It is currently a heat wave but we aren't being offered to shift our air con and earn ££££ (if only I could).
But have you noticed that the evenings are drawing in and it will soon be demand flexibility service season.
I have seen the odd news report that the guy at National Grid still thinks that DFS will keep the lights on and save the country going dark so can we expect more Energy Shifts this Winter?
Will we be promised a 2p award if we huddle around a 4W light bulb all evening but be told that we failed after using only 0.01 kWh?
I'm going to hold my hands up to using electricity when I don't have to. I leave some appliances on standby when not in use and in the case of the PC it stays on from morning until bedtime. I have some outside LED lights that I like to have on at night and, as previously mentioned, some LED lights that gently light the way through the entrance hall so we don't bump into things when transiting through... as we do. To some this will all be unnecessary consumption and therefore a waste of energy. To me it is about convenience, comfort and safety. We also don't go cold.
So how do I cut down during an event?
It invariably happens at the time when I do some cooking. I generally favour cooking at moderate temperatures for longer periods. I will delay putting the oven on and use higher temperatures for a shorter period if it means keeping the oven off during the event.
When using the slow cooker I crank it to the High setting about 30mins before the start and then, just before the start, wrap it with oven gloves, put the tea cosy flat on the top, wrap it all in tea towels and switch it off for the duration of the event. It doesn't save a lot of the overall energy consumption but reduces it by 100% of the normal consumption for the entire duration of the event.
I switch off all refrigeration for the entire duration and ask that the doors are opened for the minimum of time.
The kettle is replaced by a pan on the gas hob.
All outside lights and some indoor lights are switched off. As soon as young Soap Sud comes home I hear, ''There's an energy event then?''
I shift the Hot Water timed boost to outside the event hour and increase the CH thermostat by one degree about ten minutes before the start. I then reduce it by two degrees (one degree under normal) during the event. I've mostly gotten away with it so far and it greatly reduces the amount of time the pump runs for the duration of the event. By the time anyone notices it is getting a bit chilly I can normally hold off by saying only a few minutes to go.
I switch off the computer.
So far I have passed every event with a minimum reduction of 49% and a maximum of 86% with rewards ranging from £1.15 to £3.28. To me it's a bit of a fun challenge but to the rest of the family it ranges from a roll of the eyes to disappointment. I have to reassure Flo that it won't really affect her beyond having to boil a pan instead of the kettle for her cuppa. It's me that puts all the effort in and perversely I quite enjoy it 🤪.
Whatever floats your boat, eh? 🤣
I'm an Eon Next dual fuel customer with no particular expertise but have some time on my hands that I am using to try and help out a bit.
I never expected much from it tbh, and I wasn’t disappointed. I earned a couple of quid a time for next to nothing and did my bit to reduce demand at peak times.
I’ll try to continue with it this winter but…
wait for it…
My smart meters are currently not communicating. I mentioned it once before on here but I think I got away with it 😂
Sensible energy usage should be for everyday not just for winter (and autumn). Do we really need to be told when to save energy!
Reducing energy usage equates to reducing your outgoings. Giving you more money to spend on other things. 👴
Yeah but you only said sensible once but said reducing twice… so reducing wins 🏆
Okay you win 😂. But surely being sensible and reducing energy go hand in hand. Reducing energy usage at peak times means you are quids in. Isn't that sensible. 😂 Wow I didn't use the 'Shift ' word once. 😂
Some used to be delighted during these events that as well as earning a pound or two they saved on the reduced energy so it was win win. I would point out that they could sit in the dark any night and save money. It was designed to be more about cooking dinner and boiling kettles etc at a different time of the day rather than the peak period.
Anyway, it’s all academic to you and I without working smart meters 😂
Some used to be delighted during these events that as well as earning a pound or two they saved on the reduced energy so it was win win. I would point out that they could sit in the dark any night and save money. It was designed to be more about cooking dinner and boiling kettles etc at a different time of the day rather than the peak period.
Anyway, it’s all academic to you and I without working smart meters 😂
True. It's just me. Being sensible in when and how we use energy (shifting) combined with reducing it's usage should be an everyday occurrence. That way everyone benefits. I do it even without, like you, fully functioning smart meters. Sorry for the rant, it's an age thing 😂.
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