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Power Move- Does it count on weekends?


I'm trying to limit my usage between 16.00 and 19.00, but how does it work at weekends? Is electricity cheaper at weekends? Are the off peak times the same?

Confused....

Best answer by BPLightlog

Updated on 06/03/35 by Emmanuelle_OVO:

Power Move challenges you to use less non-essential electricity during peak times (5pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday). Electricity used on weekends also counts as off-peak but Bank Holidays aren’t included. This helps lower the energy demand when less renewable power (like solar and wind) is available. By moving your home’s electricity use away from peak times, you’re reducing the demand on the grid and our reliance on fossil fuels.
 

Check out our website for the latest challenge information:

https://www.ovoenergy.com/power-move,
 

Join Power Move today
 

Log in to Beyond to get started. Don’t have the app? Download it on iOS or Android to unlock exclusive rewards for free.

The Power Move prize draw starts from 1 February 2025, and the first draw is in March. Afterwards, all entries will be drawn the following month. To join, you need to pay for your energy by Direct Debit and have a smart meter set up.
 

Check our FAQs to find out more. Power Move terms also apply.

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BPLightlog
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  • Answer
  • September 7, 2023

Updated on 06/03/35 by Emmanuelle_OVO:

Power Move challenges you to use less non-essential electricity during peak times (5pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday). Electricity used on weekends also counts as off-peak but Bank Holidays aren’t included. This helps lower the energy demand when less renewable power (like solar and wind) is available. By moving your home’s electricity use away from peak times, you’re reducing the demand on the grid and our reliance on fossil fuels.
 

Check out our website for the latest challenge information:

https://www.ovoenergy.com/power-move,
 

Join Power Move today
 

Log in to Beyond to get started. Don’t have the app? Download it on iOS or Android to unlock exclusive rewards for free.

The Power Move prize draw starts from 1 February 2025, and the first draw is in March. Afterwards, all entries will be drawn the following month. To join, you need to pay for your energy by Direct Debit and have a smart meter set up.
 

Check our FAQs to find out more. Power Move terms also apply.


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 7 replies
  • September 7, 2023

I thought it was only weekdays we were targeted on? 

 


  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • September 7, 2023

The problem I have with weekends being excluded, is that it disincentivises doing e.g. cooking and washing at the weekend as it doesn’t count towards off-peak usage.


BPLightlog
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  • September 7, 2023

@ElaineL , it is only weekdays

@joffonon , as I’ve mentioned earlier, there is less power consumption at peak times over a weekend hence it is already cleaner power … but there’s nothing to stop you still avoiding peak times then


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 7 replies
  • September 7, 2023

I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 7 replies
  • September 7, 2023

Live on my own lol

 


  • Carbon Cutter****
  • 43 replies
  • September 7, 2023
ElaineL wrote:

I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 

I prepare food before 7 and or cook on gas hob and the cook using electricity ie oven or airfryer after 7. If you have to eat before this time then you will struggle to get your usage low enough.


  • Carbon Cutter*
  • 3 replies
  • September 7, 2023

@BPLightlog I know, my point is that there's an incentive to move usage from the weekend to weekdays, which just feels wrong. 


  • Carbon Cutter****
  • 43 replies
  • September 7, 2023
joffonon wrote:

The problem I have with weekends being excluded, is that it disincentivises doing e.g. cooking and washing at the weekend as it doesn’t count towards off-peak usage.

I felt like this to start with but after a few weeks of doing the washing midweek I realised that I had got my weekends back to enjoy. 


  • Carbon Cutter****
  • 47 replies
  • September 7, 2023
ElaineL wrote:

I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 

I am the same and work from home, so whilst I joined up as its free, I can't save anything I've ound.  It does not work for us already low users.


  • Carbon Cutter**
  • 7 replies
  • September 8, 2023

Surely it will get even more difficult for all of us once the nights draw in and lights are switched on earlier. Lucky we're having this heatwave otherwise who knows what heating energy we would be using! 


Blastoise186
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  • September 8, 2023

I can confirm - as a forum volunteer - that weekends don’t count. That much is definitely true.

It’s also true that quite a few trialists managed to beat the target last winter. If you don’t succeed, remember that there’s no penalty - you just don’t get the reward.


Gillarms
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  • 24 replies
  • September 8, 2023
ElaineL wrote:

I'm having big problems bringing my use down in between 4-7pm... I love on my own,  I'm in work all day, come home by 4pm...the only thing I do is put the TV on, and have to cook a meal before 7pm....can't decrease my use more than I already do. So I've never gone below 20% . Practically given up! 

I also live on my own but am "lucky" that I work nightshift so when I'm working, I'm usually in bed between 4 and 7pm. I've also got an electric shower which I either use in the morning, when I'm not working, or at 8pm ish when I am so that adds a lot to my usage whenever I use it. I've also started using my washing machine and dishwasher through the night or if that's not possible, I make sure they're never on in peak hours. I'm also doing a lot more batch cooking and just having to heat it up in the microwave. I'm actually quite chuffed to see that my usage has been well below the 12.5% required. Like most others though, I'm not sure how my usage will be once it's pitch black at 4pm. Still, I won't be losing anything so I'll just wait and see (not in the dark though 😄).


  • 0 replies
  • September 8, 2023

I suppose it is up to OVO and the power generators regarding weekend usage, although I feel that in a 24/7 society the weekends should be included.

In my experience of heavy industry (foundries / motor industry) we operated a four crew three shift system 24/7. We never knew what day of the week it was, and we used shed loads of power.

I realise that this is controversial but nobody said power move was going to be easy.

I think it is in fact easier if you live a 24/7 lifestyle and ignore what day of the week it is.

The clues in the name Power Move we all have to move to make it work.

There are probably better ideas out there but this is at present what we have to work with.

 

 

 


Nukecad
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  • September 8, 2023
Gillarms wrote:

Like most others though, I'm not sure how my usage will be once it's pitch black at 4pm. Still, I won't be losing anything so I'll just wait and see (not in the dark though 😄).

 

For those pondering the dark early evenings:

You can get wall mounted or free-standing LED lights that have built in batteries and recharge from the mains.

I'm new here and not sure what the policy is on posting links so just search "rechargeable room light" on Amazon.

Recharge the battery off-peak and unplug/switch off at the plug to use the light(s) on battery between 4 and 7.


Blastoise186
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Hey @Nukecad !

Just gonna slide in here to clarify that policy thing for you.

Posting links is permitted, especially those that are useful to the conversation.

When it comes to Amazon ones, that’s fine as long as they’re related to the thread in some way (sounds like the ones you have in mind are!) and are NOT affiliate links.

Hope that helps!


Nukecad
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  • September 9, 2023

Thanks for the clarification @Blastoise186 

I’m sure most would have found it from the search term given, but just for easy clicking there are all kinds of rechargeable room lights here::

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=rechargable+room+lights&ref=nb_sb_noss


Peter E
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  • November 7, 2023
joffonon wrote:

@BPLightlog I know, my point is that there's an incentive to move usage from the weekend to weekdays, which just feels wrong. 

It still sort of works for weekends as well for the enegy generation system as the lower  peak load means that the dirtier, more expensive means of generation are not used (and probably not on standby) so there is no incentive or money available (to pay users) to cut demand at weekends. Ovo and the other suppliers probably know this is a side effect but no one seems bothered so I'm shifting demand out of the weekend by fully charging my car on a Friday (outside of the peak) which will work most of the time.


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