British Households Paid to Use Appliances During Off-Peak Hours

• Nearly £778,000 has been paid to UK households since mid-April 2026 for electricity flexibility.
• The Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) now operates year-round following approval from regulator Ofgem.
• Participants have reduced energy demand by 4,739 MWh, equivalent to powering 693,000 homes for a day.
• Incentives are available for both reducing use during peaks and increasing use during renewable surpluses.
• A working smart meter is generally required to participate in these supplier-led reward schemes.

British households are increasingly being incentivised to change their energy habits through financial reward schemes. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has reported that nearly £778,000 has been paid out since mid-April 2026 to encourage consumers to move high-energy tasks, such as using dishwashers or tumble dryers, to more optimal times of the day. These measures are part of a broader strategy to manage the country's electricity demand and balance the grid more effectively.

According to data first highlighted by the Financial Times, participants in these flexibility programmes have collectively reduced electricity demand by 4,739 megawatt hours (MWh). This volume of energy is equivalent to the amount needed to power approximately 693,000 homes for an entire day. The initiative encourages households to avoid heavy usage during peak hours, which typically occur between 4pm and 9pm, when the strain on the national infrastructure is at its highest.

The regulator Ofgem recently approved a significant overhaul of the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), allowing it to transition into a year-round operation rather than a seasonal one. The updated scheme not only rewards customers for reducing usage during peaks but also offers incentives for increasing power consumption during periods when there is a surplus of renewable energy. This is particularly relevant as the UK's energy mix continues to see a growing share of wind and solar power generation, which can fluctuate based on weather conditions.

To be eligible for these rewards, households typically must have a working smart meter installed to provide accurate data to their providers. As of March 2026, over 2.46 million households and businesses had signed up for the Demand Flexibility Service. Major energy suppliers, including Octopus Energy, are among those participating in the scheme. NESO, which took over responsibilities from the National Grid ESO on 1 October 2024, has also reduced the eligibility threshold for providers to 0.1MW, facilitating the entry of smaller suppliers into the market.

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said, "The expansion of the Demand Flexibility Service offers a consistent opportunity for households to manage their bills more effectively by simply timing their appliance use to align with grid requirements."