Thousands of households could get free electricity next month as a major energy supplier relaunches its money-saving rewards program. EDF Energy has confirmed the return of its Sunday Saver challenge, which allows customers to earn free power by shifting their electricity use to off-peak hours.
With energy costs still high, this initiative could provide significant savings for customers looking to cut their bills while reducing their carbon footprint.
How Does the Free Electricity Scheme Work?
According to The Sun, EDF’s Sunday Saver challenge is designed to reward customers who use less energy during peak times. The program encourages households to adjust their energy habits by doing tasks such as:
- Charging devices overnight instead of during peak hours
- Running dishwashers and washing machines in the morning or late at night
- Cooking meals in bulk over the weekend to reduce weekday energy use
The more customers shift their energy usage away from peak hours, the more free electricity they will earn. For example, reducing 40% of peak-time consumption could give customers up to 16 hours of free electricity on a Sunday.
Who Can Take Part?
To qualify for the scheme, customers must:
- Be an EDF Energy customer
- Have a smart meter set to provide half-hourly readings
- Adjust their smart meter preferences via their EDF MyAccount
Once a smart meter is set up correctly, customers can enroll in the Sunday Saver challenge through the Energy Hub section of their MyAccount. The Energy Hub also allows users to track their energy usage and monitor their progress in the scheme.
Rich Hughes, EDF’s Director of Retail, explained the reasoning behind the program:
“With energy prices rising, we know many household budgets are stretched, which is why we want to help more people still do the things they love on a Sunday for free, saving them cash on their bills and helping them to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Are Other Energy Suppliers Offering Similar Deals?
EDF isn’t the only provider offering money-saving energy schemes. Other suppliers, including British Gas, Octopus Energy, and OVO Energy, also provide rewards for customers who adjust their electricity usage.
- British Gas runs the Peak Save Sundays scheme, which gives customers half-price electricity when they use power between 11 AM and 4 PM on Sundays. Over 650,000 customers have already signed up, saving a combined £13 million on their energy bills.
- Octopus Energy offers free electricity sessions when wholesale prices fall below zero. Customers receive an alert a day before each session and can use power for free during the designated hour.
- OVO Energy runs Power Move, which pays customers up to £10 a month if they reduce their electricity use between 6 PM and 9 PM on weekdays.
How to Reduce Your Energy Bills Further
For those who don’t qualify for these schemes, there are still ways to cut down on energy costs. Households struggling with bills can:
- Contact their energy supplier for support, such as repayment plans or discounts
- Apply for grants like the British Gas Energy Trust, which provides aid even to non-British Gas customers
- Sign up for the Priority Services Register, which offers extra help for vulnerable households
With energy costs remaining high, programs like EDF’s Sunday Saver could be a great way for customers to save money while making smarter energy choices.
