Part 4/9:
Unfortunately, my excitement was immediately tempered by an unexpected power crisis that winter. An unusual storm rendered renewable sources like solar and wind unreliable, while most nuclear plants underwent maintenance. The grid faced significant strain, spiking the flexible tariff's prices to nearly 100 pence per kilowatt hour during peak hours.
Despite the chaotic market, my initial aim of savings persisted. I began timing my energy usage around high and low pricing, charging devices during the night and minimizing usage during spikes. While enthusiasm for the challenge was high, so too were the frustrations of managing the unpredictable tariff.