New equiwatt app launched to help save energy, cash in on incentives, and beat blackouts | Personal Finance | Finance
With energy bills reaching record highs for many this quarter and warnings of blackouts to hit homes as the National Grid pre-empts a “challenging winter”, Britons will be searching for ways to reduce consumption. A new app launched by energy management company equiwatt could help households do just this, as well as providing the opportunity to get involved in cash incentives.
The equiwatt app, which is free to use, links up to smart technologies used in the home, such as smart meters, smart plugs and smart EV chargers, to make it easy for households to shift energy usage away from peak times of demand and reduce the likelihood of blackouts caused by strain on the grid.
Britons that link the app with their smart meters will also be able to support the National Grid demand flexibility trials this winter and benefit from the promised £3 per kWh incentive through their energy provider.
National Grid ESO’s incentive encourages people to use electrical appliances during off-peak hours, paying the equivalent of £3 per kWh in credit. The scheme is said to have the potential to free up around two gigawatts (GW) of power, enough for about one million homes.
The incentive comes as National Grid ESO issued warnings that blackouts could be imposed on British households between the peak times of 4pm and 7pm if the country is unable to import enough gas from Europe this winter.
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Johnson Fernandes, equiwatt CEO said: “The equiwatt app couldn’t come at a better time when people are seeking ways to reduce their energy consumption and juggle the rising cost of living.
“The more people come together to reduce energy demand at peak times, the greater impact we will have on reducing strain on the electricity grid and avoiding disruption to our energy supply this winter.
“Better still, householders can do their bit to help reach the UK’s Net Zero targets.”
The equiwatt energy saving events last for up to one hour and users are rewarded for the energy and CO2 savings they make with points that can be redeemed for vouchers on Amazon, John Lewis and other big brands.
As more households sign up to use the equiwatt app and participate in peak-time energy-saving events, the collective impact of the community will grow.
Another equiwatt customer Richard Tubb commented: “All of us need to do our part to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
“equiwatt enables households to use easy-to-use smart technology to reduce their load on the National Grid, save money, and earn rewards while doing so.”
