Ways I can take part in Power Move Flex events even when I'm away from home

Sorry to throw a really big spanner in the works, but the advice from the Fire Brigade, electrical manufacturers, and Which is not to run domestic electrical devices when nobody is in (or awake), because of the risk of a malfunction causing a fire (or water leak)!!!

Luckily for me, as I’m retired, I can take advantage of these Power Up events, and let them dictate when I run my dishwasher, and washing machine.  To take full advantage, I have to start the dishwasher about 90 minutes before each event!!!  This is because, on the eco-wash setting, the manual tells me that the second rinse temperature is greater than the wash temperature (the first rinse is unheated)!!!  Also, luckily for me, as I live alone, and  I have enough space, I can let the dishes, and clothes build up until the next power up event when I also have a full load to go, so I’m not doing extra washes.  This would not be practical for a large family.

Doing all this I’m getting the princely sum of about 20p per week -- it hardly seems worth doing, but if I’m doing my bit for the planet, I’ll do what I i can (easily!!!).

I’m waiting for the power down events, presumably later in the year.  Last time, I managed to reduce my power demand by something like 95%, by not running the washers during the event (obviously!!), by jigging the fridge and CH thermostats to run them up before the event, and by using candles, torches, and my laptop on its battery!!!

Now that was worth doing, cos, as far as I remember, I could get well over a £1 an event!!!

Morning ​@MGSteve and thanks for this valuable feedback!

​@MGSteve Safety is always worth highlighting but I can't think of any safety issues running an immersion heater which is quite a good load to run if you have one. When I had my new gas boiler put in it needed a new tank so I specified a 3kW immersion heater (they are quite cheap) and a programmable controller. 20 mins at 3kW = 1kWh. If only Queen's song had been titled ‘I want to get free’

Peter 

I agree an immersion heater by itself is unlikely to cause much risk; if it fails then the worst that it is  likely is a blown fuse.   But, washing machines and dish washers have floats, solenoids,  filters, and plastic pipes, which call all fail with release of water.  And, tumbler dryer filters could block causing a fire.  Hence the advice!!!