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Through smart operation of a distribution network that serves over eight million customers, National Grid’s Distribution System Operator (DSO) has managed to avoid 450 GWh of customer curtailment in the six months from April 2025 to September 2025. This represents an impressive 20% reduction against the total curtailment necessary for maintenance and upgrades in the previous 12 months.
In April 2025, the DSO set itself a target to reduce annual curtailment by 300 GWh during planned outages for system maintenance. This target has exceeded in just a few months, with September 2025’s figure of 450 GWh of avoided curtailment representing a huge positive impact for customers of National Grid Electricity Distribution.
Curtailing the amount of locally generated power going into the system during maintenance periods is vital for safe working, and we access this curtailment by asking local energy producers to turn down the amount that they generate. However, it does mean that energy powering local homes and businesses needs to come from other sources, often from much further away. Reducing curtailment at these times allows the DSO to maximise the amount of affordable and clean energy that is locally generated.
“Beating our target is great news for local energy generators across our region, and points towards continued opportunities for growth,” comments Helen Sawdon, Head of Operations for the DSO.
“Keeping our energy system safe and reliable naturally requires us to take some of our network equipment out of service temporarily while we undertake maintenance and upgrades.
“By focusing on how we model network outages, we can precisely target the curtailment to exactly where and when it’s needed. This keeps power flowing for longer – particularly from local low carbon providers who are helping to deliver more affordable power through our flexibility market, lowering both customer bills and carbon emissions at the same time.
“The less we curtail our customers, the more attractive it is for energy producers to connect into the system. This increases market competition that lowers energy costs and moves us towards our vision of abundant locally generated, clean and affordable energy powering the communities and businesses we serve,” Helen concludes.
The DSO expects to continue reducing customer curtailment until the end of the year and beyond. These results (and other performance indicators) are highlighted in the most recently quarterly Key Performance Indictor report, which can be downloaded from the DSO’s Publications Library: https://dso.nationalgrid.co.uk/resource-centre/publications-library