British Gas customers can get five days of free electricity - here’s how

The offer is only available to those who are part of the British Gas loyalty scheme (Photo: Shutterstock)The offer is only available to those who are part of the British Gas loyalty scheme (Photo: Shutterstock)
The offer is only available to those who are part of the British Gas loyalty scheme (Photo: Shutterstock)

With the majority of people now working from home due to the coronavirus outbreak, electricity bills are likely to be a little pricier than normal.

But, if you’re a British Gas customer, you could save a few pennies, as the company is currently giving select customers five days of free electricity.

Who is eligible for the offer?

The offer is only available to those who are part of the British Gas loyalty scheme, which is available to all energy customers.

Launched in 2017, the scheme provides customers with various discounts on restaurants and days out, along with prize draws for live entertainment and holidays.

Customers can receive up to 20 free energy days per year through the loyalty scheme, with the amount depending on how long they have been with the supplier.

At the moment, British Gas is offering five extra days completely free, as customers are spending more time at home due to coronavirus, and increasing their energy usage as a result. However, customers cannot choose which five days to get free themselves.

Instead, British Gas will take an average daily price for your energy usage per month and deduct that amount from your next bill.

The value of the free electricity is dependent on an individual customers’ average consumption and tariff prices.

According to government figures, the average monthly electricity bill cost almost £57 per month in 2019, meaning customers would save roughly £9 by claiming the offer from British Gas.

But the freebie will come as a welcome reprieve for many, with energy bills having climbed by £32 per month during the UK lockdown.

How do I claim it?

To claim the five free energy days, you need to sign up to British Gas Rewards.

This can be done via the British Gas website, or through your online account.

Once you have signed up, simply select the list of available offers and claim the free energy days.

If you are already a rewards user, be sure to claim the offer before it expires on 25 May.

Should I still be working from home?

If your electricity bill has been climbing due to working from home, you will still have to deal with the added expense for a while longer.

Despite lockdown restrictions slowly starting to ease in some parts of the UK, the government has advised workers to continue working from home wherever possible.

This is to help minimise the number of social contacts across the country, thereby keeping transmissions as low as possible.

Workers in England who are unable to work from home can now travel to work, if their workplace is open. Sectors of the economy that are allowed to be open include food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research in laboratories.

In Scotland, the ‘stay at home’ message still remains in place, meaning people should not leave their households for work unless they are a key worker.

Similar rules apply in Wales and Northern Ireland, with the overarching stay at home message still very much in place.