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Rank 1
Iona54
Rank 1
June 6, 2024
Solved

Is being part of Power Move really worth it?

  • June 6, 2024
  • 30 replies
  • 1056 views

Hi

I am very conscious of the electricity I use, long before Power Move. I use my washing machine in the morning so I can hang out the clothes early and get them dry. I’ve never had a tumble drier. I use my dish washer at night as the eco wash takes nearly three hours. I usually start making dinner after 7pm and only use the TV or radio between 4.00 and 7.00. I never leave the TV on standby but switch it off at the plug. Recently, with the better weather, I’ve been outside more at this time so not using any electricity other than fridge. Despite all this, I have never been successful in a Power Move period.

So, I ask, is this worth it?? 

Best answer by Nukecad

I usually start making dinner after 7pm and only use the TV or radio between 4.00 and 7.00.

If you are cooking on electricity then there is your answer.

The Power Move hours changed for the Spring Challenge that started with April and are no longer 4-7. Did you not notice the new hours on your emails? It was stated clearly.

The current Power Move hours are 6pm to 9pm, so if you have high eletricity use like cooking to move outside of those hours then that’s the way to hit the target.

That’s basically all that I do for Power Move, change when I cook by electricity along with avoiding using the kettle during the PM hours, and I’ve hit the maximum reward every month since I joined Power Move.

30 replies

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T
Rank 4
Topsy
Rank 4
June 6, 2024

I'm in the same position as you Iona. I really don't think it's worth it for me but am not sure how you leave. I am so fed up with emails telling me 'You failed' and repeating the same advice of what to do, all of which I know and are either irrelevant, I'm doing already or are impractical for me. I am a single household, use very few appliances, washing machine in economy 7 hours early morning, etc. the only change I could make to reduce peak hour consumption would be spend my evenings on my own, in silence, by candlelight! Sorry but that's not realistic, much as I care about the environment etc. How does one leave though?

NB If anyone is tempted to tell me you always meet your target and I should do x, y and z please don't bother!! I really have heard it all before.

    S
    Rank 5
    supercitybity
    Rank 5
    June 6, 2024

    It will probably depend on how much energy you’re using during the non power move time periods.

    How is your house heated and when? Gas/ Electric / Heat pump? 24/7

    How is your hot water heated and when?

    What was your overall energy use during the months in question?

    Nukecad
    Super User
    NukecadSuper UserSolved
    Super User
    June 6, 2024

    I usually start making dinner after 7pm and only use the TV or radio between 4.00 and 7.00.

    If you are cooking on electricity then there is your answer.

    The Power Move hours changed for the Spring Challenge that started with April and are no longer 4-7. Did you not notice the new hours on your emails? It was stated clearly.

    The current Power Move hours are 6pm to 9pm, so if you have high eletricity use like cooking to move outside of those hours then that’s the way to hit the target.

    That’s basically all that I do for Power Move, change when I cook by electricity along with avoiding using the kettle during the PM hours, and I’ve hit the maximum reward every month since I joined Power Move.

    I said, Hey - Watts going on.
      Nukecad
      Super User
      NukecadSuper User
      Super User
      June 6, 2024

      I'm with you on this! I always get the emails telling me I'm nearly there or that I've missed it! I don't know what else I can do?

      I think I'd like to be removed from the Power Move scheme  - I understand it can't work for everyone, but to be told month after month that I've failed, does nothing for my morale! It's bad enough having an illness that can't be cured! 

       

       

      I understand how disheartening such emails would be in your situation.

      If you do wish to leave Power Move and not receive any further emails about it then you can open any one of the emails that you get about it and scroll to the bottom where you will find a link that you can click to unsubscribe and leave Power Move, it looks like this on the email that I got this morning, just click on that underlined text to leave Power Move.
       

       

      I said, Hey - Watts going on.
      S
      Newcomer
      Streetlyman
      Newcomer
      June 6, 2024

      Your post, and the latest update on my usage from OVO, refers to a 6 - 9 pm. window for reducing electricity usage.   However, when I joined this scheme, OVO said the rewards were for 4 to 7 p.m. and they didn’t tell me the time window had changed.   So I’ve been saving electricity for the wrong time window this last month!

      Nukecad
      Super User
      NukecadSuper User
      Super User
      June 6, 2024

      The Power Move hours changed when the Winter Challenge changed to the Spring Challenge, starting in April.

      The email that you got at the time told you that quite clearly, and so did the announcement in the forum.

      Most Power Move participants did change their hours as notified and many are still meeting the target, but you are not the only one who missed the change of hours.

      I'm sure that they will try to make it even clearer when the target hours change again.

      (But TBH it was already pretty clear if you read your emails).

      I said, Hey - Watts going on.
        S
        Newcomer
        Saranne
        Newcomer
        June 6, 2024

        Hi

        I am very conscious of the electricity I use, long before Power Move. I use my washing machine in the morning so I can hang out the clothes early and get them dry. I’ve never had a tumble drier. I use my dish washer at night as the eco wash takes nearly three hours. I usually start making dinner after 7pm and only use the TV or radio between 4.00 and 7.00. I never leave the TV on standby but switch it off at the plug. Recently, with the better weather, I’ve been outside more at this time so not using any electricity other than fridge. Despite all this, I have never been successful in a Power Move period.

        So, I ask, is this worth it?? 

        Initially I found the power moves a challenge and it inspired me to blitz the house and do a good clean during the power up periods but powering down during the time I normally cook tea in the evening wasn't saving me money as I was staying late at work and buying take-out so not a financial saving. I'd say, keep doing what you're doing if you're happy with your bills. If you see an opportunity to shift some of your usage, like doing a wash in the evening ready for hanging out the next day, or hoovering during a power up then go for it but don't change your life around for it. Last week, none of my power shifts got recorded because they couldn't get a meter reading at the "right times". That's annoying! 🤨

        Nukecad
        Super User
        NukecadSuper User
        Super User
        June 7, 2024

        @Saranne

        You appear to be talking about Power Move Flex which is a diferent scheme to Power Move itself and works in a different way.

        Power Move Flex has it’s own forum group which you can join here:
        https://forum.ovoenergy.com/groups/power-move-flex-165

        I said, Hey - Watts going on.
          N
          Rank 2
          Nash98
          Rank 2
          June 7, 2024

          You are very lucky to have earned £10 and £15!  My reward was 38p! I look forward to that being taken off my bill!

          I don’t use electricity at the times stated, don’t use a tumble drier, try to minimise the use of the oven, but still I am being told I haven’t reached their target.  perhaps iof I go away for a month I might just earn £1!

          Is it really worth it - in my opinion NO!

          Nukecad
          Super User
          NukecadSuper User
          Super User
          June 7, 2024

          You are very lucky to have earned £10 and £15!  My reward was 38p!

          That is not Power Move then.

          It may have been Power Move Plus which was run last winter (OVO’s name for the industry wide ‘Demand Flexibility Scheme’).

          Or it may be Power Move Flex, (OVO’s name for the National Grid ‘Crowdflex’ project) which is still running alongside the standard Power Move.
          Power Move Flex has its own forum group which you can join:
          https://forum.ovoenergy.com/groups/power-move-flex-165

          And yes - the similar names can be confusing.

          I said, Hey - Watts going on.
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