British Gas considers free electricity on Saturdays offer
The energy giant may launch a new tariff allowing customers on smart meters to benefit from switching their energy usage to weekends.
British Gas is reported to be considering offering free power on Saturdays to customers who have smart meters.
The energy giant has apparently already started piloting the scheme with some of its customers.
If it’s successful, the scheme could be rolled out to the one million British Gas customers that have smart meters.
The idea behind it is to lessen the strain on the power grid during the week. Customers get 24 hours’ free electricity in return for switching most of their usage to weekends.
A larger pilot scheme is planned for later in the year and a new tariff could be offered next year.
It may be a practical solution for some, but it could be of no benefit for larger families who need to use appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers regularly. There are also question marks over how it would work over the winter months.
There is also the concern that the weekday cost of electricity could rise to compensate for the scheme.
British Gas’s parent company Centrica already offers this scheme to some customers of its subsidiaries in America.
Another rise in profits for Centrica
Centrica this week unveiled profits of £1.58 billion for the first six months of this year, up from £1.45 billion over the same period last year.
It benefitted from the exceptionally long winter and introducing a 6% increase to its prices last November.
British Gas has refused to rule out further price rises.
What do you think of this idea? Let us know in the Comments box below.
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Comments
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If there are no additional set up charges it is something I would use (I'm a British Gas dual fuel customer) I can see the advantage of washing, tumble drying and leaving the immersion heater on to heat up the tank....but being a man would I do this?....possible not. But the interesting thing is the immersion heater and large cylinders or multiple cylinders heated up FREE of charge...I'm an Electrical contractor and its all very interesting.
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Scottish Power have, until recently, charged only 1.5% extra for daytime electricity for those on Economy7. This made it worthwhile for me to be on Economy7 with around 40% of overnight use.However, on their latest tariffs, daytime units are 15% higher than the non-Economy7 rate. I suspect that only those using well over 50% of their total usage overnight may find it worthwhile staying on Economy7.I will change to single rate even though the network owner will probably insist on a meter and switchgear change, at a cost of around £60 to me.
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I use to have economy 7 and, perhaps due to the fact that electricity used during the day is slightly more expensive, I found that the saving was a measly £20 pa. Not worth it for the trouble and inconvenience that it caused. Now I can use appliances when I want to.
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05 August 2013