Latest news with #CatherineOKelly
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
British Gas customers urged to follow 11am to 4pm rule this weekend to get half-price electricity
A MAJOR energy supplier will give customers two days of half price electricity this weekend. British Gas offers half-price electricity through its PeakSave scheme on Sundays between 11am-4pm. 1 The scheme rewards customers for shifting their electricity usage to times when there's less demand. To sign up customers need to be a British Gas customers, have a smart meter and then register online for the PeakSave scheme. But this bank holiday, the energy supplier to over seven million households is giving customers an extra day to save on costs. That means the scheme will also run as usual on Sunday May 25, as well as on Monday, May 25. If you are already signed up for the scheme you do not need to anything extra to cash in on the savings. That means cut price bills for anyone doing the washing, cooking, or charging devices during the discount window. Catherine O'Kelly, managing director of British Gas, said: "We're proud to have supported a million customers through our PeakSave scheme, helping them make simple yet impactful changes to how they use energy. "By shifting energy usage to lower-demand periods, households can not only reduce their bills but also support a more flexible, greener energy future. "This extended Bank Holiday offer is our way of saying thank you, and encouraging even more people to take part.' If you are a British Gas customer you should also look out for its Green Flex offers throughout the year. It feels colder than the arctic in my home but I've found the best hack to keep warm without pushing my energy bill up These events offer two hours of half-price electricity when it's windy or sunny and lots of renewable energy is available. And if you are not with British Gas don't worry plenty of other suppliers run similar schemes. EDF gives customers up to four days of free electricity through its Sunday Saver challenges. This is a scheme where customers can earn free electricity on Sundays by shifting the electricity they use during the week. To participate, visit ENERGY SAVING SCHEMES Meanwhile, ScottishPower offers half-price electricity at weekends to its smart meter customers on both Saturday and Sunday. Those registered for Power Saver will receive the discounted rate every Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 4pm. Scottish Power will then credit your bill with money you've saved. To join the scheme you will need to have a smart meter and then register for the scheme online. You can register online by visiting / For every month a customer's peak energy usage is less than 15% they are entered into a prize draw. Five customers win the top prize of £2,000 worth of energy to use over one year, with 200 winning £50 prizes and 22,850 receiving £2 of free energy. Meanwhile, Octopus Energy customers who are signed up for the "Octoplus" can take part in free electricity sessions when wholesale prices fall below zero. The sessions last an hour, and customers can use electricity for free and receive credits for using more than they typically would. All customers with a smart meter, including smart prepay meters, receive an alert the day before each session. When the session begins, they can ramp up their electricity usage - whether it's charging gadgets, running a laundry marathon, or any other household activity. 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Millions of households set to get half-price energy over spring bank holiday
Millions of households are set to benefit from cut price energy this bank holiday weekend. British Gas is offering customers half-price electricity as part of its 'PeakSave scheme' this May Bank Holiday weekend. Customers are rewarded for shifting electricity usage to times when demand is lower or when more renewable energy is available on the grid under the scheme. The offer which launched in 2023 has helped customers save a combined total of nearly £25 million and 1606 tonnes of carbon emissions and collectively shifted 28,619 MWH so far. When it is windy or sunny and lots of renewable energy is available customers get two hours of electricity half price. Energy is also cheaper every Sunday. Between 11am and 4pm on the 25th and 26th May PeakSave customers will receive half-price electricity. The bank holiday weekend offer will be in celebration of the 1 millionth household to sign up to the scheme aimed at reducing energy bills and efficient energy use. Catherine O'Kelly, Managing Director of British Gas, said: "We're proud to have supported a million customers through our PeakSave scheme, helping them make simple yet impactful changes to how they use energy. 'By shifting energy usage to lower-demand periods, households can not only reduce their bills but also support a more flexible, greener energy future. This extended Bank Holiday offer is our way of saying thank you and encouraging even more people to take part.' The price reduction comes as consumers face the burden of rising living costs. However, household energy bills have been projected to decrease by about 7 per cent this July. Industry analysts Cornwall Insight predict the typical annual household energy bill will fall by £129, settling at around £1,720 when Ofgem's revised price cap takes effect. Ofgem, the energy market regulator responsible for setting the upper limit on what energy suppliers can charge customers, is expected to formally announce the updated price cap on Friday. This anticipated reduction follows three consecutive price cap increases, with the current cap standing at approximately £1,849 for a typical household.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
British Gas giving out half price electricity to 7million customers for three whole days this weekend
BRITISH Gas is handing out half-price electricity to millions of customers for three whole days over the Bank Holiday weekend. The energy giant, which supplies more than 7million households, is extending its popular PeakSave scheme to celebrate hitting one million sign-ups. From Saturday 24th to Monday 26th May, customers in the scheme will pay just half the usual rate for electricity between 11am and 4pm each day. That means bargain bills for anyone doing the washing, cooking, or charging devices during the discount window — and you won't need to opt in if you're already signed up. It's part of British Gas's bid to get people using energy at greener times of day, when demand is low and more power comes from renewables like wind and solar. The move comes after British Gas revealed customers have now saved nearly £25million since the scheme launched in 2023 — and it's not just your wallet that benefits. Customers also get bonus discounts during so-called Green Flex events — usually two-hour windows when there's loads of clean energy on the grid. To take part, you'll need to be a British Gas customer with a smart meter already installed. Signing up is free and only takes a few minutes via your online account. Catherine O'Kelly, Managing Director of British Gas, said: "We're proud to have supported a million customers through our PeakSave scheme, helping them make simple yet impactful changes to how they use energy. 'By shifting energy usage to lower-demand periods, households can not only reduce their bills but also support a more flexible, greener energy future. 'This extended Bank Holiday offer is our way of saying thank you, and encouraging even more people to take part.' From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April Households should also be aware of a button they need to press to help save £20 on their energy bills now that the weather is warmer. Customers can save cash by pressing the "summer mode" button on their boiler. HELP WITH YOUR ENERGY BILLS If you are worried about rising costs you should be aware of help available. The government's Household Support Fund has reopened for applications, and it could see you get up to £500 to help with food and energy costs. To claim, you will need to live in the council district handing out the support. You can find out which local council serves your area by visiting You can also get temporary credit from your supplier, but you will have to pay this back. In many cases suppliers offer around £10 to £20 if you run out and can't top up straight away to ensure that you don't go without heat or lights. Beware that when you do top up, this amount will be deducted. You may also be able to get a fuel voucher through a little-known scheme. This is a code given to you in a letter, text message or email which you can use to add credit to your gas card or electricity key. Exactly how much it is can vary, but in many cases it's £49, and you won't have to pay it back. 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
