The initiative is being pitched as a way to ease festive financial pressure while encouraging energy-conscious habits. The free electricity window runs from 8am to 4pm on 25 December, covering the peak hours when ovens, televisions, and decorative lighting are most in use.
EDF’s Sunday Saver Opens Christmas Day Offer to Smart Meter Users
Customers of EDF Energy are eligible for the offer through the company’s Sunday Saver challenge, provided they sign up by 11:59pm on 24 December. The offer applies to anyone with a compatible electricity smart meter that transmits half-hourly readings, according to EDF.
Those who have already registered for the December or January Sunday Saver are automatically included. Rich Hughes, EDF’s Director of Retail, explained the initiative’s aim: “Christmas is one of the most joyful days of the year, but also one of the busiest for household electricity use. We want our customers to enjoy the festivities for free.”
Figures shared by EDF suggest that more than 220,000 customers have benefited from the Sunday Saver since it launched, saving a combined £3.4 million and receiving over 13 million hours of free electricity. The programme, designed to reward off-peak electricity use, has become a permanent fixture in EDF’s energy-saving portfolio.
Households typically use around 65 kWh of electricity on Christmas Day, compared to a daily average of 8–10 kWh, largely due to extended cooking times, lighting and entertainment use. According to EDF, this initiative seeks to help reduce the financial burden while reinforcing smart meter adoption.
Uswitch Extends Offer to All Providers through Power Hours Scheme
Unlike EDF’s offer, which is limited to its own customers, Uswitch’s free electricity promotion is open to all households, regardless of supplier, as long as they have a compatible smart meter. The price comparison service is offering to refund up to £10 worth of electricity used between 8am and 4pm on Christmas Day.
To claim the benefit, users must sign up for Uswitch’s Power Hours programme by midnight on Sunday 21 December through the Uswitch app, which connects to the smart meter. Once registered, users simply activate the Christmas Day offer within the app.
In January, Uswitch will calculate how much electricity was used during the eligible time period. Refunds will then be issued via the app and can be withdrawn directly into users’ bank accounts.
Natalie Mathie, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “No one wants to be worrying about their energy bill when they’re unwrapping presents, so we hope that as many homes as possible can enjoy our little gift of free electricity on Christmas Day.” She added that the initiative was designed to “cover the cost of cooking your festive feast, powering all your new electronic gifts and keeping the fairy lights twinkling.”
Examples provided by Uswitch show that a household could receive a refund of £1.84 for using an electric oven for three and a half hours, or 74p for running a 1.4kW air fryer for two hours. Both schemes aim to ease short-term costs while promoting longer-term energy efficiency behaviours. With participation caps and deadlines in place, interested households are being encouraged to act quickly to secure a spot.
