MILLIONS could save money on their bills this winter as an energy scheme is set to be extended all year round.

The National Grid’s “Demand Flexibility Service” (DFS) is due to return this year.

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But, for the first time since the scheme’s introduction in 2022, the scheme will now throughout the year.

The DFS is designed to reduce pressure on the energy network.

Under the service, households who use less electricity than they normally do during certain allotted hours are paid for the savings.

Last year, 2.2million businesses and households signed up, along with 43 providers,

National Grid’s National Electricity System Operator (NESO), a subsidiary of the operator, has confirmed that the scheme will be starting again during the colder months – pending Ofgem approval.

But, this year the DFS has been tweaked and will instead be used throughout the year instead of just during the winter months.

This won’t make a difference to how customers use the scheme, it just means they will be able to participate as often as they’d like across the year, rather than just during winter.

NESO said the change is due to a low risk of blackouts this winter, which is what it was originally designed to combat.

It means it no longer needs to be used as an emergency contingency plan because Britain is less likely to lose power this winter than last year,

NESO says it expects power plants, wind farms and other generation methods to be able to provide more than enough power to meet demand.

Given the improved outlook, the DFS has been redesigned so NESO can keep managing its margins, which is the difference between the supply of electricity and demand for it, all year round.

Craig Dyke, director of system operations at NESO, said: “As we publish our first Winter Outlook as the National Energy System Operator, it is positive to see that margins forecast for this winter are the highest since 2019/20.

“While our margin assessment has improved from previous winters, we are continuing to monitor risks and uncertainties and, if necessary, will take steps to build resilience.

“We and the rest of the energy industry will as always continue to prepare for a range of potential eventualities so that we are fully prepared for this coming winter.”

The changes to the scheme mean that homes and businesses across Great Britain will again be able to earn pounds, points or prizes across the period by shifting their energy usage outside of allotted periods.

Once approved, customers and businesses will be able to sign up to participate in this year’s Demand Flexibility Service in the coming months, following regulatory approval from Ofgem. 

In previous years you were only able to take part in the service if you have a smart meter – and your supplier will need to have signed up to the scheme.

Participating households could be paid to put on their dishwashers or charge their electric cars during off-peak hours.

Those looking to cash in from possible events are encouraged to turn expensive appliances off rather than sit in the dark.

This is because you won’t make as much of a saving by just switching your lights off.

Households must have signed up through their supplier, otherwise, they won’t be able to take part.

In 2023/24, big-name firms took part in the DFS including Octopus Energy, British Gas, OVO and EDF.

It ran 12 test events where households could make the savings, its unclear as yet how the rejigged scheme will be carried out.

In its first year, the DFS was originally trialled with Octopus Energy, and other suppliers then joined, these included British Gas, EDF, E.On, Ovo Energy, and Shell Energy.

Sun Money has contacted all the major energy firms to see if they can shed any light on how they will carry out the scheme all year round and what they will offer.

Each energy provider will have its own eligibility criteria to take part in the scheme though and how much you can earn will vary.

Last year, National Grid paid at least £3 for every kilowatt-hour saved during six of the 12 tests.

The cash is paid to the suppliers, which will likely retain a portion to cover administrative costs and make a profit.

The amount you get will depend on what your supplier offers, and not every firm will participate.

A list of this year’s registered service providers will be published on the NESO website soon and then updated throughout the winter.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

THE second Amazon Prime Day event for 2024 has just begun.

For the next 48 hours, Prime subscribers can get their hands on thousands of exclusive deals.

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Sign up to Amazon Prime

The exact date the event falls on this autumn is the 8th and 9th October – in other words, right now.

The 48-hour sale event will be exclusively available for Prime members, offering deep discounts on everything from Fire TVs and Echo devices to the best anti-wrinkle face creams and Dyson Airwrap dupes.

Bargain hunters will be able to score big savings on thousands of items, ranging from tech gadgets and beauty buys to home appliances and toys.

Of course, the timing of the event makes it ideal for organised Christmas shoppers to stock up on gifts, decorations and more for a fraction of the normal cost.

When is Prime Day 2024?

The next Prime Day event will be the Big Deal Days sale event in October.

The sale will kick off at midnight on 8th October and run to midnight on 9th October.

While the annual sale event has traditionally taken place every July, in 2022 Amazon also hosted two Prime Day events in July and October.

