Doing your washing on a sunny weekend has the obvious benefit of it being easier to dry outside.
But there could be another big incentive to carry out weekend laundry sessions for homeowners in the UK this summer.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has launched a new scheme offering households free electricity to do their laundry on sunny weekends throughout the summer in a bid to stop Britain's power grid from being overwhelmed with too much solar energy.
This initiative is part of NESO’s broader strategy to manage the grid as it increasingly runs on zero-carbon electricity.
The scheme – which launched in mid April – will financially reward homeowners, as well as businesses, who can increase their electricity use when there's an oversupply of energy and help balance the distribution of solar power.
During the summer, when the weather is warmer, electrical demand tends to be lower, particularly on weekends and bank holidays. Meanwhile, solar power generation is higher in the summer, creating an excess supply.
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The Met Office has predicted that 2026 is going to be one of the hottest summers on record, and this will inevitably have an impact on energy production.
NESO said households could be rewarded for “running appliances like washing machines or dishwashers and charging electric vehicles during periods of excess supply” to ensure that surplus energy isn't wasted.
This scheme is open to households with a smart meter whose suppliers are participating.
Suppliers include the likes of British Gas, Octopus Energy, and Equiwatt — you can see the full list of suppliers taking part on NESO's website.
Incentives will vary from supplier to supplier, but it's thought that customers will be offered free electricity at certain times and money off bills. Rewards could also include points that can be converted into gift vouchers.
NESO says of the scheme: "The Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) helps households and businesses participate in the electricity system by providing incentives, through suppliers and aggregators, for changing when they use electricity.
"If you choose to take part and change your electricity use during the event, your provider will reward you.
"The type and value of rewards vary depending on the provider you are signed up with. "
