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Breadcrumb

  • Industry information

Welcome to Balancing Services

We procure services to balance demand and supply and to ensure the security and quality of electricity supply across Britain's transmission system.

On this page you will find further information about the Balancing Services that the ESO uses.

Balancing services quick links

Payments calendar
How to supply your services
Guides and documents
Our core service categories
Frequency response service
  • Dynamic containment (DC)
  • Auction trial
Reserve services
  • Fast Reserve
  • Short-term Operating Reserve (STOR)
  • Super SEL
System security services
  • System Operator to System Operator (SO to SO)
Reactive power services
  • Obligatory Reactive Power Service (ORPS)
Balancing mechanism
  • Balancing Mechanism Wider Access
Other
  • Trading

New to market?

We always want to increase competition for delivery of our services to reduce costs to the end consumer, so we’re keen to talk to new providers of balancing services.

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How to supply your services

National Grid ESO is focused on becoming a better buyer of balancing services.
We provide helpful documents to help you understand the end to end experience if you’re thinking about supplying us with your services.

Read more

Existing providers

Resources and useful information if you're already a provider. 

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Settlements

Find links to explanations for payments, upcoming invoice dates and other frequently asked questions about settlements.

Find out more

How we’re transforming the market

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Markets Transformation Roadmap to 2025

Learn more about how we are developing new and existing markets to reach our net zero ambition.

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NOA Pathfinder Projects

Our Pathfinder Projects aim to find solutions to some of the challenges of the electricity system with increasing amounts of renewable and low carbon generation.

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Future of balancing services

A smart, flexible system that makes the best use of all the energy sources available will enable us to meet our customers’ needs in a balanced, efficient and economical way.

Help and support

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Glossary

See descriptions of acronyms whether it’s STOR or FFR, visit our jargon busting glossary.

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Guides and documents

Download our guidance documents for all things Balancing Services.

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Contact Balancing Services

See contact details for our friendly Markets team who are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

National Grid ESO
© National Grid 2021

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