The double whammy gave bargain-hunters even more opportunities to shop for discounts as a Prime member.

The last Prime Day event for 2024 took place on 16-17 July and Prime members enjoyed thousands of discount across all categories.

How do I get access to Amazon Prime Day deals?

If you don’t want to miss out on the Amazon Big Deal Days event you will need to become a Prime member.

Signing up for a Prime membership is easy and comes with lots of perks including next-day delivery and access to Prime Video and Amazon Music.

The Prime membership comes with lots of additional perks, including free next-day delivery (and even same-day delivery in certain postcodes).

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Amazon Prime costs £8.99 a month, or £95 for an annual membership.

But if you are brand-new to Prime you can sign up for a 30-day free trial, giving you free access to the sale when it launches next month.

However, you will need to cancel your membership before the 30-day trial ends to avoid the ongoing £8.99 monthly fee.

How long will Prime Day 2024 last?

Prime Day events normally take place over two days and this is something that has been in place since the event was launched in 2015.

Deals normally kick off from midnight on the first day to midnight on the second day, with a combination of ‘lightning’ offers, appearing while stock lasts, and longer deals running for the duration of the sale. 

We recommend keeping a very close eye on the Prime Day deals hub on Amazon’s website, which will highlight the best offers as they go live.

You can also check out the Best Prime Day deals according to our team of Sun Shopping experts.

Amazon Prime vs Black Friday: which is best?

Prime Day was originally launched in 2015 to celebrate Amazon’s 20th birthday but has since evolved into an annual mega sale that is similar to Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

But in terms of length, scale and discount quality, Black Friday is the reigning deals period of the year.

You’ll find terrific price drops during both sales – and it’s not impossible that some Prime Day offers may well match those you find during Black Friday in November.

A great way to check whether the deals are as good as they appear over Prime Day is by using price tracking sites like camelcamelcamel which allows you to search the price history for any items sold on Amazon.

Other price comparison sites such as Idealo and PriceSpy are also helpful and allow you to compare and track across multiple retailers.

What were the best Prime Day deals in July?

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Sign up to Amazon Prime

Amazon teased shoppers with early exclusive deals that primarily focused on Amazon’s branded devices.

One of the hottest was the ‘seriously impressive’ 55-inch Fire TV slashed from £549.99 to £329.99.

Other highlights in the July Prime Day event included deep discounts on the Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, which was reduced from £279.99 to £159.99, and the Philips L’OR Barista Sublime Capsule Coffee Machine, which was slashed from £109.99 to £49.99.

Amazon Prime Day: Our 10 best deals

Amazon Prime Day runs until midnight on Wednesday (9th October). Here’s our pick of the best deals for Prime subscribers.

*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue

1. Amazon Fire TV Stick, £16.99 (was £44.99) – buy here
2. Xinwld Wireless Earbuds, £24.99 (was £99.99) – buy here
3. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), £179 (was £229) – buy here
4. Ring Battery Video Doorbell, £59.99 (£99.99) – buy here
5. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara, £7.79 (was £12.99) – buy here
6. Silentnight Comfort Control Electric Blanket, £35.99 (was £42.99) – buy here
7. COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Skin Serum, £12.15 (was £23.99) – buy here
8. Philips OneBlade 360, £34.99 (was £54.99) – buy here
9. Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Eye Cream Without Fragrance, £17.33 (was £38) – buy here
10. Remington Keratin Protect Hair Straighteners, £52.76 (was £119.99) – buy here

We’ll be keeping a close eye out for some of the best deals so remember to check back to snag these deals

We’ve rounded up more great offers here:

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Amazon Prime Day dates through the years

Here’s a run-down of the dates that Amazon Prime Day has taken place since its inception in 2015:

• 2015: 15 July
• 2016: 12 July
• 2017: 11 July
• 2018: 16-17 July
• 2019: 15-16 July
• 2020: 13-14 October
• 2021: 21-22 June
• 2022: 12-13 July
• 2022: 11-12 October
• 2023: 11-12 July
• 2023: 10-11 October
• 2024: 16-17 July

Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas, Marks & Spencer and more.

TGI FRIDAY’S rescue deal has left a bad taste — for hundreds of restaurant workers who will miss out on redundancy pay and hard-earned tips.

A total of 1,012 jobs have gone after administrators said the sale to Breal Capital and Calveton would cause 35 eateries to close.

