Cheap-rate electricity sounds great in theory, but how do people actually remember?

QrizB

So, we really should run heating and cooling together…

and

We have EDF Sunday Saver and even that creates a "moral hazard" with free electricity as I succumb to using the tumble dryer just for fluffier towels.

I'm not going to judge people for "running a fan heater in the garden" but personally I haven't gone to that extreme on occasions when power has been free (I'm not on a tariff where it goes negative). I have substituted electricity for gas (eg. for water & space heating), and undertaken infrequent tasks like running the washing machine on a cleaning cycle.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81963172#Comment_81963172

Yes, we only get "free" electricity, it never goes negative on Sunday.

I make good use of it by charging the car plus we have load shifted washing and such like from Saturday to Sunday plus electric instead of gas (heating and hot water). I managed to get a smidgeon under 100 kWh in one day. Average daily electricity is 10 kWh.

Spoonie_Turtle

I don't see what 'moral hazard' there is - maybe my understanding is wrong, but the way I understand it there is excess energy from renewable sources that can't be stored on any meaningful scale and needs to be taken off the grid. They've chosen to pay people to do so, in this case, we the customers. The only moral hazard of which I'm aware of using energy is when fossil fuels are burnt to produce it, which is not applicable to the excess on these occasions. (The gas power plants afaik do still run when there's excess renewable energy and if the option were there I'd very happily trade the negative prices for them stopping burning gas at such times! But that's not currently an option, and we can only choose from what's on offer.) I don't even care about the money particularly, although I won't lie it is a nice bonus, but the lower the -ve price the more they want to get rid of so it is a handy indication.

We actually haven't gone to any extremes because my parents still can't quite get their heads around it, but I'm not opposed to it even though it really would instinctively feel wrong. It would be a case of head needing to overrule what we've had drummed into us (not to waste energy).

TroubledTarts

After all the morality judgementalism this is a money saving site and negative Agile prices is an opportunity to save money.

I don't judge just get your money saving on and enjoy the low April bill.

Our neighbour plugged their EV into our home, they got free miles and we got roughly a quid.

No fan heaters were harmed and I stand by that and welcome the Royal Society for Protection of Fan Heaters to perform a welfare check unannounced😅

We did find a new setting on the ASHP to take it out of economy mode which boasted the days earnings as well.

Most Agile users here seem sensible and they save up for the cheap days those big activities although Darwin awards are just round the corners for those silly sausages going to far.

TricityMan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6663907/cheap-rate-electricity-sounds-great-in-theory-but-how-do-people-actually-remember

I guess it's mostly common sense, everyone makes their tea from 5-7 pm so outside that would be a start? But yes I get your point. Smart plugs are a good option but again thats an added expense.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81963237#Comment_81963237

The energy doesn't have to be put on the grid - the generation you realise can be switched off.

The energy doesn't even have to exist in the highly intermittent form that is does to create such imbalances and still achieve a net zero balance.

Last year in 1/2 hourly slots wind delivered between sub 1% and over 70% of rated capacity.

Thats no sensible basis to build a generation system for a nation. Its a - as our electricity rates show - a very expensive triumph of short sighted net zero policy over sensible pragmatic fuel mixes (like Germany's post Ukraine return to coal until 2037) and balanced power grid engineering.

Even if some now benefit occassionally from the excess.

I wonder how many are on Agile or the EDF dynamic equivalent out of the c29m homes in the UK.

And how many of them will be the truly vulnerable, the energy poor - which arguably the govt and its regulator Ofgem - should be aiming for a system that should actually protect and minimise the cost for the majority - not a select minority. The reason for the cap in the first place. After Ofgems last great folly - switch to save failed to protect many from higher costs.

Spoonie_Turtle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81963346#Comment_81963346

The energy doesn't have to be put on the grid - the generation you realise can be switched off.

Yes, but that's not a decision we, the customers, have made. Like I said, we just get to choose between the available options, and since the options for us currently are 'use excess electricity (and get paid, if on Agile)' or 'don't', I know which one I prefer.

TroubledTarts

Last time I looked Agile was not rejecting those truly vulnerable or energy poor and last time I checked those people were also not barred from reading this forum, Facebook and other sources about Agile and other smart tariffs that can save many people money from the Cap.

As with many things you have to be interested in money saving and the particular subject matter to really save money and you get rewarded for that effort.

Agile takes effort to get the most out of it and with that comes a reward as well with negative pricing. A lot of people really can't be bothered with that effort, or don't have the time, for what they see as a few pence.

As a family we embrace it, a little bit of fun, mathematics and something we all think about knowing we are using energy at the greenest of times as well is a bonus.

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6663907/cheap-rate-electricity-sounds-great-in-theory-but-how-do-people-actually-remember

I managed by having a working memory.

Alnat1

When we were on Agile we got into the habit of looking at the next days rates when we sat down for a coffee after dinner. Plans were made and timers set for overnight dishwasher and washer if needed.