Demand Flexibility Service - savings for cutting back electricity

Roseybug

There's been a fair bit in the news about users with smart meters being paid by energy providers to cut usage at peak times - the "Demand Flexibility Service" (DFS)

For those without a participating energy supplier, there seem to be some mainly app-based alternatives.

Basic info about all schemes:

• User needs to choose just one provider to register with
• Once registered, keep look out for notification from provider the day before - you have to positively opt in
• Not all providers participate in all events - the bids for each event are downloadable from https://data.nationalgrideso.com/dfs/demand-flexibility-service-test-events and https://data.nationalgrideso.com/dfs/demand-flexibility-service-live-events
• Provider seems to get paid £3/kWh for test events, sometimes more for live events - they decide how much to pass on to the user.
• To get most value from the scheme, shift usage where possible to the window 1-4 hours prior to start time of event, and use as little as possible during the event.

The complete list of providers is here: 
https://www.nationalgrideso.com/industry-information/balancing-services/demand-flexibility/approved-provider-list

I thought a comparison of the different providers might be useful - but it's hard to find out what the terms and conditions are unless you are already a user - so if there are any users who are able to feed back on various providers, that would be really useful.

Key questions - 
What is their scheme called (if not Demand Flexibility Service)?
Is there a threshold % saving before user becomes eligible for any payment?
What are people receiving per £/kWh saved?
Any other bonuses/incentives?
Payment method and timing?
Ease of use?

List: (taken from web page above on 11/12/22 and filtering out non-domestic):

Standard domestic energy suppliers:

British Gas

EDF https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/help-centre/faq/demand-flexibility-service
Invitation only

E.ON Next https://blog.eonnext.com/entries/108-what-is-the-demand-flexibility-service?

Octopus Energy https://octopus.energy/saving-sessions/
"Octopus Saving Sessions", £2.25 per kWh saved, I'm not sure if there is a minimum threshold
Threads here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6403242/octopus-saving-session/p1 and https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6398593/octopus-saving-sessions/p1

OVO Energy https://www.ovoenergy.com/blog/ovo-news-power-move
"Power Move"

Shell Energy Retail https://www.shellenergy.co.uk/blog/post/we-re-taking-part-in-the-demand-flexibility-service

Other providers:

CarbonLaces  https://app.carbonlaces.com/ 
Can't see any info without giving them my address

Equiwatt  https://www.equiwatt.com/help/national-grid-winter-demand-flexibility-service
App-based, cannot see if threshold %, cannot see £/kWh, other bonuses: prize draws, referral bonus, other non-DFS "equivents" at different times

ev.energy https://www.ev.energy/demand-flexibility-service
Seems to be for those with compatible cars/chargers that can smart-charge, offers £10 per every 30 vehicle charges (>7 kWh) compared to their normal non-DFS incentive of £5 per 30 vehicle charges; website has monthly £1000 prize draw.

Hugo Energy App (via SMS) https://hugoenergyapp.co.uk/faqs/  and https://hugoenergyapp.co.uk/winter-cashback-term-conditions/
"Winter cashback", App-based, states 25% threshold, "The Grid will pay HUGO around £3 per kWh. We will pass on 80% of this payment to you, keeping 20% for administration expenses.", part of wider app that shows usage. Payout is after 31 March 2023. 

Labrador (via Perse Technology Ltd) https://www.thelabrador.co.uk/peak-payments
"Peak Payments", cannot see if there is a threshold or not, states £3/kWh but looks like only open to businesses so far (checked 4/1/23), seems to be part of a longer term scheme that pays back 3p/kWh for savings compared to predicted usage.

Loop.homes (via SMS) https://loop.homes/turn-down-and-save/ https://loop.homes/turn-down-and-save-faqs/ 
"Turn Down and Save", App-based, states minimum 40% saving threshold, "approx £2.50/kWh", part of wider app that shows usage. Paid by Amazon voucher in Spring 2023.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6402623/loop-app-turn-down-and-save 

myenergi (via Orange Power)
This company makes a smart car charger (Zappi) and has a forum mentioning trials, but I can't find data specifically about their DFS involvement.

Power Rewards App (via Orange Power) https://www.powerrewards.app/  https://www.powerrewards.app/orange-power-faq
No specific information on website. "If you reduce enough energy during a Power Rewards event, you'll earn points that you cash out to your PayPal account or receive a gift card." "We aim for an annual 20/80 split of revenue with our members"

SMS

VpowerU https://vpoweru.com/flexibility-products#
Mentions £2.50/kwh, cannot see if there is a threshold

Roseybug

For transparency - I don't have a compatible smart meter (yet), I'm not with any of the listed energy suppliers, I am already a user of the Equiwatt app for their non-DFS equivents. I'm getting a SMETS2 smart meter in January and researching options, thought it might be useful for others. Will try to update the first post as info filters in (but lots of work commitments this month so don't expect rapid updates)

paul991

if  your with octopus you just need to opt in and they email you a day before,as said loop have sent me text messages asking me to opt in with them too.in both cases its just best to download the apt.i think the deal is the same with who ever you opt in with

JohnPo

Re the OP, additional details one of the providesr here

ev.energy https://www.ev.energy/demand-flexibility-service

I accidentally managed to sign up with them as well Octopus - as they manage my smart EV charger (Rolec) - just sorting that out as you can only be signed up with one provider.

As other under Octopus thread have noted, this scheme should probably be renamed 'Make Loads by switching everything on in the special 3 Hour period earlier in the day'

Roseybug

Thanks JohnPo, have added that to the list. Feel free to comment on how it works for you.

Roseybug

paul991 said:

if  your with octopus you just need to opt in and they email you a day before,as said loop have sent me text messages asking me to opt in with them too.in both cases its just best to download the apt.i think the deal is the same with who ever you opt in with

The thing is, the deal doesn't seem to be exactly the same, the transparency prior to sign-up is rubbish on the whole, and the pros/cons will balance differently depending on person/lifestyle.

The_Frostmeister

I’m with EDF and tried to contact them today about the scheme and they appeared not to know about it.
A check on their website and it says limited invitation only at this stage and you can’t apply on-line or by phone.
What a disgrace. The scheme isn’t really being adopted by some of the major energy suppliers who’ve ‘signed up’ to it.
I hope EDF don’t get the savings automatically for customers who have genuinely made consumption cuts during these times and then not passed these on to consumers who would and have willingly taken part 🙁.
David

Mstty

It does tend to show the virtues of being an Octopus customer (I am not for transparency) they do tend to go all in and open to all for anything.

When we are done with our fix with Eon next they will be top of the list to move to.

Mstty

For info Octopus are paying £4 per kWh saved tomorrow and Loop £4.37. So even though loop.take a cut they can still deliver a decent payback. (Albeit Amazon vouchers at the end of the scheme)

bristolleedsfan

paul991 said:

if  your with octopus you just need to opt in and they email you a day before,as said loop have sent me text messages asking me to opt in with them too.in both cases its just best to download the apt.i think the deal is the same with who ever you opt in with

"The only way you can join Saving Sessions is with an electricity smart meter that sends regular half-hourly readings. To be eligible, we need to’ve received 80% of your readings for the last 20 days"

"have consented to, and not remove your consent, giving us half-hourly reads"

Shedman

 British Gas version is called Peak Save but signing up to the service is by invite only by email currently (and you don't seem to be able to request an invite as far as I can see)

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/peak-save.html