Get your Christmas day electricity free with Uswitch money back

• Households who sign up for Uswitch Money Back by 22 December can get up to £10 worth of free electricity for Christmas Day
• The National Grid NESO scheme that helps households earn money by reducing their electricity consumption at peak usage times is back
• Uswitch Money Back offers potential earnings for every kWh saved during Money Back sessions 
• The scheme is open to anyone with a working smart meter and display unit who opts in, no matter who their supplier is
• To take part, download the Uswitch mobile app, connect your smart meter and turn on push notifications to be alerted when a session is due to start. 

Households who sign up for the Uswitch Money Back scheme will get all the electricity they use on Christmas Day for free, up to the value of £10^[1]. The festive bonus is being launched by Uswitch to mark the return of the National Grid NESO Demand Flexibility Service. 

The Demand Flexibility Service rewards households who reduce their electricity use at key times. These changes cut pressure on the grid and in the long term could help the UK shift to using more renewable energy.  

The Money Back scheme allows anyone with a smart meter to take part, no matter who their electricity provider is. 

Households must connect their smart meters and opt into Money Back in the Uswitch mobile app by 22 December to receive the Christmas Day bonus. Customers will receive the bonus as part of the usual Money Back payments, which will be paid after the scheme ends. 

The Demand Flexibility Scheme session payments are expected to be lower on average than last year’s scheme but as with last year, Uswitch’s scheme will pass on the full payment awarded 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 to each 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 the dishwasher. 

Households can use the app to monitor how much they have reduced their electricity usage compared to their typical usage. The app will calculate household earnings throughout the sessions. Once the scheme has ended, users will be paid in full. Users will also have the option to donate their earnings to charity.

Those who wish to take part in the National Grid NESO Demand Flexibility Service 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.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “Winter can be an expensive time for many households, so we hope that as many homes as possible can enjoy our little gift of free electricity on Christmas Day.

“The Uswitch mobile app and the Money Back service are there 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. 

“Based on the Money Back sessions, customers may find ways to change their energy habits for good and save on their energy bills all year round.

“Anyone with a smart meter display unit can take part in Money Back, no matter who their energy provider is. We’re also passing on the full payment for those who qualify.” 

Sign up to Money Back in the Uswitch mobile app to get your Christmas Day electricity for FREE.