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I'm trying to limit my usage between 16.00 and 19.00, but how does it work at weekends? Is electricity cheaper at weekends? Are the off peak times the same?

Confused....

Hi @Liselotte , it’s just that many industry locations don’t work at weekdays and so energy is not as much of a problem. 
For the OVO Power Move initiative, weekends are not counted


I thought it was only weekdays we were targeted on? 

 


The problem I have with weekends being excluded, is that it disincentivises doing e.g. cooking and washing at the weekend as it doesn’t count towards off-peak usage.


@ElaineL , it is only weekdays

@joffonon , as I’ve mentioned earlier, there is less power consumption at peak times over a weekend hence it is already cleaner power … but there’s nothing to stop you still avoiding peak times then


I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 


Live on my own lol

 


I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 

I prepare food before 7 and or cook on gas hob and the cook using electricity ie oven or airfryer after 7. If you have to eat before this time then you will struggle to get your usage low enough.


@BPLightlog I know, my point is that there's an incentive to move usage from the weekend to weekdays, which just feels wrong. 


The problem I have with weekends being excluded, is that it disincentivises doing e.g. cooking and washing at the weekend as it doesn’t count towards off-peak usage.

I felt like this to start with but after a few weeks of doing the washing midweek I realised that I had got my weekends back to enjoy. 


I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 

I am the same and work from home, so whilst I joined up as its free, I can't save anything I've ound.  It does not work for us already low users.


Surely it will get even more difficult for all of us once the nights draw in and lights are switched on earlier. Lucky we're having this heatwave otherwise who knows what heating energy we would be using! 


I can confirm - as a forum volunteer - that weekends don’t count. That much is definitely true.

It’s also true that quite a few trialists managed to beat the target last winter. If you don’t succeed, remember that there’s no penalty - you just don’t get the reward.


I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 

I also live on my own but am "lucky" that I work nightshift so when I'm working, I'm usually in bed between 4 and 7pm. I've also got an electric shower which I either use in the morning, when I'm not working, or at 8pm ish when I am so that adds a lot to my usage whenever I use it. I've also started using my washing machine and dishwasher through the night or if that's not possible, I make sure they're never on in peak hours. I'm also doing a lot more batch cooking and just having to heat it up in the microwave. I'm actually quite chuffed to see that my usage has been well below the 12.5% required. Like most others though, I'm not sure how my usage will be once it's pitch black at 4pm. Still, I won't be losing anything so I'll just wait and see (not in the dark though 😄).


I suppose it is up to OVO and the power generators regarding weekend usage, although I feel that in a 24/7 society the weekends should be included.

In my experience of heavy industry (foundries / motor industry) we operated a four crew three shift system 24/7. We never knew what day of the week it was, and we used shed loads of power.

I realise that this is controversial but nobody said power move was going to be easy.

I think it is in fact easier if you live a 24/7 lifestyle and ignore what day of the week it is.

The clues in the name Power Move we all have to move to make it work.

There are probably better ideas out there but this is at present what we have to work with.

 

 

 


Like most others though, I'm not sure how my usage will be once it's pitch black at 4pm. Still, I won't be losing anything so I'll just wait and see (not in the dark though 😄).

 

For those pondering the dark early evenings:

You can get wall mounted or free-standing LED lights that have built in batteries and recharge from the mains.

I'm new here and not sure what the policy is on posting links so just search "rechargeable room light" on Amazon.

Recharge the battery off-peak and unplug/switch off at the plug to use the light(s) on battery between 4 and 7.


Hey @Nukecad !

Just gonna slide in here to clarify that policy thing for you.

Posting links is permitted, especially those that are useful to the conversation.

When it comes to Amazon ones, that’s fine as long as they’re related to the thread in some way (sounds like the ones you have in mind are!) and are NOT affiliate links.

Hope that helps!


Thanks for the clarification @Blastoise186 

I’m sure most would have found it from the search term given, but just for easy clicking there are all kinds of rechargeable room lights here::

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=rechargable+room+lights&ref=nb_sb_noss


@BPLightlog I know, my point is that there's an incentive to move usage from the weekend to weekdays, which just feels wrong. 

It still sort of works for weekends as well for the enegy generation system as the lower  peak load means that the dirtier, more expensive means of generation are not used (and probably not on standby) so there is no incentive or money available (to pay users) to cut demand at weekends. Ovo and the other suppliers probably know this is a side effect but no one seems bothered so I'm shifting demand out of the weekend by fully charging my car on a Friday (outside of the peak) which will work most of the time.


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