Households may be wondering what the peak times for electricity use are so that they can cut back on consumption.
In some cases, this will help people save money on their energy bills - although this can depend on the tariff that you are on.
It comes as the National Grid has warned UK households it could be a "challenging" winter. The electricity system operator has said there could be issues with supplies - especially during peak hours - and it may even have to implement three-hour power cuts during cold winter months, although this is "unlikely".
The National Grid have, however, introduced measures to further reduce the likelihood of planned power cuts. The operator is set to launch a scheme that will see Brits opt in to reduce energy usage during peak hours in exchange for receiving money back on bills.
With high-demand hours being a popular topic at the moment, the Leicester Mercury has shared answers to some of the questions that people have when it comes to peak electricity times.
When are peak electricity hours?
Peak electricity hours tend to be in the morning when people are getting ready to head out to work and school and in the evening when they’re returning and making evening meals.
Therefore, electricity use peaks at around 7am to 11am and then again from 5pm to 9pm.
Is electricity cheaper at night?
Some energy tariffs allow consumers to save money by using electricity at off-peak hours. However, consumers on standard flat-rate energy tariffs pay the same for their electricity regardless of the time of day they use it.
What is Economy 7 and how does it work?
Economy 7 is an energy tariff that offers customers savings if they consume electricity during off-peak hours (which fall between around 10pm and 8am every day). Households that use appliances at off-peak times may be able to save money in this way.
Another such tariff is Economy 10, which offers a longer period of discounted energy. However, these tariffs tend to come with higher electricity prices during the day, so if you use most of your household energy during these hours, you may end up paying more.
How will the off-peak discount work?
National Grid ESO is set to launch a scheme offering households discounts for shifting their energy usage to off-peak times. This discount will stand at £3 per kWh - an increased from 52p per hour.
Only households with smart meters will be able to take advantage of the scheme which is expected to launch in November. This means that around 14 million UK households could be eligible.
The scheme is intended to ease the burden on UK energy supplies this winter. The National Grid has already warned that there may be rolling blackouts over the winter months and has made plans for three-hour blackouts, with consumers warned in advance before they happen.
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