Flexibility markets

What is Flexibility?

Flexibility is a key tool that helps us manage this growing network demand while keeping costs down for everyone. It supports the UK’s Net Zero goals by encouraging customers to adjust how and when they use electricity.

Flexibility works by offering payments to customers who can change their energy use during busy times on the network. For example, a homeowner might charge their electric vehicle at a quieter time, or a business might turn on a generator to help ease demand.

By shifting energy use, flexibility reduces strain on the network, making it more efficient. It also avoids costly network upgrades to handle temporary demand spikes.

Once we identify where on our network there is a need for flexibility, we will offer the opportunity of being a flexibility provider through a procurement process.

For an overview of Flexibility, you can read our Flex in Five document, which gives a brief overview of Flexibility, and a clear and easy view of how we procure Flexibility Services at National Grid Electricity Distribution.