As Brits brace for the deepest solar eclipse since 1999, thousands of households could receive free electricity next weekend by cutting their power use for just two hours. Energy supplier Octopus Energy is asking customers to reduce their electricity use between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday, August 12. Those who successfully lower their usage during the two-hour window will be rewarded with free electricity the following weekend. Customers will also have the chance to win fully installed solar panels or a £12,000 cash alternative by entering a photo competition.
Wednesday’s eclipse will temporarily wipe out a significant portion of the nation’s solar output precisely when millions of people are arriving home and switching on appliances. The eclipse is the most significant to darken British skies in nearly thirty years, with nothing comparable expected again for decades.
Solar power is playing an increasingly important role in Britain’s energy mix.
Last month, it generated a record 14.4% of the country’s total electricity, meaning even a short spell of reduced sunshine can create a significant shortfall that needs to be made up elsewhere.
Without intervention, the gap would likely be covered by bringing additional gas-fired power stations online.
But if enough households delay energy-intensive activities for a short period, the need for extra fossil fuel generation could be avoided.
Taking part in the power-down scheme requires very little effort from households.
Octopus suggests customers simply reschedule routine domestic chores to fall outside the 6pm to 8pm slot — running the washing machine earlier in the afternoon, for instance, or holding off on the dishwasher and games console until later in the evening.
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Customer Officer at Octopus Energy, said: “Many of us will be looking up at the sky on Wednesday evening to experience this once-in-a-generation event. But as the Sun disappears, so will some of Britain’s solar generation, just as demand peaks.
“By shifting everyday tasks like the washing machine or dishwasher until later, households can help reduce the need for gas power stations – and earn rewards for doing their bit.”
