Latest news with #PeakSave
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Glastonbury revellers to bombard mum and dad with 39 filthy items on average
A 'wash pit' is being set up at a motorway service station popular with revellers returning from Glastonbury Festival to help ease the load on mum and dad and stave off the 'laundry apocalypse' Festival season leaves washing machines working flat out to deal with an overload of mud-encrusted, dusty and sweat-covered clothing, according to new research. Young adults aged 16 to 30 drag home an average of 39 filthy items - including eight pairs of socks, seven pairs of pants, seven t-shirts, and five hoodies - from a big weekend event like Glastonbury. And with the famous festival in full swing this week, parents across the country are bracing themselves for the inevitable laundry apocalypse. To save the nation's washing machines from post-festival overload, British Gas is launching The Wash Pit - a giant pop-up laundrette - on Monday, June 30. Located at Leigh Delamere Eastbound Services, a popular stop on the M4 for Glastonbury-goers heading home, the facility is designed to lighten the laundry load before it even reaches the front door. Bookable for free via Eventbrite, The Wash Pit will be powered by solar energy and sit inside an electric vehicle that has been charged during PeakSave hours, making it cost effective and better for the environment. Catherine O'Kelly, Managing Director of British Gas Energy, said: "Our research shows that young adults continue to lean on the family home, especially after big weekends like Glastonbury with parents happy to help. "However, we understand how that impacts households, from energy bills to laundry loads, so The Wash Pit is our way of saving parents' energy - for the home and themselves. Whether it's through half-price electricity on Sundays with PeakSave, or same-day engineer visits when things go wrong, we are here to take care of things for our customers when it matters most." The poll of 2,000 parents found that 92% believe their teens and 20-somethings are still draining the household energy, whether they've officially moved out or not. Even 80% of empty nesters say their grown-up children regularly pop home to charge their phones (65%), take long showers (61%), watch hours of TV (49%), and of course, dump their laundry (31%). According to the study, conducted by British Gas, parents run six loads of laundry a week just for their kids, coming in at nearly nine hours of machine time. And it doesn't stop there - the average Gen Z enjoys 13 showers at the family home, each lasting an average of 18 minutes. Adult children also use their parents' oven for an average of nine hours a week and have the TV on for up to 20 hours, regardless of whether anyone's watching or not. It's no surprise then, that 67% of parents polled admit to recently shouting the age-old line: "Shut that door - were you born in a barn?!" Yet despite the inevitable hit to their energy bills, most parents aren't slamming the door shut - in fact, 72% of Brits say they wouldn't have it any other way. Even with an average of four energy-related squabbles each week, parents remain happy to help, seeing it as simply part of what it means to be a family. Parents' Top 10 Teen Energy Peeves: Charging their phones and gadgets for hours – 65% Leaving lights blazing in every room – 63% Taking unnecessarily long showers – 61% Leaving the telly on all day – 49% Overusing kitchen gadgets (air fryer, toaster, kettle…) – 38% Turning up the thermostat without asking – 24% Leaving the windows open with the heating on – 23% Forgetting to turn off the oven – 18% Running the bath to the brim – 17% Leaving the oven on for longer than needed – 16% The Wash Pit will be operating on June 30 th between 11am-6pm at Leigh Delamere Eastbound Service Station, between Junction 17 and 18, M4 Eastbound, Chippenham SN14 6LB. Slots for a speedy wash and dry are limited and can be booked on Eventbrite.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Sock horror! Glastonbury festival-goers drag home 39 filthy items to wash at mum and dad's
Forget the bank of mum and dad - it's the family washing machine that will be doing the heavy lifting this summer. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... According to new research, festival season leaves washing machines working flat out to deal with an overload of mud-encrusted, dusty and sweat-covered clothing. Young adults aged 16 to 30 drag home an average of 39 filthy items - including eight pairs of socks, seven pairs of pants, seven t-shirts, and five hoodies - from a big weekend event like Glastonbury. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And with the famous festival in full swing this week, parents across the country are bracing themselves for the inevitable laundry apocalypse. The Wash Pit, British Gas' giant pop-up launderette is rolling into Leigh Delamere Service Station on Monday 30th to clean up the country's dirtiest festival gear and save parent's energy - for the home and for themselves To save the nation's washing machines from post-festival overload, British Gas is launching The Wash Pit - a giant pop-up laundrette - on Monday, June 30th. Located at Leigh Delamere Eastbound Services, a popular stop on the M4 for Glastonbury-goers heading home, the facility is designed to lighten the laundry load before it even reaches the front door. Bookable for free via Eventbrite, The Wash Pit will be powered by solar energy and sit inside an electric vehicle that has been charged during PeakSave hours, making it cost effective and better for the environment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Catherine O'Kelly, managing director of British Gas Energy, said: 'Our research shows that young adults continue to lean on the family home, especially after big weekends like Glastonbury with parents happy to help. 'However, we understand how that impacts households, from energy bills to laundry loads, so The Wash Pit is our way of saving parents' energy – for the home and themselves. 'Whether it's through half-price electricity on Sundays with PeakSave, or same-day engineer visits when things go wrong, we are here to take care of things for our customers when it matters most.' The poll of 2,000 parents found that 92% believe their teens and 20-somethings are still draining the household energy, whether they've officially moved out or not. