Run the washing machine at night to cut the cost of keeping the country in electricity

FAMILIES should be encouraged to set their dishwashers and washing machines to run at night, as part of an overhaul of the energy system that could save households £75 a year, a Treasury-commissioned report has said.

Fewer new power stations will need to be built if consumers and businesses are willing to be “flexible” about when they use electricity, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) said.

Britain should also build more giant batteries to store electricity and more undersea cables to trade energy abroad, under the “smart power revolution” that could save consumers up to £8 billion a year by 2030, it said.

The NIC, chaired by Lord Adonis, was tasked by George Osborne with reviewing how to deliver future energy infrastructure at the lowest possible cost. It said the proposals could “significantly” cut the “integration cost of intermittent renewables” such as wind and solar farms, which only generate when the wind blows and the sun shines.

Demand typically peaks in early evening on cold winter weekdays, as people return home from work. Wholesale electricity is most expensive at these times, and cheaper by night when demand is lower.

However, only the minority of households with “economy 7” meters currently get cheaper night-time power, with most still paying a flat rate for power whenever they use it.

The NIC said the Government’s programme to install smart energy meters in homes across Britain would enable all households to “save money by moving their demand to off-peak times”, reducing the need for extra power stations to be built to cover the peaks.

“Families will be able to connect their appliances to the grid and programme their washing machines and dishwashers to use energy at the cheapest possible time,” a spokesman said. “That means they can save money without worrying about keeping an eye on the meter. The technology will do it automatically.”

Household power prices would vary on a half-hourly basis and would be cheaper when supplies are plentiful. In future, this could also include sunny afternoons, as Britain installs more solar energy, it said.