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Impacted staff were also told the firm would not be responsible for redundancy pay, accrued holiday or tips.

The burden will instead go to the taxpayer, via the Insolvency Service.

The majority were on zero hours contracts.

One employee said anonymously: “I did 35 hours last week and earnt tips because I was telling customers we were fine and going to be saved.

“Now I’m not getting paid for any of it.”

The turmoil and anger has come just days before the Government is to unveil its Employment Rights Bill on Thursday, which will reform workers’ rights.

Labour is also planning to ban “exploitative” zero hours contracts — although the details of this will still be consulted on.

Under current law a zero hours worker who has not been with a firm for more than two years cannot claim redundancy pay.

Staff should be able to claim 100 per cent of tips earned, under a law passed last week.

But restructuring sources said that it would be up to workers applying to The Insolvency Service — with their claims and ­evidence of tips earned — suggesting that it will be difficult to recoup the cash.

The union Unite said last night: “The way in which workers have been treated across TGI Fridays is a ­national disgrace.

“Our members are being told that they may not even be paid wages for work done.”

The deal by the firm that owns Byron Burger, will keep open 51 locations across the UK and save more than 2,000 jobs.

GET A PORTER

LUXURY online fashion site Yoox Net-A-Porter has been offloaded to a German rival.

The sale by Swiss firm Richemont, the owner of Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery, to Mytheresa comes after years of heavy losses.

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Net-a-Porter, set up by Dame Natalie Massenet, was a jewel in the British fashion scene before an ill-fated merger with Italian rival Yoox.

Luxury online groups boomed in lockdowns but have been undone by the market’s slowdown.

Farfetch almost went bust last December while Matches Fahion folded in March.

THAMES MUDDIES WATERS

WORRIES around the future of Thames Water threaten to dampen the big splash Labour hopes to make at its investment summit next Monday.

Global investors, tech tycoons and City bigwigs including Aviva boss Amanda Blanc; Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson and Google’s Eric Schmidt will be at the event at London’s Guildhall, held two weeks before the Chancellor delivers her growth-focused Budget.

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Thames Water is scrambling to raise cash and refinance debt from investors, who require the regulator to sign off their plan to hike customer bills.

Behind the scenes investors are lobbying the Government to warn of a “domino effect” if water companies are deemed uninvestable by the pension funds and infrastructure investors the Chancellor is looking to win over.

A spokesperson for the Global Infrastructure Investor Association said: “It’s essential to ensure this country is an attractive investment destination.”

PUB group Amber Taverns, which has 178 sites across England, Scotland and Wales, has been sold to a private equity firm.

Epiris already owns Big Table Group, which includes Cafe Rouge and Las Iguanas restaurant chains.

CHANGE OF BOSS AT LEWIS

THERE is more change at the top of John Lewis just three weeks after Tesco veteran Jason Tarry arrived as chairman.

The department store to grocery chain yesterday revealed chief executive Nish Kankiwala will be stepping down by March next year.

Mr Kankiwala, former boss of Hovis, was brought in on a two-year contract to boost the boardroom’s retail experience when Dame Sharon White, former Ofcom regulator, had the top job at John Lewis.

By contrast Mr Tarry spent 33 years working at Tesco, including the last six as boss of Britain’s biggest retailer.

John Lewis said that the “role of chief executive will not be directly replaced and Jason will chair the executive team as well as the partnership board”.

PADS ON THE RISE

HOUSE prices rose for the third month in a row in September — going up by 0.3 per cent.

Average property prices cost 4.7 per cent more than a year ago after rising to £293,399, according to Halifax stats.

It is £108 shy of the £293,507 record set in June 2022, when the market was boosted by a post-pandemic surge and before the mini-budget provoked mortgage mayhem.

Property experts said hopes of interest rate cuts are fuelling the market revival.

RIO GOES MINING IN NEW YORK

LONDON-listed mining giant Rio Tinto is exploring a trans-Atlantic takeover of a New York-listed lithium miner.

The approach for Arcadium Lithium marks a welcome step-change from British miners being snapped up by their overseas rivals.

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Lithium, a silvery white metal, is of increasing importance in the global push for greener energy, as it is needed in electric vehicles and battery storage.

Arcadium Lithium, which has mining operations in Argentina, China, Canada and Australia, counts car giants Telsa, BMW and Toyota as clients.

