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Energy companies may start offering households and businesses incentives such as free or reduced-cost electricity for operating appliances during times when energy supply exceeds demand, for example on sunny weekends. Currently, some providers give cheaper rates through the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) scheme to encourage users to shift their electricity consumption away from peak periods.
Beginning this week, the Demand Flexibility Scheme has been updated to also motivate consumers to increase electricity use during periods of surplus supply caused by favorable weather conditions. This change, approved last month by the regulator Ofgem, aims to maintain system resilience throughout the summer months while preventing the wastage of excess power.
Electricity demand typically drops in warmer months with longer daylight, while solar power generation simultaneously rises. NESO’s research points out that weather patterns are increasingly driving low demand, alongside the rise of smaller, localized electricity producers reducing dependence on large power plants. As a result, periods of surplus electricity are becoming more frequent.
Under the revised scheme, customers with smart meters and participating suppliers can receive rewards for using appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, or charging electric vehicles when green energy is abundant and demand is low, such as during weekends or public holidays. NESO notifies energy companies about the timing for the scheme’s activation, who then compensate providers capable of adjusting demand accordingly. The rewards may vary by location and can include free or discounted electricity or points redeemable for gift cards. Companies already involved include British Gas, Equiwatt, and Octopus Energy, with British Gas highlighting its existing PeakSave program that offers half-price electricity on Sunday afternoons during periods of renewable energy oversupply.
NESO emphasized the increasing complexity of managing the grid during low-demand times and indicated that more frequent use of available tools might be necessary to maintain system stability. In rare cases, power stations might even be asked to reduce output temporarily to ensure safety. Despite the growing role of renewables, the UK’s electricity grid still relies significantly on gas-fired power plants, which provide rapid output adjustments when renewable energy fluctuates. National Gas has assured that sufficient supplies, mainly from the UK Continental Shelf and Norway, are expected to meet demand this summer. Glenn Bryn-Jacobsen, the company’s director of energy systems and resilience, acknowledged concerns from geopolitical tensions but affirmed, “our forecasts indicate the market has the capacity to deliver sufficient supply to meet demand this summer.”
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