Octopus Saving Sessions Explained: How They Work (And Why They’ve Faded in 2026)

If you’re an Octopus customer (or know one), you may have heard about Saving Sessions. At one point, they were a genuine way to earn money by cutting your electricity use at peak times.

In 2026, they’re still around, but they’re much less common than they used to be, which is why many customers haven’t seen one for a while.

So how do Saving Sessions work, how much can you earn, and what’s actually changed?

Octopus Saving Sessions

For years, I switched energy providers annually. If a better deal appeared, I moved. Loyalty didn’t really pay.

That changed when I joined Octopus. Pricing stayed competitive, customer service was solid, and they were willing to try new ideas instead of offering the same tariffs as everyone else.

One of those ideas was Saving Sessions.

What are Saving Sessions?

Saving Sessions are short, pre-planned periods, usually an hour, where customers are encouraged to reduce their electricity use.

They normally run during early evening peak times, when demand on the grid is highest. Use less electricity for that hour and you earn a reward.

The first large-scale Saving Session ran between 5pm and 6pm on Tuesday 15th November, with over 250,000 households taking part.

What do you get in return?

If you reduced your electricity usage compared to your normal level, you earned OctoPoints.

Eight OctoPoints are worth one penny and can be redeemed as bill credit.

Your reward depended on how much electricity you saved. Octopus calculated this by looking at your smart meter usage during the session and comparing it to your average usage at the same time over the previous ten days (excluding other Saving Sessions).

For one session, my email said I’d earn 1,800 OctoPoints (£2.25) for every unit of electricity saved.

How do you take part?

To join in, you need to:

Be an Octopus customer
Have a working smart meter
Opt in to each individual session

Octopus usually sends an email or app notification around 24 hours before a session starts. Opting in takes seconds.

When do you get paid?

Results are normally calculated within around 12 hours. OctoPoints are then credited to your account, usually within 14 days.

Why do Saving Sessions exist?

Saving Sessions are part of the National Grid’s Demand Flexibility Service (DFS).

The grid pays energy suppliers to reduce demand at peak times, helping avoid the need for expensive and high-carbon backup generation. Octopus passes those payments on to customers willing to cut usage.

How much did we earn?

In one session, we earned 1,616 OctoPoints, worth £2.02.

We reduced our electricity usage by 80% and used 55% less electricity than neighbouring households. Not huge money, but worthwhile for minimal effort.

What’s changed in 2025?

Saving Sessions haven’t been cancelled, but they now run only when grid conditions justify them.

In 2025:

• The National Grid is running fewer Demand Flexibility events overall
• Payments available for demand reduction are lower than in previous years
• With less money on offer, suppliers schedule fewer sessions

The result is longer gaps between sessions and lower average rewards when they do happen. Some customers may not see any for weeks or even months, especially outside winter.

Are Saving Sessions worth doing?

If you’re invited to one, yes. It costs nothing, takes little effort and can earn a small amount of credit.

Just don’t expect them to be regular or predictable anymore. They’re best treated as an occasional bonus rather than something you can rely on.

Not a customer?

Octopus is still taking on new customers, and switching is free if you’re not locked into a fixed tariff. New customers can also get £50 credit via a referral link.

Just don’t switch expecting frequent Saving Sessions as they’re no longer a guaranteed feature.

Tips for taking part

If you do get a session invite:

Cook before or after the session
Turn off TVs, consoles and unused electronics
Take devices off charge
Turn off unnecessary lights

You could go further by turning off your router, but I wouldn’t risk essential appliances like fridges or freezers just to save a few pence.

Or use the hour as a break – read, talk or play a board game. The smart meter will survive without you watching it.