Millions of households across the UK could receive a discount on their energy bills if they turn off their appliances this evening.
After recent cold weather over the last few weeks has meant that more people are now heating their homes, and a lack of wind has reduced renewable sources, the National Grid ESO says it has seen an increase in demand for energy nationwide – and so, has decide to activate its Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) for the first time ever.
The activation of the DFS meant that some households with smart meters under several UK energy companies were eligible for reductions to their bills if they saved energy between 5pm and 6pm yesterday.
The National Grid ESO has now said this will also apply between 4:30pm and 6pm today.
As part of cautious measures to ensure we continue to have adequate operational reserves tomorrow evening the ESO has activated the Demand Flexibility Service for Tuesday evening between 4:30pm-6pm.
Announcing an extension of the DFS to today, the National Grid ESO said: “As part of cautious measures to ensure we continue to have adequate operational reserves tomorrow evening the ESO has activated the Demand Flexibility Service for Tuesday evening between 4:30pm-6pm.
“We have taken this decision as we currently see a similar operational picture to the one available on Sunday.
“The use of these additional services is not an indication that electricity supplies are at risk, but that we require greater options to manage the network as normal.”
The company also revealed that, alongside the live Demand Flexibility Service event on Tuesday evening, it has now instructed 3/5 winter contingency contract coal units to warm for availability today, but only if this is required.
Alongside the live Demand Flexibility Service event on Tuesday evening we have now instructed 3/5 winter contingency contract coal units to warm for availability tomorrow if required.
With the idea behind the DFS being for the National Grid ESO to moderate demand when it’s at its highest during very cold winter days, this means that UK households with up-to-date smart meters can access discounts if they cut their electricity use by turning off energy-intensive appliances during set times on specific days.
The discounts will only be available to households which are signed up to the DFS scheme via their energy supplier.
How does the DFS scheme work?
The DFS scheme reportedly compares usage during the specific time against a customer’s usual demand.
The scheme then pays £3 for every unit or kilowatt hour (kWh) saved.
This means, that for the households signed-up to the scheme, you could be in line for being paid up to £20 if you switch off ovens, dishwashers, tumble driers, and games consoles, among other appliances, as well as avoiding charging up an electric car if you have one.
Consumers will get an alert before the DFS kicks in, telling them how to reduce energy to earn their discount, and the scheme will then assess how much energy they saved between the allotted time and then pay accordingly.
Millions of UK households could get paid to turn off their appliances tonight / Credit: British Gas
Am I eligible for the scheme?
To be eligible for the DFS, your household will need to be fitted with a smart meter that sends readings to your energy provider every half an hour.
You’ll, of course, also need to ensure that your energy provider is a supporter of the scheme.
How long is the scheme running for? And which energy suppliers are supporting it?
Despite having only been used in tests so far, the DFS scheme has now been activated and is due to stay in place until March, with a total of 26 energy suppliers across the UK supporting it – including some big-name companies.
British Gas, Octopus Energy, EDF, and OVO Energy are just a handful of the energy suppliers offering discounts to households with smart metres this evening.
You can find out if your energy supplier is supporting the scheme here.
Featured Image – Flickr | Unsplash
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British rock and mod icon Paul Weller stars in advert for new Oasis x Bohemians football kit
Danny Jones
The music and football shirt crossovers just keep coming thick and fast – and that’s just Oasis alone, as Bohemians FC have released a new collaboration with the legendary Britpop band, looping in none other than Paul Weller for the grand unveiling.
Bohemians share a strong connection with the Gallagher brothers due to their Irish roots, as do Manchester and the ‘Emerald Isle’ in general.
However, it doesn’t get much bigger than Oasis and with the Live ’25 reunion shows now just days away (we can hardly believe it either), Bohemians have decided to hop on the bandwagon too and steal some of that ‘band with the three stripes’ buzz for themselves.
Not to be too keen, but can we have 10 of them, please?…
Is this another instant hit? We’d say so, yeah.
