SEVERAL major energy suppliers are rewarding customers with free electricity or discounted rates over the weekend.
British Gas, EDF, E.ON Next, Ovo, and Scottish Power are incentivising customers to shift their energy consumption to less busy times.
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By making small adjustments, such as charging devices outside peak hours, running your washing machine in the early morning, or batch cooking meals over the weekend, you can optimise your savings.
The more energy you move away from peak periods during the week, the greater the free or discounted electricity you could earn.
One supplier is even offering customers up to £2,000 worth of free energy if they manage to use 85% or more of their electricity during off-peak hours.
To maximise potential savings on your electricity bill, try to use energy-intensive appliances between 11am and 4pm or after 8pm during the week.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of energy suppliers currently offering free electricity and discounted rates to help you make the most of these schemes.
British Gas
British Gas‘ Peak Save Sundays scheme offers millions of customers half-price electricity for using their energy during certain hours.
It offers qualifying customers half-price electricity between 11am and 4pm every Sunday.
The energy firm said over 650,000 customers had already signed up for the scheme, saving a combined £13million.
You can sign up to the scheme by visiting britishgas.co.uk/energy/peak-save.html.
The supplier will then contact you if your application is successful.
After that, your savings will appear as “PeakSave Credit” on your next energy bill or online statement.
Be aware that you can only sign up for the scheme if you have a smart credit or prepayment meter that can send half-hourly meter readings.
If you don’t have a smart meter, don’t worry, British Gas will install one for free in your home.
EDF
EDF Energy’s Sunday Saver challenge rewards customers who shift their usage away from peak hours during weekdays (usually between 4pm to 7pm).
The more you shift during the week, the more free electricity you can earn.
For example, if you shift 50% of your peak usage, you can earn up to 16 free hours to use the following Sunday.
To take part, customers need a smart meter set to provide half-hourly readings.
Adjusting your meter settings is quick and easy – simply log in to your EDF MyAccount at edfenergy.com/myaccount/login, go to the “About Me” section, select “Smart Meter Preferences,” and choose the half-hourly option.
Once your meter is set up, you can join the Sunday Saver challenge through the Energy Hub in your MyAccount.
E.ON
E.ON Next is giving new and existing customers the chance to get eight days of free electricity between April 2025 and March 2026.
Those signed up will receive an extra Bank Holiday treat in the form of free electricity.
The electricity will be refunded as a credit to customer’s accounts after each bank holiday.
E.ON Next predicts households will save £3.50 for every Bank Holiday day, totalling £28 across all eight.
However, you’ll have to have already signed up to the firm’s Pledge tariff to access the free electricity sessions.
Ovo Energy
Ovo Energy offers customers the chance to win free energy if they reduce their energy consumption during peak times.
Power Move offers customers the chance to win up to £2,000 of free energy if they use 85% or more at off-peak times.
Right now Ovo regards peak times as between 5pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday.
So, you can save by using the dishwasher in the morning, waiting until after 7pm to catch up on TV or doing your laundry on a Sunday.
For every month your peak energy usage is less than 15% you’ll be entered into a prize draw.
Five customers will win the top prize of £2,000 of energy to use over one year, with 200 winning £50 prizes and 22,850 landing £2 of free energy.
You can sign up by visiting ovoenergy.com/power-move.
Scottish Power
Scottish Power‘s Power Saver scheme offers customers the chance to access half-price electricity between 11am and 4pm every Saturday and Sunday.
To benefit from having 50% of the energy costs during these hours refunded, customers simply need to register for the Power Saver programme.
Additionally, Scottish Power will occasionally host ad-hoc Power Saver events on weekdays, offering further chances to save.
It’s important to note that a smart meter is required to participate in the Power Saver scheme.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
