Is being part of Power Move really worth it?

Are you sure about ‘doing everything the same’? In the winter, we all switch lights on earlier and off later than in the spring and summer. We all use more energy on heating, and we spend less time outdoors. It’s not just what you do between 6 PM and 9 PM that counts - what you use at other times does, too. If you use less after 9 PM and before 6 PM now than you were doing in the winter, but using just the same after 6 PM and before 9 PM, then the percentage will be higher, as you’ve discovered. 

As I said before, I wasn’t sent an e-mail informing me of the change of low usage times and, at the time, I wasn’t a member of this forum.   However, I have now changed the time of putting the dishwasher on, which is about the only appliance that it is practical to flex the usage of in this house.   We’re not going to miss out on TV programmes that we enjoy watching, rewards or no rewards!

Hey @Topsy & @Lady P,

I’m sorry that the Power Move challenge wasn’t the right opportunity for you! I can see that one of our volunteers @Nukecad has already given some advice on how to leave the challenge, but I'd like to add that you can also opt out through your online account. If your circumstances change and you’d like to give it another go, you can opt in again through your online account. 

You can find more information on our FAQ page here. 

Hey @Streetlyman, 

I’m sorry to hear that you never received the email with the updates to the Spring challenge. Any changes to the Challenges are normally communicated out as widely as possible using various platforms such as our Power Move page on the OVO website, Emails & here on the Forum. The key to being successful in the challenge is to move as much of your non essential usage outside of the challenge hours so it sounds like you’re off to a great start by changing your dishwasher time! Hopefully you’re watching some really interesting series on the TV feel free to share any recommendations that you have 😃

I feel the same they tell you that you are nearly there but missed it for the month. l try and do washing early or later on in evening. cooking is a bit different can’t wait till nine bit late. Ironing l do different times as well. it’s hard doesn’t seem worth it.

The next Power Move Challenge has been announced. Please note the rules have been updated for the Summer Challenge. It starts on the 1st July and runs until 30th September.

The TIMES are the same as before - you need to shift heavy usage away from 6pm to 9pm Weekdays.

However, Weekends have now been added as permanent Off-Peak - any usage during Weekends (regardless of time) will now count towards your Off-Peak usage and help with the targets.

The goals are:

The challenge may seem harder at first, but since Weekends now count as Off-Peak, it’ll actually balance out pretty easily.

We’d like to remind you NOT to deprive yourself however. Do not go without essential usage just to meet targets - it’s the big stuff that makes the difference, not the small things.

As a further reminder, please remember this is OVO Power Move, NOT OVO Power Shutdown. To get the rewards, you must move heavy usage outside of the Peak times, don’t just shut everything down because that won’t do anything - you’ve still gotta use that same stuff to hit the targets!

Well l find it hard sometimes l do my washing either different times. or later on after nine. cooking is a bit different not waiting till nine bit late. my husband is diabetic so got to be careful. got email to say haven’t quite made it but nearly there. need to reduce my energy not use it between 6 and 9. But difficult at times.

I find that if you want/need to eat between 6-9 then cooking things earlier and reheating in the microwave when wanted helps.

5 mins (or even 10) of microwave use isn’t a lot.
1000W microwave for 5 mins = 0.083 kWh.

Stews, casseroles, rice dishes, pasta dishes, etc. are all ideal for doing that of course, but things like pie/sausage and mash and so on can also be done that way.
Tip: Hot Dog sausages straight from the jar/tin take about 30 seconds to microwave.

As the power move is between 6-9pm from Jul through to Sep, I am no longer meeting the target. The only source of electricity I am using is watching the TV. 

Previously, when the power move was between 4-7pm. I was able to meet the full target  credit on all three occasions  as I did not switch on TV till 7pm.

Hey @powersaver, 

​​I’m sorry to hear you’re not hitting the target. Power move is about shifting some of your heavier usage away from peak times, and if you don’t use a lot of power, this could make the challenge a little more complicated. We have a few threads with discussions I have left below with some helpful tips. Hopefully, this will be helpful, and you can find a way to meet the targets 😊