Families struggling with high energy costs are being offered six hours of free electricity and a cut-price deal by one of Britain’s biggest power suppliers.
EDF will hand out free electricity to customers on Sunday, August 10, from 2pm to 8pm, as part of its Sunday Saver scheme – aimed at easing the cost of powering homes during the school holidays.
At the same time, the company has launched what it claims is the cheapest one-year fixed tariff available from a major supplier – at £1,620 a year for the average dual fuel customer, which is £100 less than the current Ofgem price cap of £1,720.
The offer is part of a growing price war between energy firms, with EDF also promising potential weekly savings for customers who shift energy use to off-peak hours.
EDF’s director of retail Rich Hughes said: « We know the school holidays can be full-on, so we’re excited to give families a little energy boost on us.
Customers will have six hours of free electricity to power their summer fun, whether it’s a family bake-off, karaoke session, or movie marathon, all while tackling the never-ending laundry pile. »
He added: “And by joining the next Sunday Saver challenge, those who shift their energy use outside peak times could earn up to 16 hours of free electricity – and when combined with our new tariff, customers can save even more cash on their bills.”
To take part in the free electricity day, customers must register by 11:59pm on August 9. Those who joined earlier Sunday Saver events in June or July will be automatically included.
The scheme encourages households to cut electricity use during weekday peak hours – between 4pm and 7pm – in return for free power on selected days. Depending on how much they shift, customers can earn between four and 16 hours of free electricity a week.
EDF said its Sunday Saver programme has already handed out more than 9.3 million kWh of free power – equivalent to 5.4 million hours – with households saving a total of £2.33 million on bills.
The new Simply Fixed Aug26v5 tariff is available to both new and existing customers and carries exit fees of £25 per fuel. EDF said the deal is £100 cheaper than the current regulated cap and below expected winter price forecasts.
Customers must have a working smart meter and be opted in to half-hourly meter readings to qualify for the Sunday Saver scheme. Free electricity credits from the August 10 event will be applied to bills around a week after the event.
The announcement comes as EDF’s customer satisfaction ratings have improved sharply. The supplier recently earned five-star status on TrustPilot, with its score jumping from 4.2 in 2023 to 4.8.
