ONE of the UK’s biggest energy firms will give millions of customers free energy this Valentine’s Day. EDF customers can get four hours of free electricity between 7pm and 11pm on February 14. The offer is available to EDF customers with a smart meter that sends readings every 30 minutes. Payments will be credited to your EDF account around two weeks after the event. The deadline to join the March Sunday Saver challenge and sign up for the offer is 11:59pm on February 13.

You will then automatically get the four free hours of electricity the following day. Households can sign up through the EDF website by visiting: edfenergy.com/free-elec. EDF also runs regular Sunday Saver challenges which allow you to earn free electricity if you shift your energy usage away from peak hours. For example, you could charge your devices outside of peak times, run your dishwasher in the morning or batch cook meals at the weekend.

The more you shift your usage during the week, the more free electricity you earn. For example, if you shift 40% of your peak usage, you can earn up to 16 free hours to use the following Sunday. You can check when you use the most electricity by going to the Energy Hub in MyAccount. The credit is added to your account automatically and you can keep track of how much free electricity you’ve earned each week in the Energy Hub.

To join, go to Energy Hub in your MyAccount monthly and sign up for the challenge. If you do not sign up in time then EDF can send you an alert when the next challenge sign-up period opens. To join you must have a smart meter that sends readings every 30 minutes. There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.

This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply. EDF is not the only energy supplier that will give you free electricity. Octopus Energy customers who are signed up for “Octoplus” can take part in free electricity sessions when market energy prices fall.

The sessions typically last a couple of hours and happen on an ad-hoc basis. Octopus lets its customers know when the Free Electricity Sessions are happening anywhere from a few hours to a day ahead. Customers will get an email and can let the supplier know they are taking part by clicking the opt in button in the email. When the session begins, they can ramp up their electricity usage - for example by charging gadgets or running the washing machine.

Any energy they would normally use costs the same but any extra power they use is free and credited back to their account. For more information visit https://octopus.energy/octoplus/. Ovo Energy also has a scheme that rewards customers for slashing their energy consumption during peak times. The peak hours are currently between 5pm and 7pm from Monday to Friday. Households whose peak energy use is less than 15% are entered into a monthly prize draw.

The lower the percentage, the more prize draw entries you earn and the better your chance of winning. This month’s prizes include 17,900 £2 prizes and 125 £50 prizes. Meanwhile, five lucky customers will win a year’s worth of free energy. The £2,000 prize is awarded as energy credit over 12 months. Go to ovoenergy.com/power-move for more information. Scottish Power customers can get half-price electricity every weekend between 11am and 4pm through its Power Saver scheme.

The scheme is designed to encourage households to use less energy at peak times and reduce demand on the grid. To join, simply register to become a Power Saver and you will automatically be able to take part in the event. IF you're struggling financially, you might be able to cut the cost of your bills to help you get out of the red. Council tax: You can apply for a council tax reduction on the Gov.uk website but you'll need to meet certain criteria. Your bill could be cut by as much as 100 per cent if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours a week are also exempt from paying.