Octopus Energy urges millions of households to use less electricity during solar eclipse
Guardian AU Business
β’Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:28:53 GMT
π° What Happened
Octopus Energy urged customers to avoid running washing machines and dishwashers between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday during the deepest solar eclipse in almost 30 years, which will knock out nearly all of Great Britain's solar power generation. Rewards-program customers get a free hour of electricity next weekend.
π The Backstory
The eclipse is expected to block up to 95% of the sun over parts of Britain during an evening peak, coinciding with the country's fifth heatwave of the year driving up air-conditioning and cooling demand. Octopus runs 'saving sessions' that reward households for shifting electricity use to renewable-rich times.
π― Why It Matters
The event shows how Britain's growing dependence on renewables, combined with heatwave-driven demand, can strain the grid during dips in solar output, testing demand-shifting programs that are central to managing solar variability.
Octopus Energy urged customers to avoid running washing machines and dishwashers between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday during the deepest solar eclipse in almost 30 years, which will knock out nearly all of Great Britain's solar power generation. Rewards-program customers get a free hour of electricity next weekend.
The eclipse is expected to block up to 95% of the sun over parts of Britain during an evening peak, coinciding with the country's fifth heatwave of the year driving up air-conditioning and cooling demand. Octopus runs 'saving sessions' that reward households for shifting electricity use to renewable-rich times.
The event shows how Britain's growing dependence on renewables, combined with heatwave-driven demand, can strain the grid during dips in solar output, testing demand-shifting programs that are central to managing solar variability.