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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How I save £150 a month with half-price electricity due to simple schedule switch
Check if your supplier offers free electricity - we explain which suppliers do below SOAPY SUNDAYS How I save £150 a month with half-price electricity due to simple schedule switch Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SAVVY great-grandmother has slashed her energy bill by switching her weekly washing schedule to take advantage of cheaper off-peak power. Ria Oldroyd, a 76-year-old retiree who lives alone in a one-bed bungalow in Kessingland, Suffolk, with her two pet cats, is a British Gas customer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Ria Oldroyd saves serious cash by doing her washing on Sundays Since signing up to it's Peak Save scheme - where customers get half-price electricity on Sunday - a few months ago, Ria has dubbed her weekly routing 'Soapy Sunday'. She has three children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren – and lots of those family members live close by. The money-saving pensioner, who was a support worker before retireing, told The Sun: 'I made some major changes to my weekly routine after taking up an offer for 'half-price electricity on Sundays' from my supplier, British Gas.' 'Sunday used to be a day for going out and seeing people, but I now tend to spend the day at home, taking advantage of my 'cheap energy' window". 'I allow my washing to pile up through the week, and then aim to get as much done as I can during the allocated five-hour slot on a Sunday.' Ria currently pays £70 a month for gas and electricity. Since signing up to the scheme, she's saved £50 and is expecting to save around £100 over the next year. Timing is key for discounts Ria has established a routine that works really well for her. 'I separate out my whites, my colours and my darks,' she said. 'If I'm efficient, I can just about get three or four washes in between 11am and 4pm when my electricity is half-price.' Helpfully, the energy price cap is set to fall to £1,720 from July 1, down from the current £1,849. Nevertheless, costs remain high. Thankfully, Ria runs a tight ship – and this includes monitoring her energy usage very closely. 'I don't usually switch on my tumble dryer because it's so expensive to run,' she said. 'However, I'm happy with the idea of using it carefully during those half-price hours on a Sunday.' Other firms offering time of use discounts British Gas is just one of a host of energy suppliers to offer time-of-use incentives to consumers to smooth demand and encourage smarter energy use, according to comparison site, Uswitch. Other providers which have schemes with free or half-price electricity at 'off-peak' times include EDF, Octopus, Ovo and Scottish Power. As well as Sundays, electricity suppliers often charge less late in the night or early in the morning (such as 7am-8am). All of these off-peak slots – when demand is lower – can work out a lot more cost-effective. Natalie Mathie, energy expert at said: 'Suppliers are offering these free and half-price schemes to help move electricity use away from peak times to those points in the week when everyone's using less energy.' Schemes like these, she adds, will become increasingly important as the country shifts towards using more renewable energy, such as wind and solar. 'Washing machines and tumble dryers are some of the most energy-intensive appliances in the house, so they are perfectly suited to such schemes,' she said. 'By saving up your laundry, you can save significant amounts of money.' Ria urges other households to cotton on to the fact there are big savings to be made by adjusting their washing routine. 'Over the course of a year, savings from a scheme like this can really add up,' she said. 'I'd really recommend avoiding peak-time power use – and saving laundry through the week for a big Sunday session.' To find out if your supplier offers a scheme, visit their website. Note that to take advantage of "off-peak" schemes such as this, you will need a working smart meter. Ria's other tips to keep energy costs down Saving up her washing for the cheaper "off-peak hours" on a Sunday is not the only step that Ria takes to help keep a lid on her energy bills. 'I always keep a pillow and blanket by the sofa in case I need to layer up when temperatures drop,' she said. 'And I've got hot water bottles ready to go whenever I need them.' Ria is also diligent about keeping cold air out of her home and ensuring that warm air stays in. 'I've got big thick curtains that cover the doors completely, as well as draught excluders to go along the bottom. "Lots of these are habits I learned from my childhood.' The savvy pensioner is also disciplined about not cranking up the heating. 'I can't afford to get tempted to notch up the thermostat,' she said. 'If anything, I try turning it down a little.' As we've reported previously, reducing it by one degree can potentially slash your heating bills by around £100. Ria added: 'It might not sound like a lot, but small changes can make a big difference.'
