Peak Save
Help National Grid by saving electricity and earn credit towards your bill.
Take part in Peak Save sessions and whatever you earn, we’ll double it!.1
Sign up closes: 13th March 2023
What happens next?
You’ll get a confirmation email from us
In the next few days we’ll confirm you’re all signed up.
We’ll contact you before the first event
If you think you can use less energy at that time, just opt in.
What is Peak Save?
- Peak Save is a new initiative we’re running this winter to support National Grid.
- All you need to do is try and reduce the electricity you use in Peak Save sessions.
- Sessions will take place between December and March and can vary in length from 30 minutes to 4 hours.
- You don’t need to sign up to every Peak Save session. We’ll email you the day before each event and if it’s not convenient, you don’t need to opt in.
- Taking part is as easy as shifting certain chores – like washing clothes or running the dishwasher – to different times of the day.
- There’s no need to contact us – we’ll be in touch with everything you need to know, every step of the way.
- It’s not possible for all of our customers to take part in Peak Save at the moment. If we haven’t sent you an invitation, please don’t sign up.
Sign up and you’ll be joining homes up and down the country helping to reduce peak demand on the grid, so everyone can get the electricity they need.
Frequently asked questions
How do you estimate how many free electricity days I could earn and the money I’d save?
The exact amount you could earn will depend on a few different things that we can’t control. This includes the price National Grid sets for each session, how long it lasts and how much electricity you manage to save.
Assuming you also pay by Direct Debit, we estimate that if you participate in 20 Peak Save sessions and meet your target to use 30% less electricity than normal each time, you could earn the equivalent of 6 days’ free electricity (worth £20).1
We assume you’re a household with a medium annual electricity use. So you use 10 kWh of electricity per day, which costs £3.42 on our Standard Variable tariff.
If you have high annual electricity use, manage to take part in 25 Peak Save sessions and use 80% less electricity than normal, you could save as much as £100.1
These estimates are based on National Grid payments for sessions, so don’t take into account that we actually double any rewards you earn before applying the credit to your account.
And even if you only save a little electricity, we make sure you always earn at least £1 for every session you save.
Is there anything I shouldn’t do to save electricity?
Yes, please never do anything dangerous. Never turn off medical equipment or similar devices, and please let us know if anyone in your household is vulnerable.
Don’t disconnect your fridge or freezer to save electricity either. They could warm up and spoil your food, making it unsafe to eat. Also, don’t swap your kitchen appliances and cook using a BBQ or open flame in the home. Not only do they pose a fire risk, but they can release carbon monoxide. Breathing in this toxic gas can be fatal, even in small doses.
Leaving certain appliances running overnight and unattended could also pose a fire risk. Don’t go to bed leaving the washing machine running, for example. Let the wash wait until tomorrow, when you can finish your post-session chores safely.
How can I use less electricity?
Using less electricity than normal during a Peak Save session could simply mean doing an everyday chore at a slightly different time.
As a general rule, electrical appliances that have moving parts and those that generate heat use the most electricity – washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers and electric showers, for example.
If you have an electric car, charging that outside of a session could save a significant amount of electricity. But for many households, meeting the 30% reduction target will be as easy as running the dishwasher a little earlier or later than usual.
Putting the ironing or hoovering off for another day will also help.
For a rough idea of how much electricity common household appliances use, check out the table below.
| Appliance/Device | Average Power Rating (kW) | Illustrative Use | Typical consumption (kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Vehicle | 7 | 2 hr | 14 |
| Washing Machine | 2.1 kW | 2 hr | 4.2 |
| Dishwasher | 2 kW | 1 hr | 2 |
| Tumble Dryer | 2.5 kW | 2 hr | 5 |
| Electric Shower | 9 kW | 15m | 2.2 |
| Electric Oven | 2.1 kW | 1hr | 2.1 |
| Iron | 1.5 kW | 30m | 0.7 |
| Hair dryer | 2 kW | 15m | 0.5 |
| Vacuum | 0.9 kW | 15m | 0.2 |
| Dehumidifier | 0.5 kW | 2 hr | 1 |
Further information
Get answers to all your questions and queries right here on our website.
Peak Save
Everything you need to know about taking part.
Help & support
Find help for all British Gas products and services.
Important information
For each session before 31st March 2023, British Gas will double the amount we are paid by National Grid for each unit of energy saved, measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). The amount you earn is then applied as credit to your electricity account. If after the amount has been doubled, you have earned less than £1, we round the amount up to £1.
£100 saving uses the same assumptions as above, but assumes you’re a household with high annual electricity usage and on average use 1.5kWh of electricity between 5pm to 7pm; you take part in 25 turn-down events; you reduce your consumption by 80%; you earn £4/kWh per event.
Up to 6 free electricity days assumes you are a household with medium annual electricity usage and on average use 10 kWh of electricity per day between December and March. We assume you are on our Standard Variable Tariff (SVT) paying by DD at 1 Dec 22 rates. We do not include your daily standing charge in calculations.
Figures are based on assumptions and how much you earn may be higher or lower depending on a number of factors. For example, how many turn-down events National Grid run as well as how they pay per event and how long events last for.