Shares in Arcadium Lithium bounced by a third yesterday.
It valued the company at £3.3billion — a marked improvement for a company which had slumped by 60 per cent since the start of the year amid weakening demand in China.

Some of its investors are viewing Rio Tinto’s approach as opportunistic and have signalled they will reject a lowball bid.

THERE is just one day to go until our team of experts take your calls in The Sun’s Winter Fuel SOS campaign.

We will be helping the thousands of pensioners worried about paying their energy bills this winter, with tips and advice on how to make cash go further.

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Our Winter Fuel SOS crew will be able to help answer your questions tomorrow. But you can also email them now.

Contact us on behalf of friends and relatives of pension age – with their permission – as we want to reach as many people as possible.

Ten million OAPs are set to lose the £300 Winter Fuel Payment due to government cutbacks.

It comes in the same month that households are hit by a ten per cent rise in bills as the Energy Price Cap shoots up.

On this page are our experts who’ll be taking calls tomorrow . . . 

SIR STEVE WEBB

PENSIONS ­Minister 2010-2015, Steve oversaw the introduction of automatic enrolment.

Joined consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock in 2020 and campaigned to secure £2billion for women who were underpaid the state pension.

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MARTYN JAMES

AN award-winning consumer rights expert, journalist and broadcaster with two decades of experience in newspapers.

He will take questions about problems with energy bills and how to deal with complaints.

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ELISE MELVILLE

ENERGY expert at comparison website uswitch.com, Elise cares about demystifying the energy market and helping consumers find the best deals tailored to their needs.

She will be on hand to help with energy-saving tips.

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ADAM STACHURA

THE associate director for policy at Age Scotland, Adam is part of a team that offers advice and tips to older people on their winter fuel issues.

The charity works to improve the lives of over-50s north of the border.

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EMILY SEYMOUR

AS Energy Editor for consumer group Which? since 2020, Emily has been at the forefront of its campaigns to help people manage their bills.

She regularly appears on TV and radio to offer consumer advice.

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JOE RICHARDSON

DIRECTOR of operations at Octopus Energy GB, the largest electricity supplier in the UK.

His 2,000-strong team are responsible for looking after all aspects of the business’s award-winning customer ­service.

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TARA EVANS

HEAD of Consumer at The Sun.

She has almost two decades of experience and will be joined by Sun Savers Editor Lana ­Clements and our very own Consumer Champion Laura Purkess.

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BARONESS ROS ALTMANN

EXPERT on later-life issues.

Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers 2014-15 and Pensions Minister from 2015-2016.

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Awarded a CBE in 2014 for her work on pensions and retirement planning.

JONATHAN CHESTERMAN

DEBT advice policy manager at StepChange debt charity – the largest provider of free and impartial debt guidance in UK.

Jonathan will help to answer readers’ debt queries on their energy bills.

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BEN GALLIZZI

THE specialist at uswitch.com is focused on helping customers to manage their home energy usage.

The energy market can be complex but Ben sorts through the information to offer you practical tips to cut your bills.

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FRAN McSWEENEY

HEAD of services at Independent Age, a charity supporting older people facing financial hardship.

Fran and her team of advisers run a national helpline to provide help on income, costs and housing issues.

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JENNY ROSS

FOR six years Jenny has edited Which? Money mag, during which time she has helped consumers to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, make their cash go further and avoid scams.

Jenny is a go-to for pension help.

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FOOD fanatics and home cooks have been stunned by this latest find in M&S stores.

Despite offering buyers an “utterly irresistible” flavour, shoppers have divided over the brand new offering for Autumn.

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Taking to Facebook to reveal the latest brand collaboration, M&S have joined forces with Marmite.

The “oozy, gooey, tangy new cheesebake” has been released exclusively with the supermarket giant and has been described as perfect for pairing with crusty bread.

Lovers of the yeast extract spread could even dive right in with a spoon or add it to their Christmas list as a stocking filler.

Staff at the Tunbridge Wells store unveiled a picture of the new cheesebake on shelves in a social media post which has already gathered love and hate.

With 247 comments, the product seems to have caught the eye of shoppers.

One user said: “Will give this a try thank you x.”

Another wrote: “Bet that’s banging.”

Someone else commented: “Cheese and wine night??”

A fourth put: “For the Christmas Eve board this year.”

While another said: “We need one of these!”

Anyone hoping to test the dip for themselves should phone ahead before visiting their local branch to avoid disappointment.

