National Grid PLC (LSE:NG.)’s system operating wing (ESO) is poised to ask factories and businesses to reduce energy usage this winter, amid a return of the demand flexibility service.
Under the demand flexibility events, factories and businesses from across different industries will be asked to cut usage at peak times in order to help keep lights on in the UK.
“We are particularly keen to engage industrial and commercial users of energy,” ESO corporate affairs director Jake Rigg said.
“The demand flexibility service was […] not exclusively, but principally used by households last winter. Whilst we still very much want that to continue, we’re really pushing to get industrial and commercial users,” he added.
Some 3.3GW of power was saved during 13 demand flexibility events last winter, as the ESO fought to prevent power cuts amid supply squeezes resulting from the Ukraine war.
National Grid had already announced last week that the service would return this coming winter, allowing homes to save money on bills once again by reducing usage at peak times.
The scheme will now be pushed toward businesses ahead of the colder months, after many chose not to take part last year, according to the system operator.
“We’ll be working really closely with different industries to […] make it as attractive as possible,” Rigg continued.
“For businesses that obviously are struggling with energy costs as well, it could be quite helpful from that point of view.”