Before You Sign Up


 

What are the CoolDown summer trials?

CoolDown is a summer energy trial where households with air conditioning or cooling heat pumps can earn rewards for reducing electricity use during short peak-time events. The trial is run by equiwatt as part of an Ofgem-funded innovation project.
 

Who can take part?

You may be eligible if you:

  • Are aged 18 or over
  • Live in an eligible postcode area (North West for the 2026 trial)
  • Have a working smart electricity meter (with half-hourly smart meter readings)
  • Own and use air conditioning or a cooling heat pump
  • Agree to equiwatt’s terms and conditions Eligibility is checked during sign-up.
     

How do I sign up?

New customers: Download the equiwatt app from the App Store or Google Play, register your cooling devices, then accept the invitation to participate and agree to equiwatt’s terms and conditions.

Existing customers: equiwatt will invite eligible households in the trial area to express interest and register their cooling devices via email and in-app notifications.
 

Am I in the trial area?

The trial area includes postcodes in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, the Peak region and some surrounding areas. Summer 2026 trial postcodes are eligible if they are in the SP Electricity North West (SP ENW) licence area. You can check your distribution area via the National Grid website (“Which Distribution area do I live in?”) or the SP Electricity North West website (“Who is my supplier?”). If you are outside the trial area you will see: “We are not responsible for/do not operate the electricity network in your area.”
 

What cooling equipment is eligible?

The trials only include devices that lower or control indoor temperature. You can participate if you use:

  • Whole-home central air conditioning
  • A heat pump that provides cooling
  • Fixed wall-mounted air conditioning units
  • Portable air conditioning units that vent hot air outside

Devices that only circulate air, such as desk fans or ceiling fans, are not eligible.
 

When will the trials take place?

  • Trial 1: May to September 2026 — households in SP Electricity North West’s (SP ENW) licence area
  • Trial 2: May to September 2027 (subject to Ofgem approval) — expands to SP ENW and National Grid Electricity Distribution’s (NGED) licence areas


Will taking part change my energy tariff?

No. The CoolDown trial is separate from your energy supply contract and does not change your tariff or energy supplier.
 

Is there any cost to join?

No. Participation in the CoolDown trial is completely free.
 

How much can I earn?

You could earn anything from £60 to over £100 made up of:

  • £15 sign up bonus (subject to completing your first event)
  • Average of £50 for energy saved from reducing cooling (average based on typical household air conditioning systems)
  • Up to £75 in survey and research bonus points
     
    Rewards depend on how much electricity you save during events and how many surveys you complete. You may earn more or less points depending on household size, historic baseline and the cooling devices you use. Rewards are paid as equiwatt app points redeemable for vouchers, with a cashback feature at the end of the trial for any unredeemed points.

How many people can join?

The first phase of the trial will include up to 100 households in the North West.
 

After You Sign Up


 

What happens after I register?

  1. We’ll confirm your eligibility.
  2. You’ll complete a short trial start survey.
  3. You’ll receive information about how events work and how to participate.

Will I need to install any equipment?

In most cases, no. We use data from your smart meter to measure electricity use. In some cases we may ask permission to install additional monitoring equipment.
 

Will you use my personal data?

To run the trials, equiwatt will use:

  • Smart meter electricity data
  • Basic information about your cooling devices
  • Asset metering data (only relevant to a small number of homes)
     
    All data will be handled in line with equiwatt’s privacy policy. Some data will be shared with the project manager Guidehouse and project partners in anonymised form for research and reporting.

Will I need to complete surveys?

Yes. Because this is a research trial, participants may be asked to complete:

  • An eligibility survey
  • A trial start survey
  • Short post-event surveys
  • An end-of-trial survey
     
    Some households may also be invited to take part in interviews or focus groups.

What happens if I move house?

Eligibility is based on your postcode. If you move outside the eligible area, you will no longer be able to participate or earn CoolDown rewards.
 

During the Trial


 

How do CoolDown events work?

During the summer, equiwatt may run up to 20 events. Events typically:

  • Last 1 or 2 hours
  • Take place weekdays between 6pm and 8pm
  • Operate during May to September 2026
     
    During an event, participants are encouraged to reduce electricity use from their cooling devices where possible.

Do I have to take part in every event?

No. Participation is completely voluntary. You can choose whether to participate in each event.
 

How will I know when an event is happening?

We will notify participants in advance through the equiwatt app. Notifications include the event day and time (usually sent in the morning for an event the same evening). Please allow notifications from the app.
 

What do I do when I receive an event notification?

  • Opt in to the event on the equiwatt app home screen (a popup will ask you to opt in)
  • Reminders will be sent if you haven’t responded
  • At the start of the event, reduce electricity use from your cooling devices where possible
  • Please do not turn off other devices unless you normally would (e.g., lighting, large kitchen appliances, EV charging or battery export)

How do I reduce my cooling energy use?

You reduce your energy use by turning off your air conditioning unit or by increasing the temperature of your heat pump.
 

How are my energy savings calculated?

Your electricity use during an event is compared to your historical baseline, calculated using the average of the previous 10 similar non-event days. If you use less electricity than expected during the event window, you earn rewards.
 

How is successful participation measured?

Your participation is measured using your smart meter data. You are considered to have successfully taken part in an event if you:

  • Use less electricity than your normal forecast during the event window
  • Achieve energy savings during the event period

Will my comfort be affected?

You are always in control. The trials are designed to be flexible, and you decide how and when you adjust your cooling use. You can stop participating in any event if needed and there is no penalty for not participating. Turning on your cooling device partway through an event may reduce rewards, but you can still earn rewards by responding to surveys.
 

How do I earn points during an event?

Event points are based on the amount of energy you save:

  • Earnings are calculated if you beat your forecast
  • Achieve this by switching off your air cooling devices to save more energy than forecast during the event period
  • Energy savings are measured by kWh saved per event
  • The CoolDown reward is calculated as £3 per kWh saved
     
    Actual earnings may vary depending on your household’s energy use and performance during each event.

How do I receive rewards?

Rewards will be issued through equiwatt in line with the programme terms and conditions. Rewards are issued as equiwatt app points:

  • 100 points = £1
  • Points can be redeemed in the equiwatt Gift Store or via cashback at the end of the trial
  • Minimum voucher redemption is £5

What if my smart meter data is missing?

If smart meter data is unavailable or incomplete, we may not be able to calculate your savings and rewards for that event.
 

Can I leave the trial?

Yes. You can withdraw from the trial at any time by contacting equiwatt through the app or support email. Please allow up to 14 business days for withdrawal to be processed.
 

What happens if I stop meeting the eligibility requirements?

You may be removed from the trial if:

  • You withdraw consent for half-hourly meter readings
  • Your smart meter stops sending data for 30 days or more
  • You stop using eligible cooling equipment
  • You move outside the eligible postcode area
  • You breach the trial terms

Need More Help?

If you have questions about the CoolDown trial, you can contact the equiwatt support team through the app or the equiwatt Help Centre.