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The Eclipse Energy Shift
Tuesday 11th August, 2026
Ahead of a rare solar eclipse, Octopus Energy asked customers to postpone using washing machines and dishwashers for two hours, offering rewards to those who helped ease pressure on the grid as solar generation fell. ScottishPower also opened its wind farm for eclipse viewing, adding a public-facing experience to the energy story.
Why it worked: It hijacked a once-in-decades eclipse with a precise two-hour behavioral ask plus a concrete reward, tying spectacle to grid stability.
The lesson: Consider pegging a clear, time-boxed action to a widely anticipated event and attach a simple, immediate reward for participation.
Octopus Energy
ScottishPower
3 Sources:
Coverage over time
How this story spread across the media
| Publication | Headline | Date |
|---|---|---|
| idealhome.co.uk | Octopus Energy is urging customers to avoid using electricity during the solar eclipse – what you need to know | Tuesday 11th August, 2026 |
| stv.tv | Avoid using washing machines and dishwashers during solar eclipse, energy firms urge | Tuesday 11th August, 2026 |
| techradar.com | 'There is no real need': Professors say today's solar eclipse won't crash the grid — so why is Octopus Energy paying you to switch off? | Wednesday 12th August, 2026 |