Households in Great Britain to be paid to use less electricity: how does it work?

National Grid scheme launches on Monday between 5pm and 6pm - we look at whether it's worth it

Households and businesses in Great Britain will be paid to cut back on their electricity use between 5pm and 6pm on Monday, in the first real test of a National Grid scheme. With temperatures dropping sharply, the electricity system operator hopes to reduce strain on the grid by reducing consumption. The initiative, which has only been used as a test up to now, will take place during the early evening peak in Britain's energy demand. Here, we examine how the scheme works.