Rank 2

Daily "life" has to stop between 4 - 7pm for Power Move challenge

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
November 9, 2024
27 replies
779 views

To meet the latest challenge (as of October '24 - I'm a newbie) I basically have to refrain from everything but the most vital electricity use between 4 - 7pm!

Extraordinarily difficult, because I'm already using approx. 60% less electricity compared with similar OVO households (according to OVO's app).

Hence, I have to

- boil the kettle prior to 4 pm to fill a flask for 2 cups of coffee or tea until 7 pm;

- defrost prepared dinners, ready to cook at 7.01 pm, stomach growling with hunger;

- walk around my flat in semi-darkness with the help of a torch (despite balance problems + sight difficulties!);

- battery-charge my laptop (I free-lance from home) + phone for hours before the crucial period;

- washing machine cycles strictly in the mornings;

- baths only in the evenings;

- miss the daily 6 pm news and watch it at 10 pm;

- try to read using the screen light of my laptop and/or phone torch;

- do any house work + cleaning before 4 pm;

etc. etc. etc.

I like a challenge, need to reduce my bill somehow and did in fact "earn" almost £2 off my bill for only 1 week in October '24 (message from OVO: "you're on your way meeting the £12 November target!"), but I realise - as many in this Forum have already pointed out - that this peak-time energy saving scenario only benefits high usage customers!

It's unfair to + unpractical for those 24/7-at-home dwellers (already energy conscious!) with physical disabilities and/or users with children!

Any more tips for me welcome!

Pinned Reply By Nukecad

I'm also a low electricity user (124.705 kWh last month) and have attained the maximum reward every month since I joined PM last November.

All that I really need to do is not use my electric hob/oven during the PM hours, use the microwave and air fryer sparingly*, and avoid using the electric kettle during PM and try to remember to fill a flask beforehand.

*Yes, I do still sometimes cook and eat during the PM hours, just not using the big hob/oven.

Pre-prepared, frozen and defrosted dishes, or ones that have been cooked earlier and left to cool, can be microwaved hot again in 3-5 minutes or so.
As can many store bought ready meals, although those can be expensive.
Frozen oven chips only take 10-12 mins in the Air Fryer, put sausages, chicken pieces/nuggets, or whatever in at the same time. (Tip- Hot Dog sausages air fry really well, just take them out of the jar/can and throw them in).

My PM philosophy, which works for me, is don't forgo the small energy usage stuff, but do avoid using anything 500 Watts or higher (except for a very short time such as 5 mins to microwave something).

Obviously I don't use the washing machine, hoover, or other power hungry appliances during PM, but as for the rest I don't really change anything.
The fridge.freezer (95W when the compressor is running) stays on, as does the gas CH (75W when the circulation pump is running).

My laptop stays plugged in, as is my router of course.
I can watch TV, films, whatever on that. Between them they use about 24 watts so unplugging those for 3 hours would save very little energy anyway.

(It you do prefer to watch a TV then use your IHD to see how many watts it consumes, turn it off completely, not standby, see how many kWh you IHD says you are using, turn it on again and see what kWh you are using now, the difference is what the TV is consuming.
TV power use can vary a lot depending on age, size, and manufacturer).

All my lightbulbs are 8.5W LED bulbs, so again not much saving by not using those whenever I want to. Although TBH I tend to use a 3W rechargeble wall light most of the time.

As said not everyone is going to be able to attain the Power Move targets, but for those that can then with a bit of thought you can work out what you need to avoid using during the PM hours, and what makes so little difference to PM that you can keep using it anyway.

A

alinbongo54

Rank 2

I work from home most days, I don't sit in the dark, I cook my tea in an airfryer, I boil my kettle watch tv after work 5pm onwards and I still got £3.

My property is a 1 bed flat.

I do all my washing, charge gadgets and anything else, outside of 4 -7pm.

I pay £90 a month for gas/electricity and don't use that much, so I'm a low user.

Don't deprive yourself, it's power move, not power save 4-7...

L

Lucky2

Rank 5

@Sanka14 at least you get a chance to take part in the challenges, us poor duel energy users don't even get a look in. ☹️

S

Sanka14Author

Rank 2

Thanks for your kind reply!

I also live in a 1-bedroom flat - the difference is that my average combined monthly winter gas + electricity use comes to only approx. £56 (winter '23 + '22) - so I am a very low energy user already.

You're right: it's about the time shifting of use that's important! And I'm trying hard to implement that, but have difficulties due to winter day light gone from 4 pm onwards.

S

Sanka14Author

Rank 2

@Sanka14 at least you get a chance to take part in the challenges, us poor duel energy users don't even get a look in. ☹️

I'm an OVO dual energy, direct debit customer, too! Unfortunately, my smart meter is only for electricity. A gas smart meter could not be installed for "logistical" reasons.

S

SRF

Newcomer

Best post I have seen so far, just wait for the company men to pile in supporting this flawed scheme

K

KayDavey

Newcomer

Hi I’m the same !!! Very very careful!! I tend to try and go out weekdays after 4 !!! I find the standing charges intolerable for singles and the vulnerable !!!

R

r44712

Newcomer

Best post I have seen so far, just wait for the company men to pile in supporting this flawed scheme

It's not flawed, it just doesn't work for you. There is no harm in trying, it does cost you anything (in money) to try.

I am not affiliated with OVO, but I achieve tbe target regularly.

My kids get in from school at 4, everything goes on when they get in. Their tea is cooked in an air fryer between 5 and 6. I am still working, from home, between 4 & 6.

Washing (and drying in the winter) is all done off-peak, as is the dishwasher.

Overall, I am not a particularly high user “compared to similar households” (as per the app.).

Just because something doesn't work for you, doesn't make it a scam, not everything in life is a handout.

B

brichard

Rank 6

No one is forcing you to do this

It takes individuals to take action to bring about change

Peter E

Super User

@Sanka14 at least you get a chance to take part in the challenges, us poor duel energy users don't even get a look in. ☹️

Dual fuel (energy) users can take part. It’s only not available to Dual Tariff users like E7 or E10 where you have a day rate and a night rate on one smart electricity meter. If you have a single rate electricity meter you can take part. There are also other conditions that apply as well.

Peter

Reducing my yearly fossil fuel usage with an EV (-900 litres petrol), A2AHP (-8,700 kWh gas) and Timed Immersion heater (-1,500 kWh gas)

L

Lucky2

Rank 5

@Peter E My mistake I did mean duel Tariff.

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Daily "life" has to stop between 4 - 7pm for Power Move challenge

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