A MAJOR energy supplier has launched a new loyalty scheme offering households a free boiler service and money off their bills.
OVO Energy, which currently serves almost four million customers, has unveiled the OVO Beyond rewards programme.
Households who sign up will receive an extra £10 off their bills each month through OVO Energy’s Power Move scheme.
The scheme, which is free to join, rewards you for using energy during peak times when there’s more pressure on the network.
The new loyalty programme also offers households exclusive benefits and discounts worth up to 35% off.
Customers can buy a Tado Smart Thermostat for £96 instead of £200, get 30% off heating and plumbing repairs booked through the OVO app and a free boiler service worth £84 in their first year after signing up.
Of course, you should only buy the smart thermostat if you actually need it, not just because of the discount.
We have also asked OVO if customers are charged full price for boiler services after the first year on the loyalty scheme and will update this story when we have heard back.
Households can also get Ovo Energy Expert consultations for £15 instead of £100 – an 85% discount.
OVO said the “at-home assessments” will offer billpayers recommendations on how to improve the energy-efficiency of their homes which will save them energy and money.
Households who sign up to the loyalty scheme can also bag VIP access to live events and experiences at OVO arenas across the UK, including in Glasgow and London.
Mat Moakes, chief commercial officer at OVO said: “We know consumers have a real desire to do the right thing for our planet, but cost remains a key barrier, which is why we’ve created a new type of rewards programme.
“OVO Beyond lets customers make savings today and bank rewards for making more sustainable choices, powering the switch to a greener future.”
You will only qualify for the OVO Beyond loyalty scheme if you are an OVO customer with a smart meter and paying by direct debit.
If this is you, you can sign up via the OVO app, which you can download for free via Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Any discounts through the scheme are paid in as a bill credit to your energy account or the discount is applied at point of purchase.
Martyn James, consumer expert, said OVO new loyalty programme was worthwhile if you’re looking to get money off your bills through the Power Move scheme.
He added: “Though I do have some concerns about those people who are not on smart meters or don’t want them as they simply won’t be able to enjoy these advantages.
HERE'S everything you need to know about the scheme...
Ovo Energy pays eligible households £10 a month to reduce their energy consumption between 6pm and 9pm, Monday to Friday.
You have to slash your usage to between 0% and 11%.
But Ovo says the average household uses 18% of its electricity at peak times, so reaching 11% shouldn’t be too tough an ask.
You can sign up to the scheme via Ovo’s website, but only if you pay for your energy monthly and are an on demand customer with a smart meter that sends half-hourly readings.
You can switch to half-hourly reads through your online account.
Any money you save via Power Move is credited to your account.
“I’m a big fan of getting your boiler checked once a year though – and if this is free then that’s good news for OVO customers.
“But once again, businesses need to be clear about these deals so everyone can take advantage of them.”
OVO Energy isn’t the first firm to launch a loyalty scheme in recent years.
Octopus Energy, the UK’s second biggest supplier, unveiled “Octoplus” last October.
Customers can earn money by taking part in the firm’s Saving Sessions which credits customers back for using energy during peak times.
Households can also get free weekly coffee from Greggs, discounted Odeon cinema tickets and bonus loyalty points for referring friends and family through the scheme.
Octoplus is free to sign up to through the Octopus Energy app or via your online account.
The E.On Next Plus loyalty scheme also offers customers access to discounts on shopping, and money off bills, depending on how long you’ve been with the provider.
HERE'S everything you need to know...
Smart meters are designed so that you no longer need to send energy suppliers traditional meter readings.
And they let you track how much energy you use at night, during the day and peak times.
The display screen will show your energy usage live and show the cost in pounds and pence.
You can save money on your energy bills using a smart meter.
It won’t save you money just by having one. But being able to see your energy usage and the cost could help you understand where you can cut back.
The government’s smart energy website explains: “A smart meter can help us to identify situations where we’re using a lot of energy and might want to make changes to this.
“If you use the information shown on your in-home display to reduce your energy use, you could cut costs and become more energy efficient.”
Your bill will be more accurate too, as it’s based on readings from actual usage, rather than estimates.
You will no longer have to give meter readings and you won’t be visited by a meter reading to record your usage.
For example, you get £20 off your yearly bill if you have been with E.On Next for one year or more.
Customers who have been with the firm for two years or more can get £50 off their bill.
There’s extra eligibility criteria to meet too, with more information available on the energy firm’s website.
You can sign up for the loyalty scheme via the E.On Next app, downloadable via Google Play or the Apple App Store.
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