A UK bill payer has saved £500 on her energy bills with a free trick that she says is easy and almost anyone can do. Vikki Chandler, a stay-at-home mum of three from Aberdare in South Wales, claims she saved £476 on her energy bill last year by signing up for the EDF Sunday Saver challenge every month. The scheme gives her 16 hours of free electricity to use on Sundays.
She first signed up for the scheme in 2024 after seeing a Facebook post. “It’s a significant saving,” she said. “If you save around £30 a month for ten months then you basically get a month and a half of electricity and gas for free.”
How the Sunday Saver challenge works
Everyone who signs up for the challenge receives a target to shift some of their electricity usage away from peak hours, typically 4pm to 7pm. The more you shift during the week, the more free electricity you can earn. For example, if you shift 50% of your peak usage, you can earn up to 16 free hours to use the following Sunday. To join, visit Energy Hub in your MyAccount monthly and sign up for the challenge.
“The only thing that stays on is the internet and the doorbell,” Vikki said. “I normally cook once a week in between the hours that we’re supposed to save electricity. If I do more than that it kicks me over the percentage.”
“I usually get the credit around a week or two weeks after the end of the month,” she said. “Then I just keep it as credit to pay my bills.”
“The challenge is so easy,” Vikki added. “It’s not difficult to take part and we’ve saved hundreds of pounds.”
Another couple shares their experience
Michael and Julie, another couple taking part in the scheme, said: “We found the Sunday Saver challenge trial really simple. We managed to reduce our electricity by ensuring we didn't do any clothes washing, use the dishwasher or charge a car between 4–7pm. With the free hours we earned on Sundays, it’s been great to do as much as possible such as washing and charging things around the house.”