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
How I save £150 a month with half-price electricity due to simple schedule switch
A SAVVY great-grandmother has slashed her energy bill by switching her weekly washing schedule to take advantage of cheaper off-peak power. Ria Oldroyd, a 76-year-old retiree who lives alone in a one-bed bungalow in Kessingland, Suffolk, with her two pet cats, is a British Gas customer. Since signing up to it's Peak Save scheme - where customers get half-price electricity on Sunday - a few months ago, Ria has dubbed her weekly routing 'Soapy Sunday'. She has three children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren – and lots of those family members live close by. The money-saving pensioner, who was a support worker before retireing, told The Sun: 'I made some major changes to my weekly routine after taking up an offer for 'half-price electricity on Sundays' from my supplier, British Gas.' 'Sunday used to be a day for going out and seeing people, but I now tend to spend the day at home, taking advantage of my 'cheap energy' window". 'I allow my washing to pile up through the week, and then aim to get as much done as I can during the allocated five-hour slot on a Sunday.' Ria currently pays £70 a month for gas and electricity. Since signing up to the scheme, she's saved £50 and is expecting to save around £100 over the next year. Timing is key for discounts Ria has established a routine that works really well for her. 'I separate out my whites, my colours and my darks,' she said. 'If I'm efficient, I can just about get three or four washes in between 11am and 4pm when my electricity is half-price.' Helpfully, the energy price cap is set to fall to £1,720 from July 1, down from the current £1,849. Nevertheless, costs remain high. Thankfully, Ria runs a tight ship – and this includes monitoring her energy usage very closely. 'I don't usually switch on my tumble dryer because it's so expensive to run,' she said. 'However, I'm happy with the idea of using it carefully during those half-price hours on a Sunday.' Other firms offering time of use discounts British Gas is just one of a host of energy suppliers to offer time-of-use incentives to consumers to smooth demand and encourage smarter energy use, according to comparison site, Uswitch. Other providers which have schemes with free or half-price electricity at 'off-peak' times include EDF, Octopus, Ovo and Scottish Power. As well as Sundays, electricity suppliers often charge less late in the night or early in the morning (such as 7am-8am). All of these off-peak slots – when demand is lower – can work out a lot more cost-effective. Natalie Mathie, energy expert at said: 'Suppliers are offering these free and half-price schemes to help move electricity use away from peak times to those points in the week when everyone's using less energy.' Schemes like these, she adds, will become increasingly important as the country shifts towards using more renewable energy, such as wind and solar. 'Washing machines and tumble dryers are some of the most energy-intensive appliances in the house, so they are perfectly suited to such schemes,' she said. 'By saving up your laundry, you can save significant amounts of money.' Ria urges other households to cotton on to the fact there are big savings to be made by adjusting their washing routine. 'Over the course of a year, savings from a scheme like this can really add up,' she said. 'I'd really recommend avoiding peak-time power use – and saving laundry through the week for a big Sunday session.' To find out if your supplier offers a scheme, visit their website. Note that to take advantage of "off-peak" schemes such as this, you will need a working smart meter. Ria's other tips to keep energy costs down Saving up her washing for the cheaper "off-peak hours" on a Sunday is not the only step that Ria takes to help keep a lid on her energy bills. 'I always keep a pillow and blanket by the sofa in case I need to layer up when temperatures drop,' she said. 'And I've got hot water bottles ready to go whenever I need them.' Ria is also diligent about keeping cold air out of her home and ensuring that warm air stays in. 'I've got big thick curtains that cover the doors completely, as well as draught excluders to go along the bottom. "Lots of these are habits I learned from my childhood.' The savvy pensioner is also disciplined about not cranking up the heating. 'I can't afford to get tempted to notch up the thermostat,' she said. 'If anything, I try turning it down a little.' As we've reported previously, reducing it by one degree can potentially slash your heating bills by around £100. Ria added: 'It might not sound like a lot, but small changes can make a big difference.' Suppliers offering free or half-price electricity PLENTY of suppliers cut rates for customers at certain times. British Gas PeakSave and PeakSave Green Flex Electricity pricing: Half price unit rate Available hours: Sunday 11am - 4pm. Additional 1-2 hour sessions when renewable energy is plentiful with PeakSave Green Flex. Reward mechanism: Bill credit applied after event. Half price electricity during events. Requirements: British Gas electricity customer with working smart meter. Sign up to one of the schemes EDF Energy Sunday Saver Challenge Electricity pricing: Free Available hours: Up to 16 hours per week on Sundays Reward mechanism: Bill credit applied after the final free Sunday of each month Requirements: EDF electricity customer with smart meter that sends 30-minute readings (or set up to do so). Shift electricity use away from peak times throughout the week to build up free hours Octopus Energy Free Electricity Sessions Electricity pricing: Free (extra electricity above normal usage) Available hours: Variable - customers are notified when sessions occur (most common when renewables are abundant) Reward mechanism: Bill credit applied after each event Requirements: Octopus Energy customer with smart meter and signed up to the Octoplus loyalty scheme. OVO Energy OVO Beyond Electricity pricing: Free Available hours: Customers choose two hours of free electricity each week by midnight on Sundays (excluding peak hours) from May 5 to August 31, 2025 Reward mechanism: Bill credit applied the following month Requirements: OVO Energy customers signed up to OVO Beyond with a smart meter capable of sending 30-minute readings. No specific tariff required. Scottish Power Power Saver (Half-Price Weekends) Electricity pricing: Half price unit rate Available hours: Saturday and Sunday 11am - 4pm Reward mechanism: Bill credit applied after event
