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F.A.Q.

Power Move Plus - Frequently Asked Questions

Power Move Plus - Frequently Asked Questions
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64 replies

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  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 21 replies
  • November 4, 2023

Excess power from the national grid ESO is being disposed into countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. This means that the ESO must pay high prices to offload the surplus energy. The ESO do this to manage an oversupply of power and reduced generation overflow at interconnectors.7 Jun 2023

Interesting reading about what happens when we all cut down our energy usage as a nation...

https://www.resolveenergy.co.uk/blog/article/grid-paying-more-to-dump-excess-energy-into-other-countries#:~:text=Excess%20power%20from%20the%20national,reduced%20generation%20overflow%20at%20interconnectors.

 


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  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 21 replies
  • November 4, 2023

BPLightlog
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 2728 replies
  • November 4, 2023

There are flows in and out of European countries all the time. 

The point is that others can turn their generators down when the draw reduces. If the UK has powered up coal fired plant to cope with demand, it can’t just be shut down. 
If we can ensure we don’t need polluting generation, it will be easier to maintain 


Jeffus
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 2561 replies
  • November 5, 2023
newjerseyminx wrote:

Excess power from the national grid ESO is being disposed into countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. This means that the ESO must pay high prices to offload the surplus energy. The ESO do this to manage an oversupply of power and reduced generation overflow at interconnectors.7 Jun 2023

Interesting reading about what happens when we all cut down our energy usage as a nation...

https://www.resolveenergy.co.uk/blog/article/grid-paying-more-to-dump-excess-energy-into-other-countries#:~:text=Excess%20power%20from%20the%20national,reduced%20generation%20overflow%20at%20interconnectors.

It is not a well written article unfortunately as it mixes up various things. 

The Balancing mechanism would exist even if the interconnectors were not there. 

https://www.nationalgrideso.com/what-we-do/electricity-national-control-centre/what-balancing-mechanism

A description of interconnectors. 

https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-are-electricity-interconnectors

All but one of the remaining coal powered electricity power sites recently closed since last winter in the UK. This is the last one due to close in 2024 unless it is extended. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_coal-fired_power_stations_in_the_United_Kingdom


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  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 54 replies
  • November 28, 2023

Does OVO participate in this scheme and how do customers take part ?


Firedog
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 1979 replies
  • November 29, 2023

Yes. The OVO scheme is called Power Move Plus, to distinguish it from their own Power Move. The two different schemes operate concurrently and aren’t mutually exclusive.


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  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 54 replies
  • November 29, 2023

Why don’t they tell people about it instead of leaving them to search around forums ?


Firedog
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 1979 replies
  • November 29, 2023

 

DuncanL wrote:

Why don’t they tell people about it instead of leaving them to search around forums?
 

Well, to be fair, if you visit the National Grid ESO DFS page, there’s a list of participating suppliers (called Registered providers); clicking on the OVO entry on this list takes you straight to the introductory page for the Power Move Plus scheme.

 


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  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 54 replies
  • November 29, 2023

That still leave me searching around for the info when OVO could easily email customers or put some info on the App.  Since transferring from SSE a couple of years ago I have never had any problems with OVO billing, DD, etc, but I sometimes wonder if they are a branch of MI5.


  • New Member*
  • 1 reply
  • January 20, 2024

So I opt in for the power move which normally operates between 5pm and 7pm. At this time of day the only electrical items that are on is for cooking my tea, the only way I can hit my target is eating after 7pm. The suggestions I get when not hitting my target is not to use items like washing machine, tumble dryer or dish washer, none of these are ever on at this time. So how can I ever hit my target?


  • Carbon Catcher*
  • 64 replies
  • January 20, 2024

My power move plus target for 17th January was 0.2kwh. Just received email saying I didn't achieve it. Yet from the app 5.30pm was 0.07kwh and 6pm was 0.11kwh. How is that more than 0.2kwh?

How do I query this?


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  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 58 replies
  • January 20, 2024

I had success, the first time I opted in for this <0.8kWh on Jan 17th 5:30-6:30pm. I made sure the underfloor heating was switched off, and we went out. We managed 0.38kWh and received £1.26 reward. But I note from other posts that the target might get harder next time. I await with interest.

 

Tony


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  • Carbon Cutter****
  • 18 replies
  • January 20, 2024

Last target was 0.3 - had 1 LED lamp and 1 TV on plus all the normal things like fridge freezer etc. ticking over. Not met. Think my last 5 days included at least 2 days when we were away on vacation - so skewed target!!


