EDF's Sunday Saver Challenge: How UK Customers Can Earn Free Electricity Hours

EDF Energy is running a promotional programme known as the Sunday Saver Challenge, which rewards participating customers with free electricity on specific Sundays. This initiative is designed to encourage a shift in daily electricity consumption away from weekday peak periods, specifically between 4 pm and 7 pm. By moving energy usage to off-peak times, customers can earn a credit of free electricity to use on the following Sunday. The scheme, which first launched in 2024, has reportedly rewarded over 210,000 customers with free electricity, contributing to a reduction in both household bills and carbon footprints. The programme is positioned as a response to rising energy costs, with Ofgem's price cap having increased by 2% between October and December and a further 0.2% rise effective from January 1, resulting in typical annual bills of around £1,758 for dual-fuel households paying by Direct Debit.

The core mechanic of the challenge involves customers shifting their electricity consumption away from the 4 pm to 7 pm peak window during the week. The more energy a household successfully moves to off-peak periods, the greater the reward of free electricity earned for the subsequent Sunday. Participants can track their progress and see their earned free hours through EDF's Energy Hub, accessible via their online 'MyAccount'. The programme emphasises that making small changes to daily habits can lead to significant rewards. Examples provided include charging devices outside of peak times, running the dishwasher in the morning, and batch cooking on weekends. The system requires a working smart meter capable of sending half-hourly readings, and customers must consent to this data sharing.

For the January and February 2026 cycle, registration for the Sunday Saver Challenge opened on Sunday, January 4, and closed at 11:59 pm the same day. The challenge period itself ran from Monday, January 5. The earned free electricity hours are applicable on four specific Sundays: January 18, January 25, February 1, and February 8. The amount of free electricity available ranges from four to 16 hours, depending on the volume of energy shifted during the challenge period. EDF's Director of Retail, Rich Hughes, stated that the programme is being resumed in January as a time when many people seek new ways to save after the festive period.

A separate, distinct offer from EDF involves a "Heat Pump and Power Tracker" tariff, which includes a promotional offer of free electricity for the entire month of December 2025. This deal is available to customers who sign up for the heat pump bundle and opt to switch their properties entirely away from gas. The sign-up deadline for this offer is December 31, 2024. In addition to the month of free electricity, this package includes a 7-year warranty and service package valued at more than £1,500. The tariff itself provides a three-year tracker with six hours of discounted zero-carbon electricity daily, featuring off-peak windows from 4 am to 7 am and 1 pm to 4 pm. EDF states this can save at least £364 against Standard Variable prices.

It is important to distinguish between these two programmes. The Sunday Saver Challenge is a behavioural incentive for existing EDF customers with smart meters to shift their usage patterns, resulting in free electricity on specific Sundays. The Heat Pump and Power Tracker is a product bundle for new customers transitioning to electric heating, which includes a month of free electricity in December 2025 as a promotional incentive. The Sunday Saver Challenge is an ongoing, recurring programme, while the heat pump offer is a time-limited deal with a specific sign-up deadline.

The source material also references a competing offer from E.ON Next, which provides free electricity on every bank holiday until March 2026, with the next one on May 26th (Spring Bank Holiday). This is presented as a separate promotion not affiliated with EDF's schemes.

How the Sunday Saver Challenge Works

The programme is structured to reward behavioural change. Participants are encouraged to monitor their energy usage patterns, which can be viewed in the Energy Hub section of their EDF online account. The goal is to reduce consumption between 4 pm and 7 pm on weekdays. The system calculates the amount of energy shifted away from this peak period. The reward, credited as free electricity hours, is then available for use on the designated Sundays.

To participate, a customer must have a smart meter installed and ensure it is set up to provide half-hourly readings. This can be configured by logging into the EDF account, navigating to "About Me," finding "Smart Meter Preferences," and selecting the half-hourly option. The challenge is designed to be accessible, with EDF suggesting that small habit adjustments can lead to earning free electricity. The programme has been popular, with reports that participants have earned over six million free hours since its inception, valued at approximately £1.6 million.

Eligibility and Participation Details

Eligibility for the Sunday Saver Challenge is contingent on being an EDF Energy customer with a functioning smart meter capable of half-hourly data transmission. Customers must also consent to the sharing of this data for the purpose of the challenge. The registration window for each cycle is limited; for the January/February 2026 cycle, it was open for a single day, January 4. The challenge period followed immediately, starting on January 5.

The free electricity earned is not a cash payment but a credit applied to the customer's account for use on the specified Sundays. The exact dates for the free electricity usage are predetermined by EDF and are not flexible. For the cycle in question, these dates are January 18, January 25, February 1, and February 8. The amount of free electricity is variable, ranging from a minimum of four hours to a maximum of 16 hours, directly linked to the customer's success in shifting their energy usage.

Context of Rising Energy Costs

The promotion is launched against a backdrop of increasing energy prices. Ofgem's energy price cap rose by 2% between October and December, with a further 0.2% increase taking effect from January 1. This has led to typical annual energy bills for a dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit reaching approximately £1,758. Programmes like the Sunday Saver Challenge are therefore positioned as a method for consumers to actively manage and reduce their outgoings in a challenging economic climate. The scheme also aligns with broader environmental goals, as shifting demand away from peak periods helps stabilise the grid and supports the transition to a more sustainable energy system.

Alternative EDF Offer: Heat Pump Bundle

For customers considering a transition to electric heating, EDF offers a separate promotional package. The "Heat Pump and Power Tracker" tariff includes a promise of zero energy bills for the entire month of December 2025. This is contingent on signing up for the heat pump bundle before the deadline of December 31, 2024, and committing to switching a property entirely away from gas heating.

The bundle includes a 7-year warranty and service package, which EDF values at more than £1,500. The accompanying tracker tariff provides six hours of discounted zero-carbon electricity daily through two off-peak windows: 4 am to 7 am and 1 pm to 4 pm. EDF estimates that this tariff structure can save customers at least £364 compared to Standard Variable prices. This offer is fundamentally different from the Sunday Saver Challenge, as it is a product-based incentive for new installations rather than a behavioural programme for existing customers.

Conclusion

EDF Energy provides two distinct programmes offering free electricity: the Sunday Saver Challenge and a heat pump bundle promotion. The Sunday Saver Challenge is an ongoing behavioural incentive for existing EDF customers with smart meters. It rewards participants for shifting their electricity consumption away from the 4 pm to 7 pm peak period on weekdays, offering free electricity on four specific Sundays. The amount earned is proportional to the energy shifted, ranging from four to 16 hours. Registration for each cycle is time-limited, and participants must have a smart meter with half-hourly readings enabled.

The second offer is a promotional deal for a Heat Pump and Power Tracker tariff, which includes a month of free electricity in December 2025. This is available to customers who sign up by December 31, 2024, and switch to an all-electric property. It also includes a substantial warranty package and a tracker tariff with daily off-peak windows.

Both schemes are presented as ways to mitigate rising energy costs, which have seen the Ofgem price cap increase. Consumers interested in these offers must carefully review the specific eligibility requirements, deadlines, and terms associated with each programme to determine which, if any, is suitable for their circumstances.