It is unclear from the post how much the tantalising offer will set buyers back.

Last month, a food editor for Marks and Spencer published an article on their site convincing shoppers to try Marmite Cheddar.

It is not the only item to leave haters of the spread cheesed off as the store already offers Loaded Cheese and Marmite Jacket Potatoes.

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Earlier this week, savvy shoppers shared a Home Bargains dupe for a beloved chocolate snack at the same chain.

Others with a sweet-tooth found a hazelnut spread for a fraction of the original price.

The users claimed the fan-favourite M&S Hazelnut Creme was given a run for its money by the cheaper alternative.

MILLIONS of savers are set to lose their current rates of interest before the end of the year – and are being urged to check for the best deals available.

Over £73billion in savings is currently locked in fixed term savings accounts, which mature in the next two months, according to the Current Account and Savings Database (CSDB).

These savings accounts allow you to deposit a lump sum for a set period.

During this period, you cannot access the funds, but you earn a fixed interest rate.

As many as 2.2million accounts, including over 1.2m fixed ISAs and more than 900,000 fixed term bonds are due to expire before the end of the year. 

When these accounts reach maturity, they stop accruing interest.

To secure returns of up to 5% on their deposits, savers must plan ahead and get ready to transfer their funds to a new account.

Last month, and for the first time since January, the average interest rates for both fixed-term and easy access savings accounts declined across the board.

And this trend is continuing.

Only a single bank now offers over 5% back on deposits in its fixed term savings account.

Caitlyn Eastell, spokesperson at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said: “Savers who were unable to snap up a shorter-term fixed rate that paid just above the 5% mark may be disheartened to see that they have disappeared almost entirely for the first time this year.”

“Savers who are eager to lock into a guaranteed rate should do so swiftly before they face another plunge.”

The Bank of England’s (BoE) is expected to cut rates several times in the coming months, down from the current 5%.

The BoE rate influences the rates on borrowing and savings offered by high street banks.

If forecasts are correct, the base rate could fall to 4.75% by the end of 2024.

That’s bad news for savers, whose rates typically fall when the Bank’s rate is cut.

However, several savings accounts still offer the option to lock away your money with the promise of a fixed interest rate for a set period, with rates remaining close to 5%.

Fixed rate bonds can be a useful bet to help ride out future cuts to the base rate.

If you can’t afford to lock away your cash, other account options offer competitive rates.

Adam Thrower, head of savings at Shawbrook Bank, said: “Every saver is different.

“Some might have a large amount of savings; others might want to use an account for a rainy-day fund.

“Whatever you are saving for, or however much you are saving, choosing the right account is key.”

What interest rates are on offer?

The best fixed rate currently offered is Al Rayan Bank’s one year fixed bond, which pays 5.05% (but requires a minimum investment of £20,000).

Depositing £20,000 in this account would yield £1,010 in interest over 12 months.

If you have a smaller amount to deposit, Union Bank of India’s one-year fixed bond offers a 4.95% return on savings over £1,000.

The best notice accounts are actually offering slightly higher rates than the best fixed-term bonds.

These also come with more flexibility when accessing your cash.

Plum’s 95 day notice account offers savers 5.20% back with a no minimum deposit, for example.

The Bank of London and The Middle East’s 90 day notice account offers savers 5.15% back with a minimum £10,000 deposit.

If you’re looking for a savings account without withdrawal limitations, then you’ll want to opt for an easy-access saver.

These do what they say on the tin and usually allow for unlimited cash withdrawals.

The best easy-access savings account available is from Ulster Bank, which pays 5.2% – but you need to pay in a minimum of £5,000 and also be a current account customer.

Cahoot’s Easy Access account offers a 5% interest rate, allows savers up to three withdrawals a year and requires just a £1 minimum deposit to open the account.

If you want to build a habit of saving a set amount of money each month, a regular savings account could pay you dividends.

Principality Building Society’s Six Month Regular Saver offers 8% interest on savings.

It allows customers to save between £1 and £200 a month. Save in the maximum, and you’ll earn 27.53 in interest.

While regular savings accounts look attractive due to the high interest rates on offer, they are not right for all savers. 

You can’t use a regular savings account to earn interest on a lump sum.

The amount you can save into the account each month will be limited, typically to somewhere between £200 and £500.

Therefore, if you have more to save, it would be wise to consider one of the other accounts mentioned above.