the amounts are fairly small.
Five energy reward scheme need-to-knows
While the exact details of each supplier's scheme can vary, some elements are common to all of them. Here's what you need to know...
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You need a working smart meter
Your electricity smart meter must be able to send readings to your supplier automatically (in other words, it can't be in 'dumb' mode).
Plus, you'll need to allow your supplier to access your meter readings every half hour – the default is monthly or daily. This is so your provider can verify that you've reduced your usage during the relevant times.
You may already have half-hourly readings set up (for example, if you took part in previous schemes or you like to keep a close eye on your usage). If not, you can usually do this as part of the registration process for an energy-cutting scheme, in your online energy account or by contacting your supplier.
Don't have smart meters? See our Smart meters guide for more info on what they are, how they work and whether you should get one.
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You have to cut your electricity use at peak times on certain days
There are now opportunities to participate in these schemes throughout the year, rather than just in the winter months.
For NESO, the exact dates and times of each event will only be announced on the day of the event, sometimes giving just a few hours notice, to see how responsive and effective the scheme is at short notice.
Events are most likely to take place on weekday evenings at peak times, which tends to be between around 4pm and 7pm. NESO has said its events will usually run for one hour, but could be shorter or longer.
For supplier and third-party app schemes (not linked to NESO), you'll typically get free or discounted electricity during certain off-peak days and times. Some suppliers offer regular weekly events, and others give short notice for ad hoc upcoming events.
How much do you have to cut your usage by?
Generally, there isn't a set amount you need to reduce your usage by. Instead, the more electricity you save, the more you earn in rewards.
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The amount you could earn varies – but don't expect £100s
It's difficult to put a precise number on how much you could earn, but don't expect more than a few quid each time.
For the NESO Demand Flexibility Service, the amount you get paid for each event will vary, and energy suppliers and third-party providers can choose how much of the NESO payment to pass on to users. Most suppliers pass on at least 75%, with some passing on the full amount.
For supplier schemes, you'll usually get free or discounted electricity during certain off-peak times, so how much you can save will depend on your tariff rates.
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You'll need to opt in to take part in energy use-cutting schemes
If it's an energy supplier scheme you usually only need to register once, and then you'll automatically be opted in for each new event. Do check the specific rules for the scheme to ensure you don't miss out.
If if it's an NESO Demand Flexibility Service, you'll be notified about individual events as they come up (usually with only a few hours notice). You'll need to opt in to each one separately. If you don't, you won't earn any rewards – even if you reduce your electricity consumption during that period.
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Don't sign up to more than one NESO energy-cutting scheme
While you can only sign up to the NESO events direct with one energy supplier, it is possible to sign up to multiple third-party providers via the apps below. And while it may be tempting to try to maximise your rewards by signing up with more than one, this is against the NESO's rules, which limit you to one scheme per household.
Sign up to multiple schemes and you risk being cut off from all of them – so it's best to stick to one.
But for events that are not linked to the NESO, you can sign up to more than one at the same time, for example through your energy supplier and through a third-party app.
Ready to get started? Check what schemes your energy supplier offers
Going via your energy firm is usually the easiest way to take part in an energy-cutting scheme. Most of the schemes are also available to those with smart prepayment meters, but do check with your supplier.
Supplier | Scheme details |
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| British Gas 'PeakSave Sundays' – not linked to NESO - How does it work? You can get 50% off each unit of electricity you use between 11am and 4pm every Sunday. Your normal tariff applies outside the discount period. British Gas 'PeakSave Green Flex' – not linked to NESO - How does it work? You can get 50% off each unit of electricity you use when it's very sunny or windy and there's lots of renewable energy available. Most events will take place during the spring and summer months. Your normal tariff applies outside the discount period. - How do you join? Customers will be emailed the day before or morning of an event, and they typically last one or two hours. You'll need to opt in to each event to take part. |
| EDF 'Sunday Saver challenge' – not linked to NESO |
| Octopus Energy 'Saving Sessions' – linked to NESO - How does it work? Use less electricity than normal and you'll earn points that you can redeem as bill credit. Octopus Energy 'Free electricity' - not linked to NESO Once you've registered, Octopus will email you about any upcoming Free Electricity times - often at short-notice, just a few hours before the event. Each event generally lasts for one hour. |
| Ovo 'Power Move' – not linked to NESO - How does it work? You need to lower your average electricity use during peak hours (5pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday) to earn entires into a monthly prize draw, to be in with a chance of winning bill credit of up to a £2,000. You can find out more details on Ovo's forum page |
| Scottish Power 'Power Saver' – linked to NESO - How does it work? Once you’ve registered for Power Saver, you'll automatically get your electricity unit rate discounted by 50% every Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 4pm. You'll receive the discount as bill credit after each event. |
| Utilita 'Power Payback' – linked to NESO - How does it work? Use less electricity than normal and you'll have your earnings added as credit to your meter. |
Updated January 2026.
Can't or don't want to join your supplier's scheme? There are some alternatives
If you can't take part in your supplier's scheme, or it doesn't offer a good one, you could try a third-party smartphone energy app instead. These connect to your smart meter, and reward you in a similar way to the supplier schemes. Some get the money from the NESO, and others are funded in other ways.
We've less feedback on these, but they could be a good option for some – and you can use them regardless of which energy supplier you're with - but remember, if the event is linked to the NESO, you can only be signed up to one at a time.
App & how to get it | Scheme details |
|---|---|
| - How does it work? Use less electricity than your forecast during each event. You'll get 80% of what Equiwatt gets from NESO. You'll receive points that you can redeem as eGift cards for Sainsbury's, Amazon, John Lewis. |
| Uswitch Power Hours 'Reduce and Earn' – linked to NESO |
Updated January 2026.
Quick questions
In a number of different ways. Firstly, most take a small cut of the payments from NESO to cover their costs.
Beyond that, they also tend to offer additional products and services to consumers and businesses. You don't have to buy or use any of these additional products or services to take part in the use-cutting schemes – but be aware they may be offered to you while using the apps.
Compared with the supplier schemes above, you have less protection if something goes wrong. That's because energy suppliers are tightly regulated, and you have the right to escalate complaints to the free, independent Energy Ombudsman.
By contrast, the complaints process for each app varies, and you may not have the right to escalate your complaint to an ombudsman or alternative dispute resolution service.
How do the apps make money?
What else should I consider before using a third-party app?
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