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 9 replies
  • January 20, 2024

I agree !


  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 128 replies
  • January 20, 2024

Ok here is my issue with the Power Move Plus I always make sure I have turned off what I need to at least 10 mins before and 10/15 mins after the allocated times for the session so why don't i get the full £3.

 


Firedog
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 1979 replies
  • January 20, 2024
Lucky2 wrote:

… why don't i get the full £3.

 

From the FAQ: “We’ll reward you with energy credit for every kWh of electricity you shift below your target.” You shifted 0.81 kWh:

0.81 kWh x £3/kWh = £2.43

You would have to check the precise figures for your consumption in the target period; the ones shown on your account pages are only approximate. 


  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 128 replies
  • January 20, 2024

@Firedog oh ok that make sense thank you for verifing that for me. 👍


  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 31 replies
  • January 20, 2024
Phil225xe wrote:

Last target was 0.3 - had 1 LED lamp and 1 TV on plus all the normal things like fridge freezer etc. ticking over. Not met. Think my last 5 days included at least 2 days when we were away on vacation - so skewed target!!

When asleep or for certain hours of the day, turn your fuse box levers to 'OFF' on everything, including your fridge and freezer. Nothing will go bad or defrost as long as you don't do it for excessive amounts of time !!! This will bring your usage down dramatically.  I'm single, so I'm not sure about multi-member households !!!!  You'll have to work it out. 


  • 0 replies
  • January 20, 2024

Hi @Ria ,

The PMP window was 5.30 to 6.30 not 6.00.

Looking at my own figures, it looks as though they add up the half-hourly usage figures for 6.00 and 6.30. I think those figures are for the half-hour ending at that time but I may be wrong.

I hope that helps!


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 7965 replies
  • January 20, 2024

It’s 4pm to 7pm, not 5pm to 7pm.

If you are cooking during those times, it’s unlikely you’ll hit the target. You need to move that sort of thing to be outside of that window. It’s weekdays only though - weekends are excluded.


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 7965 replies
  • January 20, 2024
Mike Hansen wrote:
Phil225xe wrote:

Last target was 0.3 - had 1 LED lamp and 1 TV on plus all the normal things like fridge freezer etc. ticking over. Not met. Think my last 5 days included at least 2 days when we were away on vacation - so skewed target!!

When asleep or for certain hours of the day, turn your fuse box levers to 'OFF' on everything, including your fridge and freezer. Nothing will go bad or defrost as long as you don't do it for excessive amounts of time !!! This will bring your usage down dramatically.  I'm single, so I'm not sure about multi-member households !!!!  You'll have to work it out. 

DO NOT do that. Fridges and freezers aren’t designed to be flipped on and off every day/night and neither is half the critical stuff like your broadband router. Doing this on a daily basis may lead to permanent electrical damage. You have been warned.


  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 31 replies
  • January 20, 2024

You DON'T have to do it 'everyday' !!! Plus, your fridge and freezer are turned on and off every single day, many times a day.  All you are doing is increasing what they are already doing !!! And funnily enough, it's okay to reboot your Wi-Fi router everyday !!!  If you are trying to reduce your usage, say every Friday between 2 - 3 pm, then just turn your power switches off during that time.  I've been doing it and have had no problems.  My usage for 4-7 pm, M-F, is approx 8% !!!!  I pay less than £72 a month for gas & electric, for a one bedroom bungalow (and that was for Dec, when my usual bill is less than £60 a month !!!


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Plan Zero Hero
  • 7965 replies
  • January 20, 2024

But at what cost? Take it from me, as someone with a BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing and Systems Development. You risk doing more harm than good to your electrical items by doing what you are doing.

Do not blindly flip switches on and off like that without thinking about whether your stuff is actually designed to cope with it. The Wi-Fi Router takes up barely anything, possibly £1 a year at most. Don’t turn it off or your broadband speeds WILL tank to nothing.


  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • 31 replies
  • January 20, 2024

To each their own.  I do it when needed with no adverse reactions. Thanks for your concern anyway.


  • Carbon Catcher*
  • 64 replies
  • January 20, 2024

@Simon 1402 5.30 reading is for 5.30 til 6 and 6pm reading is 6 til 6.30 so total would be 0.18kwh for 5.30 til 6.30 which is less than 0.2kwh.

 


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