British Gas customers have taken to social media to vent their frustrations over missing out on the energy supplier's money-saving scheme.
The Peak Save scheme is part of a wider national effort by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) known as the Demand Flexibility Service. The scheme aims to reward customers with cash incentives to reduce their electricity usage during peak times in the hopes that it will reduce the strain of demand on the nation's supply.
However, in order to take part in the scheme, British Gas customers must have both a smart meter installed in their home and an invitation from the supplier. The company confirmed that anyone who can take part in the scheme should have already received an invite via email.
Read more: All the energy suppliers paying customers to not use electricity tonight
The supplier states on its website: "If you haven’t been invited by us, unfortunately you won’t be able to take part at the moment."
But, many British Gas customers are not happy they have not been invited to take part in the scheme, which could save them £20 on their energy bills. Several people have asked British Gas why only certain people have been invited - and how they select the lucky few.
Dave Stapleton asked the company on Twitter: "As a customer using an electric smart meter is there any reason why I haven't been notified by email to join and participate in you Peak Save scheme?" Another user wrote: "Peak save - great idea from @BritishGas, #You could earn £20 towards your bills - the equivalent of 6 days of free electricity'. Great idea - two pensioners, combined age of 161, BG customers for over 50 years, we'll do it! Hang on, invitation only? Not invited so can't."
Ian Davison said: "Peak save! What a load of bull, only if your invited by email . Who do you have to be? Director of BBC or ex prime minister?". Fiona McCabe added: "So then I am a British Gas customer and I have a smart meter but apparently I need to be invited to take part in Peak Save. Why isn't open to everyone?"
Carolyn Edmonds asked: "We’d like to join the Demand Flexibility Service! We have a smart meter, but haven’t been ‘invited to join’ the DFS. What were your criteria for asking people?". Ian McCabe said: "Why was I not asked to join the DFS scheme. I’m I not good enough to be in the loop? Not happy with you again."
The energy firm has responded to some of its customers on social media. In one tweet, it explained: "At the moment we are trialing our Peak Save scheme and due to this, we have only invited a certain number of customers to participate whilst we are in this phase. We are aiming to invite more customers in the future."
British Gas told the Manchester Evening News that over 250,000 customers with smart meters have been signed up for the Peak Save scheme. It said: "The Peak Save scheme is part of the National Grid ESO service trial which we and other suppliers have signed up to and it runs until the end of March. So far we’ve invited over a quarter of a million customers with smart meters who have also opted into half hourly reads." The company did not provide any further comment.
The Demand Flexibility Service ran a live event for the first time on Monday night, January 23, with another set to run between 4.30pm and 6pm on Tuesday, January 24. The scheme launched in November last year but has only run test events up until this week.
In total, there are 26 suppliers on the list of companies that are taking part in the Demand Flexibility Service, but some of these only supply businesses, not regular households. Other household suppliers taking part include E.On, Octopus and EDF.
The amount of money that people can save on their bills varies depending on the supplier. Octopus Energy said that more than 400,000 customers took part in the challenge on Monday evening, with some earning up to £8.75 in credits for switching up their energy use.
Read next:
- Bare-chested bricklayer bit police officer's boot and threatened to 'get families and children raped'
- Scathing report into 'failing' high school finds 'racist, homophobic and misogynistic' bullying is rife
- Nephew of cop killer Dale Cregan who called himself 'bad man' jailed over drug dealing and theft of £5,000 Rolex
- Single mum working 50 hour weeks for NHS left heartbroken after losing out on dream home to £37k price hike
- Inside Manchester's most expensive apartment that costs an eye-watering £18,000 a month to rent
