National Grid’s flexibility service reveals strong consumer demand

National Grid Electricity System Operator’s (ESO) demand flexibility service has delivered over 780MWh of demand reduction in five test events.

More than 1 million households and businesses have now signed up to participate in the service, which was launched to manage peak demand during the current winter months.

Savings anticipated to date amount to about £2.8 million (US$3.4 million), with for example Octopus Energy – one of the 26 participating providers – reporting that over the first four events its top savers were bringing in almost £20.

“Delivering the first of the demand flexibility service test events is a major milestone in the evolution of consumer flexibility in the UK,” says Craig Dyke, Head of National Control at National Grid ESO.

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“This service successfully proves that consumers up and down the country are standing by to get involved in flexibility solutions. These test results show that if called upon this service will help the ESO balance the national electricity network this winter and is a valuable addition to the ESO’s operational tools.”

Data from the first two events show that consumer engagement has exceeded expectations.

In the first test household electricity providers delivered a 50% increase in electricity reduction compared to expectations, while across the second test, consumers also continued to deliver greater than expected engagement, reducing their electricity use by 35% more than expected.

Further test events will be carried out across the length of the service, with a minimum of two tests a month to be held between now and the end of March for each provider.

The tests will help providers to continue to add and include more customers in the service.

New providers also have signed up to join the service in recent weeks so that participation is expected to continue to grow.

Whilst the tests continue to run, the demand flexibility service nevertheless remains a live option for the ESO’s control room to use if needed, in order to maintain its operational margins.