Householders in Wadebridge, Cornwall are being offered cheaper electricity when the sun is out.

Under the pilot scheme, consumers can sign up for a lower rate of 5p per unit during the day from 10am to 4pm between April and September.

While the cheaper ‘Sunshine Tariff’ will be applied when the sun is powering solar panels, a high rate of 18p will be applied at other times.

The project aims to see how much domestic customers will save by changing their electricity usage patterns to take advantage of the low daytime rate.

It is looking for 240 participants in Wadebridge to take part in the initiative, which will use smart meters to monitor consumers’ consumption.

The project is a collaboration between community energy group Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN), local network operator Western Power Distribution, power supplier Tempus Energy and not for profit organisation Regen SW.

Professor Stephen Frankel, WREN Chair said: “The Sunshine Tariff is an innovative project designed to explore the potential of renewables and smart energy in bringing down the cost of electricity to consumers.

“On the basis of residents who have enquired so far, we have found estimated savings of up to 40% are possible so long as people shift some of their electricity usage into the low cost period.”