A MAJOR energy supplier serving seven million customers is offering 50% off electricity on Christmas Day in a boost for households.
British Gas, the UK’s biggest energy firm, is offering the discount through its PeakSave scheme, which first launched last year.
AlamyBritish Gas is offering customers money off their electricity bill on Christmas Day[/caption]
Customers who use energy between 11am and 4pm on Christmas Day will see money credited to their accounts afterwards.
The credit will show up as “PeakSave Credit” on their bill or online statement.
Crucially, you can only sign up if you have a smart energy meter that sends up to half hourly readings.
You also have to sign up, via the British Gas website, by December 17.
It comes as British Gas extends its PeakSave Sunday sessions, which were due to stop on December 31.
The firm said they will continue until the end of February 2024.
The scheme rewards customers for using electricity at off-peak times when there is less pressure on the network and a lower need to rely on energy generated by fossil fuels.
The sessions take place between 11am and 4pm every Sunday, with any savings made credited back to customer accounts after.
More than 425,000 British Gas customers have taken part in the sessions so far, earning almost £6 each.
What other energy bill help is there?
Ovo Energy is paying eligible households £15 a month if they reduce their energy consumption during peak times through its Power Move scheme.
Those taking part have to cut their usage between 4-7pm to less than 13.5%. The scheme is running until December 31.
Bear in mind, you can only sign up to the scheme if you’re an Ovo pay monthly customer with a smart meter that send half-hourly readings.
Meanwhile, a number of other energy firms offer grants to customers struggling with their energy bills, including British Gas.
For example, E.ON Next customers can get help via the firm’s Energy Fund.
Customers can apply for grants to cover energy bills and get help replacing appliances such as cookers or fridges.
British Gas offers households grants worth up to £1,500 through its British Gas Energy Support Fund.
Any British Gas or Scottish Power energy customer who is struggling to pay their bill and has sought money and energy advice can apply.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of households in England can get help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund.
The latest round of funding is worth £842million and has been distributed among local authorities.
That means what you are entitled to varies depending on where you live, although in most cases help is offered to those on benefits or a low income.
Households in Nottinghamshire, Torbay, West Northamptonshire and Dorset can all get help before Christmas.
Councils have until March 31 next year to allocate their share of the fund, so you should contact yours soon to see what help you can get.
If you don’t know what council area you fall under, you can use the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
You just have to enter your postcode and it will draw up your local authority and a link through to its website.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.