Households could be paid to use appliances like washing machines overnight under new energy plans being drawn up.
Britain could face organised blackouts this winter, experts warn.
System operators said an "unlikely" shortage of gas could result in families suffering planned three-hour power cuts to protect energy supplies.
The newly-launched "Demand Flexibility Service" would see homes paid to use power at off-peak times.
Households with a smart meter would get a text message asking them to only use electricity when there is less demand - typically after 7pm.
In exchange, they would get a payment.
The "Demand Flexibility Service" will run from November to March. It is expected to be implemented at least 12 times and should deliver two gigawatts of power savings.
The scheme is still being hammered out.
What we know so far is that only appliances switched on for more than 30 minutes qualify for any sort of refund.
It is also unclear how the refund will work - such as whether consumers would get back all the cost of the energy used during set hours, or part of it.
It is thought households would potentially be in line for about £10 a day.
A likely list of appliances that could qualify for refunds is:
- Washing machine - costs 37p on average if run for one hour
- Slow cooker - 16p if used for one hour
- Dishwasher -22.4p
- Charging an electric car - £2.40 per hour
- Fridge - 1p if run for an hour.
- Oven - £1.04 an hour
- Tumble dryer - 70.9p if run for an hour
The ESO's director of corporate affairs, Jake Rigg, said: "The demand flexibility service is a first of its kind and a smart way for signed up consumers in homes and businesses to save money and back Britain.
"If you put your washing machine or other electrical appliances on at night instead of the peak in the early evening, you can get some money back when we all need it.
"The service is due to launch in November, so watch out for further details soon. This really is a window into the future where a flexible energy system will be cleaner and lower cost to alternatives."
Larger businesses will be paid for reducing demand, for example by shifting their times of energy use or switching to batteries or generators in peak times.
However, if those measures fail, and demand for electricity exceeded supply, households and businesses could see their power switched off for up to three hours at a time.
Officials stressed that customers would be told in advance. Vital infrastructure such as hospitals would be excluded from the cuts.
The National Grid said there are two gigawatts of coal-fired power plants on stand-by, if needed to meet demand.
