A National Grid scheme to pay households to cut down on their electricity usage has been extended.

The plan, which sees energy companies offer people discounts for cutting back on their electricity is to be expanded into tomorrow as the National Grid activates its "demand flexibility service (DFS)."

The DFS allows the National Grid to access additional flexibility when nationwide demand is at its highest during peak winter days.

The scheme allows users with up-to-date smart meters who are also signed up to the scheme by their supplier to get discounts if they cut their use of electric appliances during set times.

The scheme is reported to save households up to £100 during the winter months with the scheme said to compare the customers' usual demand against usage, paying £3 for every unit or kilowatt hour (kWh) saved.

The scheme is expected to stay in place until March with 26 suppliers including Octopus Energy and EDF supporting it.

The National Grid said that today's announcement to encourage households to cut back on electricity usage into tomorrow should not make people "worried."

Adding in a tweet: "These are precautionary measures to maintain the buffer of spare capacity we need."

A spokesperson also added: "Our forecasts show electricity supply margins are expected to be tighter than normal on Monday evening.

"We have instructed coal-fired power units to be available to increase electricity supplies should it be needed…"

When to cut back on electricity usage to get discounts according to the National Grid

Some households with smart meters could be eligible for the discounts if they opt to save energy between 5 and 6 pm today and tomorrow after the National Grid announced the extension of the DFS scheme.