Power players: England legends highlight £93m in potential fan savings tied to off-peak electricity use around kick-offs

With late-night kick-offs set to send sleep schedules into extra time this summer, a trio of football greats are stepping up with a game plan to help fans score savings while they cheer on their team.

E.ON Next has joined forces with former England legends, Jermain Defoe, Ray ‘The Romford Pelé’ Parlour and Toni Duggan to encourage football fans to adjust their tactics and save on the cost of electricity by getting their washing done while they enjoy late night matches.

The campaign launches as Professor of Energy, Dr Jan Rosenow, reveals that switching to a time of use tariff that offers lower electricity prices during off-peak hours, could help the nation collectively save more than £93 million on electricity bills this summer.

To help spread the word, the three legends got back in their training kit and took part in a series of high-energy, laundry themed football challenges – Top Washing Bins, The Smart Energy Shoot Out and Spin and Score – designed to show just how easy it is to turn washing into a win on the household scoresheet and encourage the nation to ‘Watch and Wash’.

The challenges saw the players attempt to hit penalties into washing machines, get target practice across a full line up on a washing line, and attempt to curl freekicks into washing baskets.

The campaign comes as new research³ from E.ON Next reveals 8 million fans¹ plan to tune into late-night fixtures and over two thirds (64%) expect disrupted sleep and altered routines, losing 4 hours of shuteye on average, and over a third (35%) reporting they plan to stay up all night.

Nearly a third of respondents (30%) admit they’ve booked annual leave after important nighttime matches, with this rising to almost half (48%) of 25–34-year-olds versus those aged 55+ (13%).

Despite 45% revealing they find it hard to change their daily habits, over a third (37%) admit they often change their routine to allow them to watch major football events.

Yet while these late-night hours feel like added time, they also offer a window of opportunity to get household chores done (36%) and as a result, make better use of cheaper electricity outside peak hours.

With washing machines responsible for 14% of household bills⁴, ‘Watch and Wash’ forms part of E.ON Next’s mission to help customers stay on the ball with their energy use through its Next Smart Saver tariff. This time of use tariff offers cheaper electricity during off-peak (5am-4pm, 7pm-2am) and super off-peak (2am-5am) hours.

And the potential for savings doesn’t stop when the final whistle blows this summer. Top economist, Dr Jan Rosenow reveals households could save £230 over the course of the year with Next Smart Saver by switching activities such as watching TV for an hour, cooking and kitchen work, ironing, popping a load in the tumble dryer, and using an electric shower from peak to off-peak times⁵.  Scale that across the UK and these everyday changes have the potential to deliver savings of up to £6.7 billion⁶.

Julian Lennertz, Chief Commercial Officer at E.ON Next said: “Football has a unique ability to get the nation to switch its routines according to matches – and this summer is no exception. Millions are set to be awake for nighttime games, unaware that it’s also one of the cheapest times to use electricity. Watch and Wash isn’t about asking people to change what they do, but showing people how to benefit more from what they’re already doing. With our Next Smart Saver tariff, small shifts could add up to big savings, not just over the summer but year-round.”

Jermain Defoe added: “I've scored a few penalties in my time, but hitting a washing machine from the spot is a different challenge entirely. Jokes aside, if you're staying up for the late kick-offs this summer, make it count. Stick a wash on during the game and you could be saving money at the same time. Simple as that.”

 

Ray Parlour added: “I’ve been called the Romford Pelé for a reason – but curling a ball into a laundry basket is another matter. Now it’s time for the nation to score clean sheets too. You’re up watching the game, so you might as well make the most of it. Get the washing on and you’re playing it smart.”

 

Toni Duggan said: "I've played at the highest level of the women’s game, so I backed myself going into the Smart Energy Shoot-Out. Hitting shirts on a washing line is a different kind of target practice — but the message behind it is serious. If you're staying up to watch the football this summer, your energy bill doesn't have to suffer for it. Small changes at the right time make a real difference."

The ‘Watch and Wash’ challenge series is now live and Jermain Defoe, who netted an impressive 22 penalties during his pro-football career, was crowned the overall winner and presented with a trophy by young players from Buckhurst Hill FC.  

E.ON Next is a proud partner of the FA and Buckhurst Hill FC is just one of the clubs that has benefitted from the Greener Game programme, an initiative from England Football and E.ON Next, which is decarbonising grassroots clubs and helping them to lower their bills so they can invest back into their clubs and communities.

To find out more about E.ON Next’s time of use tariff, head to eonnext.com/tariffs/next-smart-saver.