Flexibility is the ability to shift the timing and location of the consumption and generation of electricity, to allow distribution network operators (DNOs) like SSEN to balance supply and demand and to manage constraints on the network cost effectively. Flexibility could reduce the costs of modernising the UK energy system by up to £10 billion a year and create up to 24,000 jobs by 2050.

The Household Or Microbusiness Energy flexibility (HOMEflex) project aims to ensure the domestic flexibility market is inclusive, fair, and transparent, with clear lines of accountability to ensure flexibility service providers abide by their commitments and to guarantee customers are protected, respected and rewarded. It will also benefit the participants, who will be able to demonstrate their credibility to customers.

HOMEflex partners, Flex Assure, established by the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) have supported on the development of a Code of Conduct for domestic flexibility services, following on from qualitative research conducted by the Centre of Sustainable Energy (CSE) with a diverse group of consumers to understand how the services provided can address the concerns and worries of customers and build their trust. SSEN have been supporting the ongoing engagement process, where the code has been drafted in conjunction with a range of stakeholders on an industry code working group, aided by Government observers. The draft code will now be brought for consultation to further ensure perspectives are gained from right across the domestic and micro-business flexibility marketplace, ultimately ensuring consumers’ priorities and concerns are at the heart of the project. 

As SSEN look ahead, with winter preparations well underway and their responsibilities to customers in mind, they’re pleased to see that the Code of Conduct will be used ahead of schedule by National Grid ESO in their Winter 23/24 Demand Flexibility Service (DFS). The code acts as the foundation to a well-functioning flexibility market that is shaped around transparency and inclusivity, and SSEN are delighted that the Code of Conduct is gaining positive industry exposure, ultimately contributing to their vision for a just transition to net zero, in which everyone who wishes to participate, can do so with confidence.

Simon O’Loughlin, Project Manager for HOMEflex at SSEN, said:
“I’m pleased to see HOMEflex gaining such positive exposure and that the culmination of efforts put in by Flex Assure, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and all contributing Stakeholders has been recognised as so valuable and credible that the Code of Conduct will be used by National Grid ESO this winter.

I feel optimistic for the future of the project, as this will allow us to do more engagement and have increased market feedback to ensure the final Code, and hopefully a Compliance Scheme, will be even more beneficial, robust, and helpful for consumers across the country.”
Natasha Mills from Flex Assure said:
“We are grateful to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks for the opportunity to work on this project and for the work undertaken by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, helping us ensure that the customer perspective was at the forefront of the code drafting process.

Working with a group of industry stakeholders and customer representatives, we have created a code to help customers to feel confident in the energy flexibility services they receive, as they become ever more important in driving a cost-effective, secure, net zero electricity system.”

If you wish to attend the HOMEflex Code of Conduct Open Consultation Webinar on Mon 3rd July 2023, please reserve your spot here.

HOMEflex is a two-year project which has received Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) funding of £331,000 and is supported by the Energy Networks Association’s (ENA) Open Networks Project. To read the HOMEflex report, click here.