National Grid Flexibility Service ‘not worth it’ for some households

Energy discounts have been offered to households who power off during certain times, however, people involved in the project have hit back on the benefits, deeming it unworthy. 

The National Grid’s Demand Flexibility Service will be offered for a second time to eligible households between 16:30 and 18:00 tonight. The scheme ran for the first time yesterday amid concerns electricity supply margins may be ‘tighter than normal’ as the cold winter months have prompted people to heat their homes.    

According to National Grid’s electricity system operator, more than a million households and businesses in England, Scotland and Wales signed up to take part. However, the scheme is only available to homes with a smart meter, leaving out thousands of other households. 

Originally introduced last November, the project is scheduled to run until March this year. 

26 energy suppliers are involved in the scheme including, British Gas, EDF, Octopus Energy and Shell – to make money from the scheme, as well as having a smart meter, you must be signed up through your provider. 

Additionally, the cost-of-living crisis has left millions of households struggling to pay their energy bills. An investigation conducted by Ofgem at the beginning of this year, revealed some energy companies had forced households onto prepayment meters as a way of keeping their business up. 

In a speech at the Institute for Government on Monday, Johnathan Brearley, Chief Executive of Ofgem, said: ‘I am concerned about the sharp growth in households struggling to pay their bills being switched over to pre-payment meters, sometimes without their even knowing about it, leaving them without heating.

‘I have heard directly from people who have faced poor practice from suppliers. It is simply not acceptable that vulnerable customers are left in the dark and cold in winter.’

With The National Grid scheme only including people on smart metres, as a lot of people have been urged to switch to pre-paid ones, meaning the amount of people they are hoping with save power, will be limited. 

Alongside helping people save money, reducing the amount of energy used in households also helps to reduce carbon emissions and save power. Writing in the Guardian, Fintan Slye, Director of National Grid’s Electricity System Operator has claimed he wants businesses and homes to become ‘virtual power plants’.

Mr Slye is optimistic the scheme will help save around two gigawatts of power – enough for around 1 million homes.

Photo by Jason Blackeye