Octopus Energy, Great Britain’s largest household energy supplier, has launched a campaign urging millions of customers to decrease electricity consumption during a significant solar eclipse occurring this week. The moon is forecast to block approximately 95% of the sun across parts of Britain, with the eclipse’s strongest impact expected to occur between 7:15pm and 9:30pm.
The supplier is specifically requesting customers avoid operating major appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday. In response to participation, Octopus is offering a complimentary hour of electricity during the following weekend for customers enrolled in its rewards program. The initiative targets members participating in the company’s “saving sessions,” which allow households to accumulate rewards by adjusting electricity usage based on renewable energy availability.
The eclipse coincides with Britain’s fifth heatwave of the year, creating compounded pressure on the electricity system. The loss of solar generation during peak evening hours—when demand typically rises due to cooking, cleaning, and television use—necessitates careful grid management. Octopus estimates that the eclipse could eliminate between 700 megawatts and 1.3 gigawatts of solar generation in the UK, with broader European impacts potentially reaching 9.7 gigawatts across the continent.
The National Energy System Operator (Neso), responsible for managing Great Britain’s electricity infrastructure, has been preparing for over a year to address the eclipse’s effects. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets note that Europe’s power system faces heightened vulnerability due to ongoing heatwave-related complications, including reduced nuclear and coal plant output stemming from insufficient cooling water and diminished hydroelectric capacity in Norway. Neso previously issued its first summer electricity supply warning notice in late June during peak heatwave conditions.
Octopus estimates that household flexibility could provide up to 13 gigawatts of flexible capacity to support the electricity system through smart appliances, electric vehicles, and home batteries, though only a fraction of this potential is currently being utilized.
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