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The UK’s Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) was used 44 times last winter, resulting in reduced or shifted power consumption of 3,917.7MWh, says the country’s National Energy System Operator (NESO).
According to NESO, the figure is up from 3,759MWh saved the previous winter (2023/4).
During the last winter period (27 November 2024 to 28 March 2025), NESO says they received 10,838MWh worth of bids from registered service providers, with 5,421MWh accepted.
A total of £1.2 million ($1.7 million) tenders were accepted, with £943,983 ($1.3 million) paid out to registered service providers, with the forecasted savings to the end consumer in balancing costs reaching £483,000 (approximately $657,192).
Commenting in a release was Rebecca Beresford, director of Markets at NESO: “Accessing more flexibility in our electricity system is vital for running a clean, green, and fair system of the future.”
“[DSF] has been a real breakthrough, which has this year proven itself effective not only at times when margins have been tight during periods of high demand, but as an efficient everyday tool for balancing the network when needed.”
Beresford added that, should participating customers be rewarded to turn down power when needed, thereby reducing demand, this would in turn cut down on the need to use fossil fuel generators.
“Indeed, the DFS reduced carbon emissions by more than 620 tonnes last winter,” said Beresford.
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The UK is increasingly adopting flexibility measures, being the first country in the world to have introduced a national Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), says NESO.
National Grid Distribution System Operator (DSO), for example, announced a doubling of its assets offering flexibility services over the span of a year. Specifically, more than 162,000 assets offering flexibility services were registered by the utility in March 2025, compared to 75,000 the year before, according to their latest market insights report.
Additionally, according to the country’s Electricity Networks Association (ENA), last year, the country’s electricity networks secured a record high of 9GW of flexibility. In turn, a total of 22GWh of flexibility was harnessed, enough to power almost 7,000 average UK households for a full year.
The DFS, which incentivises households and businesses to reduce or shift their electricity consumption at peak hours, was introduced in 2022 to support flexibility for consumers. In turn, registered service providers – typically electricity suppliers and aggregators – who have voluntarily joined the programme, offer those with a smart meter the option to reduce their energy use at busy times for payment or other rewards.
Consumers who sign up for the DFS receive notifications from their electricity supplier/aggregator on days when NESO enacts the service, when energy demand across the country is expected to be high. Since the original launch, 28 registered service providers have participated in the service.
Participation is voluntary, says NESO, so consumers only take part if it works for them. For example, people could save energy by opting to use the microwave instead of the oven, not using the washing machine until later, or charging their electric car overnight.