Shot by Jamie Goldrick to the sound of cult favourite Definitely Maybe track, ‘Married with Children’, the Oasis x Bohemians kit reveal video was filmed at Cross Guns Snooker Hall: the oldest snooker club in Dublin City, which still remains an important community cornerstone.
As well as starring UK rock and mod culture icon, Paul Weller, perhaps the best bit about the FAI Cup shirt and this whole partnership is the charitable element behind it.
Just like with their Fontaines shirt, which helped supply medical aid across Palestine, the limited edition jersey will help generate crucial money for two key causes.
The first of which is the domestic non-profit organisation, Music Generation Ireland, the country’s national music education programme, which helps children and young people access vocal and instrumental tuition locally.
Secondly, funds will also be diverted to the Irish Community Care Manchester, located along Stockport Road in Levenshulme – further strengthening the mutual support between us Mancs and our cousins across the water.
You can get a close look at the Oasis x Bohemians kit design down below.
A closer look at our 2025 FAI Cup Shirt, a very special partnership with Oasis.
— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) July 1, 2025
The special edition and highly exclusive shirt is already available, with stock already disappearing rapidly thanks to Bohs die-hards, Oasis fans and footy kit connosieurs alike.
With the Burnage boys getting their seismic comeback shows underway with two nights at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this Friday and Saturday (4-5 July), before heading for a double bill at Croke Park in Dublin this August, the excitement across the globe is already palpable.
Every single teaser trailer and social media post sends fans bananas, and god knows what the scenes are going to be like when they finally head to Heaton Park for the run of five homecoming nights.
Featured Images — Bohemians FC (press images/screenshots via YouTube)
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Jason Manford has final word on ‘naughty’ rule that sparked unexpected Village Hotel experience
Danny Jones
Local comedian Jason Manford has shared “the last I’ll say on the matter between The People vs The Village Hotel”, after expressing his disappointment over a rule that saw him have a somewhat unexpected experience at one of their locations.
The Salford-born and Stockport-based stand-up was forced to share his room with another individual at The Village in Bournemouth after being told the hotel was fully booked.
Manford‘s room had essentially been resold, which led him to stay in a double with his friend and colleague; however, as explained in multiple videos, not everyone was fortunate enough to secure a last-minute solution.
Still, on the upside, at least they didn’t have to share a bed…
As detailed in the first of three posts seen above, Manford and co. arrived at the hotel late (as is typically the case with any touring comedian, especially a headliner) following his gig at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Sunday, 29 June.
The 44-year-old is currently on his ‘A Manford All Seasons’ tour, which saw a flurry of new dates added back in November, and got underway back in February.
Although he assured that the staff did their job and were “lovely” through the whole ordeal, he reiterated that he found the little-known rule “very naughty” and “not on”.
He also mentioned that a doctor who arrived shortly after them at the hotel reception, sadly, had to be turned away from the Bournemouth branch.
Manford went on to add that the hotel manager did apologise for the situation, but as he notes in the clips, the worry is that it could cause even bigger dilemmas if it were a wedding, someone with kids, “or a million different situations that you could have been in which are much more serious than [his].”
Essentially, the duo were just lucky they turned up when they did and said as much.
Despite noting that he’d heard of airlines opting for similar policies in the past, he confessed he’d never come across such a rule in more than “25 years of touring” as a comic.
Echoing his frustration, surprise and concern, musician Georgina Jackson said in the comments: “That is so bad! As a touring lone female musician who uses hotels a lot, what are we expected to do? But the fact is… they don’t really care…
“Thanks for highlighting it, as they might actually start caring when the bookings drop off! And, I imagine the hotel/town was busy with your audience!! How blinking ironic!!”
The hotel group has since asked the Salfordian funny man to take the very public complaints down, but Manford has refused despite them requesting quite “politely”, insisting that he believes more people need to know about obscure and largely unknown rules like these.
You can see the most recent and final statement on the whole Jason Manford-Village Hotel situation in full down below.
Emily Sergeant -
24th January 2023 
