British households and firms cut winter electricity use by enough to power 10m homes

Payments were given in scheme to reduce energy use during peak demand to help avoid blackouts

Households and businesses in Great Britain saved enough electricity over the winter to power 10m homes by reducing their energy use during peak demand hours in order to help the country avoid blackouts.

About 1.6m households and businesses received payments to help reduce the pressure on the National Grid during the winter months as part of a demand flexibility scheme run by its electricity system operator (ESO).