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Even 80% of empty nesters say their grown-up children regularly pop home to charge their phones (65%), take long showers (61%), watch hours of TV (49%), and of course, dump their laundry (31%). According to the study, conducted by British Gas, parents run six loads of laundry a week just for their kids, coming in at nearly nine hours of machine time. And it doesn't stop there - the average Gen Z enjoys 13 showers at the family home, each lasting an average of 18 minutes. Adult children also use their parents' oven for an average of nine hours a week and have the TV on for up to 20 hours, regardless of whether anyone's watching or not. It's no surprise then, that 67% of parents polled admit to recently shouting the age-old line: Shut that door - were you born in a barn?! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Yet despite the inevitable hit to their energy bills, most parents aren't slamming the door shut - in fact, 72% of Brits say they wouldn't have it any other way. Even with an average of four energy-related squabbles each week, parents remain happy to help, seeing it as simply part of what it means to be a family. Parents' Top 10 Teen Energy Peeves: Charging their phones and gadgets for hours – 65% Leaving lights blazing in every room – 63% Taking unnecessarily long showers – 61% Leaving the telly on all day – 49% Overusing kitchen gadgets (air fryer, toaster, kettle…) – 38% Turning up the thermostat without asking – 24% Leaving the windows open with the heating on – 23% Forgetting to turn off the oven – 18% Running the bath to the brim – 17% Leaving the oven on for longer than needed – 16%
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How I save £150 a month with half-price electricity due to simple schedule switch
Check if your supplier offers free electricity - we explain which suppliers do below SOAPY SUNDAYS How I save £150 a month with half-price electricity due to simple schedule switch Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SAVVY great-grandmother has slashed her energy bill by switching her weekly washing schedule to take advantage of cheaper off-peak power. Ria Oldroyd, a 76-year-old retiree who lives alone in a one-bed bungalow in Kessingland, Suffolk, with her two pet cats, is a British Gas customer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Ria Oldroyd saves serious cash by doing her washing on Sundays Since signing up to it's Peak Save scheme - where customers get half-price electricity on Sunday - a few months ago, Ria has dubbed her weekly routing 'Soapy Sunday'. She has three children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren – and lots of those family members live close by. The money-saving pensioner, who was a support worker before retireing, told The Sun: 'I made some major changes to my weekly routine after taking up an offer for 'half-price electricity on Sundays' from my supplier, British Gas.' 'Sunday used to be a day for going out and seeing people, but I now tend to spend the day at home, taking advantage of my 'cheap energy' window". 'I allow my washing to pile up through the week, and then aim to get as much done as I can during the allocated five-hour slot on a Sunday.' Ria currently pays £70 a month for gas and electricity. Since signing up to the scheme, she's saved £50 and is expecting to save around £100 over the next year. Timing is key for discounts Ria has established a routine that works really well for her. 'I separate out my whites, my colours and my darks,' she said. 'If I'm efficient, I can just about get three or four washes in between 11am and 4pm when my electricity is half-price.' Helpfully, the energy price cap is set to fall to £1,720 from July 1, down from the current £1,849. Nevertheless, costs remain high. Thankfully, Ria runs a tight ship – and this includes monitoring her energy usage very closely. 'I don't usually switch on my tumble dryer because it's so expensive to run,' she said. 'However, I'm happy with the idea of using it carefully during those half-price hours on a Sunday.' Other firms offering time of use discounts British Gas is just one of a host of energy suppliers to offer time-of-use incentives to consumers to smooth demand and encourage smarter energy use, according to comparison site, Uswitch. Other providers which have schemes with free or half-price electricity at 'off-peak' times include EDF, Octopus, Ovo and Scottish Power. As well as Sundays, electricity suppliers often charge less late in the night or early in the morning (such as 7am-8am). All of these off-peak slots – when demand is lower – can work out a lot more cost-effective. Natalie Mathie, energy expert at said: 'Suppliers are offering these free and half-price schemes to help move electricity use away from peak times to those points in the week when everyone's using less energy.' Schemes like these, she adds, will become increasingly important as the country shifts towards using more renewable energy, such as wind and solar. 'Washing machines and tumble dryers are some of the most energy-intensive appliances in the house, so they are perfectly suited to such schemes,' she said. 'By saving up your laundry, you can save significant amounts of money.' Ria urges other households to cotton on to the fact there are big savings to be made by adjusting their washing routine. 'Over the course of a year, savings from a scheme like this can really add up,' she said. 'I'd really recommend avoiding peak-time power use – and saving laundry through the week for a big Sunday session.' To find out if your supplier offers a scheme, visit their website. Note that to take advantage of "off-peak" schemes such as this, you will need a working smart meter. Ria's other tips to keep energy costs down Saving up her washing for the cheaper "off-peak hours" on a Sunday is not the only step that Ria takes to help keep a lid on her energy bills. 'I always keep a pillow and blanket by the sofa in case I need to layer up when temperatures drop,' she said. 'And I've got hot water bottles ready to go whenever I need them.' Ria is also diligent about keeping cold air out of her home and ensuring that warm air stays in. 'I've got big thick curtains that cover the doors completely, as well as draught excluders to go along the bottom. "Lots of these are habits I learned from my childhood.' The savvy pensioner is also disciplined about not cranking up the heating. 'I can't afford to get tempted to notch up the thermostat,' she said. 'If anything, I try turning it down a little.' As we've reported previously, reducing it by one degree can potentially slash your heating bills by around £100. Ria added: 'It might not sound like a lot, but small changes can make a big difference.'
