Uswitch joins the National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Service with Utrack Money Back
Uswitch’s mobile app Utrack has joined the National Grid ESO scheme to encourage households to reduce electricity consumption at peak usage times
Utrack Money Back offers savings to anyone with a smart meter display unit who opts in, no matter who their supplier is
Households can get paid more with Utrack, as the Money Back service will pass on the full payment awarded by the National Grid directly to participants
App users with a smart meter home display unit could get paid around £3 for every kWh saved during the Money Back sessions
To take part, download Utrack by Uswitch and turn on push notifications to be alerted when a session is due to start.
Households get paid for reducing their electricity use at certain times with the free mobile app Utrack as Uswitch joins the National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility scheme.
The National Grid ESO scheme rewards users for changing their habits and reducing their electricity usage during certain peak hours.
The Utrack Money Back scheme allows anyone with a smart meter to take part, no matter who your electricity provider is.
Participants could also earn more with Utrack, as it will pass on the full payment awarded by the National Grid, to ensure users see the full benefit.
Households can take part by downloading the Utrack app, linking it to their smart meter and signing up for the Utrack Money Back scheme, which pays users around £3 for every kWh saved - the full payment incentive offered by the National Grid. Each Demand Session could offer a different level of payment, but this will be communicated to users before they opt in.
Anyone with an electricity smart meter home display unit can sign up, and is accessible regardless of which provider they're with.
Uswitch expects that until 31st March 2023 there will be at least two sessions a month when users are asked to reduce their electricity use and make Money Back. As the sessions are decided at short notice by the National Grid, households interested in taking part are advised to sign up for both email and push notifications within the Utrack app to be alerted to opt in to a Money Back session.
Those taking part will be asked to reduce their electricity usage in a safe and manageable way, such as by switching off appliances not in use, and also adapting their routine, for example delaying cooking a meal or switching on a dishwasher.
Households can use Utrack to monitor how much they have reduced their electricity usage compared to their typical usage. The app will calculate household earnings throughout the sessions, and once the current scheme has ended (after 31st March 2023), users will be invited to share their UK bank details in order to arrange a bank transfer. Users will also have the option to donate their earnings to charity.
Those who wish to take part in a National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Service session can only opt in to one scheme at a time. Therefore, anyone wanting to take part in Money Back will need to opt out of existing schemes provided by other apps or services, or they may be disqualified from taking part.
People can sign up now by downloading the free mobile app Utrack and clicking on the ‘Money Back’ tab. Users will also need to opt into individual sessions, so it’s advised to ensure push notifications are switched on.
Natalie Mathie, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “We launched Utrack to help households understand their energy usage and make the right choices for their home, as well as to cut back on energy consumption in a safe and manageable way.
“Homes are already changing their energy habits, and the National Grid scheme is offering tangible rewards for their efforts.
“We’ve already seen the energy-saving schemes used to manage public demand for the first time in recent weeks, so it’s important to sign up with Utrack ahead of the next session to receive the maximum savings potential.
“Anyone with a smart meter display unit can take part thanks to Utrack, no matter who their energy provider is. We’re also passing on the full savings for those who qualify.”
Track your energy usage with Utrack by Uswitch here.
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About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.