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Rank 2
December 1, 2024
Solved

Power Move and Christmas 2024

  • December 1, 2024
  • 13 replies
  • 622 views

Hi

Cant believe its December already!

Planning ahead (is setting up my nerdy tracking spreadsheet 😬) I’ve been trying to confirm that Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be exempt from the Power Move again this year. I was also wondering if they would count towards off peak time as weekends are this time. 
 

Best answer by Firedog

From Power Move FAQs | OVO:

Electricity used on an English bank holiday won’t count towards your monthly use.

From UK bank holidays - GOV.UK:
  

Upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales

2024

Date Day of the week Bank holiday
25 December Wednesday Christmas Day
26 December Thursday Boxing Day


2025

Date Day of the week Bank holiday
1 January Wednesday New Year’s Day
18 April Friday Good Friday
21 April Monday Easter Monday
5 May Monday Early May bank holiday
26 May Monday Spring bank holiday
25 August Monday Summer bank holiday
25 December Thursday Christmas Day
26 December Friday Boxing Day

 

 

13 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
December 1, 2024

Hi ​@HJRea ,

My understanding is that both will be excluded completely. You can use as much as you want on those two days without impacting PM.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!
Peter E
Super User
Super User
December 1, 2024

Hi ​@HJRea 

 

I have my own nerdy spreadsheet as well and that is a good question and a good answer to go with it. Hope you have a great time over Christmas.

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)
Firedog
Super User
FiredogSuper UserSolved
Super User
December 1, 2024

From Power Move FAQs | OVO:

Electricity used on an English bank holiday won’t count towards your monthly use.

From UK bank holidays - GOV.UK:
  

Upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales

2024

Date Day of the week Bank holiday
25 December Wednesday Christmas Day
26 December Thursday Boxing Day


2025

Date Day of the week Bank holiday
1 January Wednesday New Year’s Day
18 April Friday Good Friday
21 April Monday Easter Monday
5 May Monday Early May bank holiday
26 May Monday Spring bank holiday
25 August Monday Summer bank holiday
25 December Thursday Christmas Day
26 December Friday Boxing Day

 

 

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
HJReaAuthor
Rank 2
December 1, 2024

Thanks ​@Firedog I believe it also applies to Scottish bank holidays as I’m in Scotland - so we’ll get 2nd January too. 

Peter E
Super User
Super User
December 1, 2024

​@HJRea I hadn't even though about regional variations so I would have given the same response as ​@Blastoise186 and ​@Firedog . I wonder if that just modifies the calculation for customers in that region or everybody. It just shows that even a seemingly simple question can be tricky to answer.

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)
Firedog
Super User
Super User
December 2, 2024

I believe it also applies to Scottish bank holidays as I’m in Scotland - so we’ll get 2nd January too. 
 

I wouldn’t bank on that. Did you check the FAQ? The current challenge ends on 31 December unless it’s prolonged, so all bets are off.

Tomorrow (2 December, in lieu of St Andrew’s Day) is a bank holiday in Scotland - would you expect that to be excluded from the calculation? (I wouldn’t, but you could put it to the test by leaving a 2kW fan heater on from 4 to 7 PM, then see what happens to your percentage. Don’t blame me if you try this and then miss out on your reward 😊.)

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
HJReaAuthor
Rank 2
December 2, 2024

Hmm, I guess they have changed the rules from last year. If I recall correctly we did get 2 Jan last year, but you are right, not St Andrews Day. In practice more people are likely to be off work on the 2 Jan then St Andrew’s day, thus resulting in differing power demands. 

Firedog
Super User
Super User
December 2, 2024

Last year, bank holidays counted as offpeak just like weekend days. The change earlier this year was simply to exclude bank holidays from the calculation altogether. It would be unfair on the great majority of punters if Scots got nine free passes to everyone else’s eight, so I don’t expect the ‘English bank holidays’ rule to change for next quarter. I’m quite prepared to be surprised, though.

Noel | I have no official status; I'm just a volunteer who comes here to help other customers. My gear: Aclara SGM 1416-B Electricity-only E7 meter; Chameleon IHD3-PPMID-AAA | It may look as if I know what I’m talking about, but don’t let that fool you. |
Rank 4
December 24, 2024

As a low user I'm actually wishing the two christmas days ARE included but treated as a weekend (no time restrictions of 4 - 7pm). With all the cooking I will be doing those two days it would help to increase my off peak percentage so that I can reach the less than 8% band. I did an early christmas dinner for 12 two weeks ago so lots of weekend cooking and it's the first time I've got under 8% but it's slowly creeping up again. If christmas day isn't included at all I can't see my percentage staying below 8%. I know, you can't please everyone all of the time, but treating bank holidays like weekends makes more sense to me.

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
December 24, 2024

Hi ​@Belinda5 ,

They’re considered Bank Holidays so are totally excluded. However, you’ve still got a chance at a reward anyway - 8% isn’t the only goal!

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way! Remember, I'm just like you - AI Powered Evil Geniuses aren't Staff!