South Wales Argus
24-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
British Gas offering customers half-price electricity
Customers are rewarded for shifting electricity usage to times when demand is lower or when more renewable energy is available on the grid under the scheme. The offer, which launched in 202,3 has helped customers save a combined total of nearly £25 million and 1606 tonnes of carbon emissions and collectively shifted 28,619 MWH so far. We're aware that a few fake accounts are responding to comments pretending to be British Gas customer service – they're not. We'll only ever contact you from our verified account or our British Gas Help account, so if it's not one of these then it's not us. Please don't reply. — British Gas (@BritishGas) November 5, 2024 When it is windy or sunny and lots of renewable energy is available customers get two hours of electricity half price. Energy is also cheaper every Sunday. Between 11am and 4pm on the 25th and 26th May PeakSave customers will receive half-price electricity. The bank holiday weekend offer will be in celebration of the 1 millionth household to sign up to the scheme aimed at reducing energy bills and efficient energy use. Catherine O'Kelly, Managing Director of British Gas, said: "We're proud to have supported a million customers through our PeakSave scheme, helping them make simple yet impactful changes to how they use energy. 'By shifting energy usage to lower-demand periods, households can not only reduce their bills but also support a more flexible, greener energy future. This extended Bank Holiday offer is our way of saying thank you and encouraging even more people to take part.' Recommended reading: The price reduction comes as consumers face the burden of rising living costs. However, household energy bills have been projected to decrease by about 7 per cent this July. Industry analysts Cornwall Insight predict the typical annual household energy bill will fall by £129, settling at around £1,720 when Ofgem's revised price cap takes effect.
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
British Gas customers urged to follow 11am to 4pm rule this weekend to get half-price electricity
GOOD ENERGY British Gas customers urged to follow 11am to 4pm rule this weekend to get half-price electricity Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR energy supplier will give customers two days of half price electricity this weekend. British Gas offers half-price electricity through its PeakSave scheme on Sundays between 11am-4pm. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 British Gas is giving customers half price energy this weekend Credit: Alamy The scheme rewards customers for shifting their electricity usage to times when there's less demand. To sign up customers need to be a British Gas customers, have a smart meter and then register online for the PeakSave scheme. But this bank holiday, the energy supplier to over seven million households is giving customers an extra day to save on costs. That means the scheme will also run as usual on Sunday May 25, as well as on Monday, May 25. If you are already signed up for the scheme you do not need to anything extra to cash in on the savings. That means cut price bills for anyone doing the washing, cooking, or charging devices during the discount window. Catherine O'Kelly, managing director of British Gas, said: "We're proud to have supported a million customers through our PeakSave scheme, helping them make simple yet impactful changes to how they use energy. "By shifting energy usage to lower-demand periods, households can not only reduce their bills but also support a more flexible, greener energy future. "This extended Bank Holiday offer is our way of saying thank you, and encouraging even more people to take part.' If you are a British Gas customer you should also look out for its Green Flex offers throughout the year. It feels colder than the arctic in my home but I've found the best hack to keep warm without pushing my energy bill up These events offer two hours of half-price electricity when it's windy or sunny and lots of renewable energy is available. And if you are not with British Gas don't worry plenty of other suppliers run similar schemes. EDF gives customers up to four days of free electricity through its Sunday Saver challenges. This is a scheme where customers can earn free electricity on Sundays by shifting the electricity they use during the week. To participate, visit ENERGY SAVING SCHEMES Meanwhile, ScottishPower offers half-price electricity at weekends to its smart meter customers on both Saturday and Sunday. Those registered for Power Saver will receive the discounted rate every Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 4pm. Scottish Power will then credit your bill with money you've saved. To join the scheme you will need to have a smart meter and then register for the scheme online. You can register online by visiting / For every month a customer's peak energy usage is less than 15% they are entered into a prize draw. Five customers win the top prize of £2,000 worth of energy to use over one year, with 200 winning £50 prizes and 22,850 receiving £2 of free energy. Meanwhile, Octopus Energy customers who are signed up for the "Octoplus" can take part in free electricity sessions when wholesale prices fall below zero. The sessions last an hour, and customers can use electricity for free and receive credits for using more than they typically would. All customers with a smart meter, including smart prepay meters, receive an alert the day before each session. When the session begins, they can ramp up their electricity usage - whether it's charging gadgets, running a laundry marathon, or any other household activity.
