EDF is set to provide customers with a unique opportunity to receive up to 16 hours of complimentary electricity starting this weekend. The energy company is launching its upcoming Sunday Saver challenge, where it rewards customers who shift their energy consumption away from peak hours during weekdays.
Typically, peak hours occur between 4 pm to 7 pm from Monday to Friday, and the aim is to reduce energy usage during these times. In exchange for adjusting their energy consumption patterns, EDF is offering customers between four and 16 hours of free electricity to be utilized the following Sunday.
Customers who reduce their energy usage by 5% compared to their usual consumption will earn four hours of free electricity. Those who achieve a 20% reduction will receive eight hours free, while a 35% reduction earns twelve hours, and a 50% reduction results in 16 hours of complimentary electricity.
To participate in the Sunday Saver program, customers must manually sign up through their EDF account, as the scheme does not automatically enroll EDF customers. Additionally, a smart meter that sends readings every 30 minutes to EDF is required to qualify for the initiative.
Rich Hughes, EDF’s Director of Retail, expressed enthusiasm about the Sunday Saver initiative, emphasizing its dual benefits of saving money and reducing carbon footprint while contributing to a more sustainable energy system. Over 154,000 customers have already benefited from the program by adjusting their daily energy habits, thereby alleviating pressure on the electricity grid during peak times.
The announcement comes amid news of an impending increase in energy bills this winter, with the Ofgem price cap rising from £1,720 to £1,755 for a typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit. The new price cap will be effective from October 1 until December 31, impacting customers on a standard variable rate (SVR) tariff.
While the price cap limits the charges for gas and electricity units and standing charges, it does not impose a total cap on overall energy expenses, which are determined by individual consumption levels. Ofgem bases the price cap on assumed average household energy consumption levels of 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas per year.
