Electricity Grid Demand Flexibility - reduce your power usage and be rewarded

From an item in this month's always excellent 'Sustainable Wantage Newsletter' - see the original <here>.

You may have read in the media about the new National Grid Demand Flexibility Service, which allows people to help the electricity grid by reducing their electricity use for 30 minutes to 3 hours when the system is stressed. Customers will receive rewards for doing this, while the grid benefits by having a new way to respond to peaks in demand. This responsivity is especially important as we move towards higher levels of renewable power.

Although a little complex to set up, the scheme is worthwhile if you are:

• Worried about energy bills and actively looking for ways to reduce them.
• Wanting to learn more about your energy usage and the best ways to cut this back.
• Wanting to reduce household emissions.
• Have an electric vehicle and want to be smarter with charging it.
• Like to earn rewards.

If you'd like to find out more there are at least three possible ways to take part. We'd be interested to hear how get on - email Zoe.

1. Equiwatt has a trial in Oxfordshire this Spring - here's a summary. Download the app to take part in energy saving events, with the potential to earn up to £200 per year in rewards (in the form of points, which you can use to purchase vouchers or charity donations). A smart meter is not required - anyone (including people with pre-payment meters) can join in either manually or using smart plugs, although some aspects are only available with a smart meter. There's no need to switch supplier. Use referral code OXFO. This scheme includes extra local energy-saving events as well as the national ones, working with Project LEO (Local Energy Oxfordshire) to develop smart, local energy systems.
2. Power Rewards is another app based scheme, open to anyone with a smart meter, regardless of energy supplier. A notification is sent when help is needed and people get paid for participating in each 'event'.
3. Through your energy supplier, although only a few suppliers are registered. Here's the list of approved providers. You will probably need to have a smart meter to participate, depending on the scheme.