Demand Flexibility Service (DFS)

Providing the service

This service is open to as many participants as possible, who need to meet the following requirements:

• All assets would require half-hourly metering.
• All assets must be able to respond for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• 1 MW min unit size/100 MW max unit size.
• Providers need to be able to respond to an instruction for day-ahead delivery.
• Providers must provide relevant HH metering and baselining data to demonstrate delivery of demand reduction.

The following exclusions apply:

• Assets that are dispatchable via the Balancing Mechanism, or participate in Ancillary services or DNO services.
• Assets that have a Capacity Market contract.

How the service works

• DFS began on 1 November 2022. 
• ESO will run a maximum of 12 tests for participants entering from 1 November 2022, where participants will receive dispatch instructions with the opportunity to receive a Guaranteed Acceptance Price for tests. 
• Four tests will take place in the first full month parties are signed up, followed by two tests in each subsequent month.
• During a DFS tender, once bids from participants are accepted, participants will contact end consumers/asset owners and request that they deliver demand turn down for the specified bid window.
• Parties can continue to sign up to the service after 1 November 2022.
• Response is required for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Tender submissions are Pay as Bid.
• The service will run until March 2023.

Note: For consumers wishing to flex electricity use and benefit from the service, you can do so via your energy supplier, who will contact you directly if they are taking part in our service.

There are also number of organisations who can provide access to the service by linking directly to your smart meter data which is accessed via an app or online. Please note households can only take part with one DFS provider only. Please see the list of approved providers in the tab on this page. 

Onboarding process

If you are an energy supplier or aggregator looking to participate in the Demand Flexibility Service, here are the next steps to complete as part of your onboarding journey:

1. Register for a Single Markets Platform (SMP) account and set up your units.
2. Complete an IT process check (we will invite you to complete this when ready).
3. Let us know when you are starting your campaign by completing this form.
4. We'll add you to the list of approved providers. 

If you would like to be rewarded for reducing your electricity demands on the grid at certain times, but your retail energy supplier is not part of the ESO’s Demand Flexibility service, please take a look at our approved provider list. There are a number of organisations who can provide access to the service by linking directly to your smart meter data which is accessed via an app or online. Please note households can only take part with one DFS provider only.