Households Urged To Cut Peak Power Use This Winter

Households and businesses are being encouraged to reduce their electricity consumption during peak times this upcoming winter in exchange for financial incentives, as part of an effort to prevent power outages. Last winter, approximately 1.6 million households and businesses collectively received nearly £11 million for participating in the “demand flexibility service.” Participants were able to earn rewards by adjusting their energy-intensive activities, like using washing machines or ovens, to off-peak hours, thus avoiding high-demand periods in the evening.

National Grid, responsible for managing the electricity system, has confirmed its intention to run the program again during the upcoming winter season and is calling for more people to join. This initiative aims to provide additional tools for managing the national electricity grid while also helping consumers and businesses in Great Britain save on their energy bills.

Jake Rigg, the corporate affairs director at National Grid’s Electricity System Operator, expressed eagerness for more consumers, both large and small, to participate in the demand flexibility service. However, it’s important to note that the scheme is subject to approval by Ofgem, the energy regulator, though approval is expected.

To participate, consumers must have a smart meter that monitors their real-time power usage, and their energy provider must be registered to allow participation in the program. National Grid believes that this initiative will assist with the cost of living and energy expenses during the winter. On average, households participating in the program last winter earned less than £10 in total, although those with exceptionally high energy usage earned more.

While energy bills for most households are projected to decrease by 7% to an average of £1,923 per year starting in October, experts have warned that many will still face financial challenges. A forthcoming National Grid report, expected to be released this month, is likely to highlight ongoing risks to power supplies this winter if sufficient imports of gas and electricity cannot be secured from Europe.

National Grid introduced the demand flexibility service last year amid concerns of potential controlled blackouts lasting up to three hours in the worst-case scenario. Fortunately, mild weather led to reduced energy consumption across Europe, and Britain experienced no power shortages during the winter. Rigg has stated that the risks for this upcoming winter are similar to those of the previous winter, with the potential for demand disconnection in the worst-case scenarios.

Article written by:Michael James