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
ParalympicsGB athlete Stephen Clegg visits Cadder Primary School for special workshop
ParalympicsGB athlete Stephen Clegg made a special appearance at Cadder Primary School yesterday to help deliver an exciting workshop on the importance of energy saving in partnership with British Gas. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The visit formed part of British Gas' Get Set for Positive Energy Roadshow which aims to educate pupils across the UK on energy saving behaviours and habits. Through an engaging session led by Stephen and British Gas representatives, 84 pupils at Cadder Primary School participated in a range of activities including designing posters to encourage energy saving at home and school, spotting ways to prevent energy misuse, and suggesting improvements to make their school a greener place. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad During the summer, the Get Set for Positive Energy regional Roadshow will see British Gas and a group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes visit a selection of other schools across the UK, leading workshops and inspiring the minds of the future to get involved in energy saving from a young age. Cadder Primary School children taking part in energy saving workshop Damian Nicholas, headteacher at Cadder Primary School, said: 'The energy saving workshop hosted by Stephen Clegg and British Gas was such a fantastic opportunity for our students, and we can't thank everyone enough for their time and passionate attitude which certainly inspired the children. 'We believe it's so important to shape the minds of tomorrow and encourage them to engage in energy saving habits from a young age and it was great to see our pupils so engaged in activities on the topic!' Hannah Lawrance, Strategic Brand Partnerships Lead at British Gas, said:'We really enjoyed visiting Cadder Primary School yesterday alongside Stephen Clegg for our Get Set for Positive Energy workshop. We met some brilliant pupils who threw their all into the energy saving activities we had planned which was great to see. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The programme aims to educate children on building a more sustainable future, which helps us to create a more sustainable community for all. We're using our partnership with Team GB and ParalympicsGB to inspire schools to get more active and consider different ways to create a positive impact.' British Gas team leading energy saving workshop at Cadder Primary School The Get Set for Positive Energy Roadshow makes up part of British Gas' wider Get Set for Positive Energy initiative, a free cross-curricular programme that aims to educate young people aged five to 11 on the importance of saving energy to drive change, getting active and building healthy everyday habits. Through Get Set for Positive Energy, British Gas aims to reach up to 8,500 schools and 1.5 million young people and families across the UK by 2028, taking inspiration from the Olympic and Paralympic values to motivate young people to be active in creating a greener future for themselves and their community. The partnership between Team GB, ParalympicsGB and British Gas launched in 2023. The five-year collaboration will last up until the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Britain's best energy suppliers revealed in industry awards – where does yours rank?
Read on to find out which supplier came out top for customer service GOOD ENERGY Britain's best energy suppliers revealed in industry awards – where does yours rank? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITAIN'S best energy provider has been crowned today - and it's not British Gas or EDF. Comparison website Uswitch has named the energy provider that is the best for overall customer satisfaction, customer service and value for money. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Uswitch has named Britain's best energy provider today in its annual awards Credit: Getty The awards, which are based on a survey of 15,000 energy customers, also reveal the best overall improvement and best small supplier. Octopus Energy came out on top, winning the Uswitch Energy Awards for Overall Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service. Utility Warehouse was named as the second best provider in both categories, while Utilita was the runner-up. Octopus Energy was also crowned the joint winner of the award for Value for Money after tying with Utility Warehouse. Customers praised Utility Warehouse for its money-saving bundles, Cashback Card and competitive prices. British Gas was given the award for Best Overall Improvement for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, 100Green received the award for Best Small Supplier. What is the energy price cap? Will Owen, energy expert at said it has been good to see energy suppliers competing with each other to offer better deals, which has led households to feel they are getting better value for money. He said: 'It's reassuring to see that customers are regaining confidence in their energy providers, with overall satisfaction almost back to the levels we saw before the energy crisis." But he added that it's important to remember that bills are still much more expensive than before the crisis, so there is still a lot of work to be done by providers. He said: 'To stay competitive, suppliers must focus on driving prices down for households, which includes competitive pricing as well as expanding offers such as innovative tariffs and rewarding demand flexibility schemes.' The study also found that household satisfaction with the value for money they have get from their energy provider has risen by 10% in the past year. In part, this is because competition between suppliers has led to more deals that are cheaper than the price cap. There are now 24 fixed energy deals available that are cheaper than July's price cap, which is set at £1,720 a year. This is a 12-fold increase on the same time last year. Meanwhile, overall customer satisfaction with energy suppliers is up 5% in the past year to 75%. This is close to the 77% record seen just before the energy crisis. As a result, more than three quarters of customers would recommend their energy provider, which is the highest level in the past five years. In comparison, during the energy crisis in 2023, less than half of customers would have encouraged others to use their energy supplier. Customer service satisfaction is also 10% higher than last year, while satisfaction with suppliers' mobile apps has soared from 35% before the energy crisis to 83% this year. This shows that suppliers are making progress in offering a convenient, digital customer experience, Uswitch said. Save on your energy bill Switching energy providers may sound like a hassle but it's actually pretty straightforward and could save you lots of cash. Use a comparison website such as or Uswitch to see which deals are available to you and how much they cost. The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals, which means you will pay a fixed amount for a set period, which is usually around 12 months. Once you have found a deal that you like, all you need to do is contact your new supplier. It helps if you have your postcode, name of existing supplier, the name of your existing deal, how much you pay and an up to date meter reading to hand. You can usually find this on your bill. It will then speak to your current supplier and will begin the switch. It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply will not be interrupted during this time. 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, 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. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Britain's best energy suppliers revealed in industry awards – where does yours rank?
BRITAIN'S best energy provider has been crowned today - and it's not British Gas or EDF. Comparison website Uswitch has named the energy provider that is the best for overall customer satisfaction, customer service and value for money. 1 The awards, which are based on a survey of 15,000 energy customers, also reveal the best overall improvement and best small supplier. Octopus Energy came out on top, winning the Uswitch Energy Awards for Overall Customer Satisfaction and Customer Service. Utility Warehouse was named as the second best provider in both categories, while Utilita was the runner-up. Greg Jackson, Founder of Octopus Energy, said: 'Uswitch has recognised that customers are at the heart of everything we do at Octopus. 'It doesn't matter how many awards we win, we're only as good as the service we give. We'll keep working hard to deliver brilliant customer service and fighting to keep prices down.' Octopus Energy was also crowned the joint winner of the award for Value for Money after tying with Utility Warehouse. Customers praised Utility Warehouse for its money-saving bundles, Cashback Card and competitive prices. Rob Harris, COO at Utility Warehouse, said: 'We're really proud to be consistently recognised for our great value and excellent customer service by Uswitch.' British Gas was given the award for Best Overall Improvement for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, 100Green received the award for Best Small Supplier. Will Owen, energy expert at said it has been good to see energy suppliers competing with each other to offer better deals, which has led households to feel they are getting better value for money. He said: 'It's reassuring to see that customers are regaining confidence in their energy providers, with overall satisfaction almost back to the levels we saw before the energy crisis." But he added that it's important to remember that bills are still much more expensive than before the energy crisis, so there is still a lot of work to be done by providers. He said: 'To stay competitive, suppliers must focus on driving prices down for households, which includes competitive pricing as well as expanding offers such as innovative tariffs and rewarding demand flexibility schemes.' The study also found that household satisfaction with the value for money they have get from their energy provider has risen by 10% in the past year. In part, this is because competition between suppliers has led to more deals that are cheaper than the price cap. There are now 24 fixed energy deals available that are cheaper than July's price cap, which is set at £1,720 a year. This is a 12-fold increase on the same time last year. Meanwhile, overall customer satisfaction with energy suppliers is up 5% in the past year to 75%. This is close to the 77% record seen just before the energy crisis. As a result, more than three quarters of customers would recommend their energy provider, which is the highest level in the past five years. In comparison, during the energy crisis in 2023, less than half of customers would have encouraged others to use their energy supplier. Customer service satisfaction is also 10% higher than last year, while satisfaction with suppliers' mobile apps has soared from 35% before the energy crisis to 83% this year. This shows that suppliers are making progress in offering a convenient, digital customer experience, Uswitch said. Save on your energy bill Switching energy providers may sound like a hassle but it's actually pretty straightforward and could save you lots of cash. Use a comparison website such as or Uswitch to see which deals are available to you and how much they cost. The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals, which means you will pay a fixed amount for a set period, which is usually around 12 months. Once you have found a deal that you like, all you need to do is contact your new supplier. It helps if you have your postcode, name of existing supplier, the name of your existing deal, how much you pay and an up to date meter reading to hand. You can usually find this on your bill. It will then speak to your current supplier and will begin the switch. It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply will not be interrupted during this time. 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, 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.
