Octopus issues one-hour message to energy customers and says 'we'll pay you'

Octopus, one of the biggest energy firms in the country alongside Ovo, EDF, British Gas and E.On, launched a surprise and impromptu saving session on Tuesday.

Some energy customers with Octopus are earning half-price energy - thanks to a surprise saver session this week. Octopus, one of the biggest energy firms in the country alongside Ovo, EDF, British Gas and E.On, launched a surprise and impromptu saving session on Tuesday.

Octopus Energy said due to this being a “surprise session” and therefore announced at short notice, there isn’t time to email or notify customers via the app this time. Participants can earn up to 1,800 Octopoints (worth £2.25) per kWh saved versus normal usage, Octopus said.

They can get 200 bonus points just for opting in. Octopus Energy said: “In these select Sessions, there'll be shorter notice, no notifications - and sometimes, higher rewards. You may only get a few hours to opt in before the Session starts. We won't have time to notify you as normal, but we'll send up the octopus signal on social media and WhatsApp.”

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The supplier will look at participants’ smart meter readings to work out how much power they saved during the session, which took place during 5pm to 6pm on December 12, Octopus said. The earnings will then be added to the person’s Octoplus account “within a few weeks”.

Customers can choose how they want to redeem their Octopoints on the Octoplus page, and see how much they are worth in pounds. On its website, where it describes the scheme, Octopus says: "Get paid to use less at peak times this winter. Cutting down on energy at certain times of the day can have a bigger impact on the planet, the energy system, and your wallet.

"With Saving Sessions, we pay you to use less power." The energy supplier promoted the scheme and impromptu session on Twitter/X earlier this week, weeks ahead of the Ofgem energy price cap rising from January 1.