Households in Great Britain will be encouraged to increase their electricity consumption this summer to help balance the national grid and lower bills, as record levels of renewable energy are expected. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) plans to issue market notices urging consumers to run appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, or charge electric vehicles, during periods of surplus wind and solar power.
Energy suppliers may offer heavily discounted or free electricity during these times. While over 2 million households already benefit from off-peak rates, this marks the first time the system operator will use such incentives to manage grid stability. The move aims to avoid costly payments to shut down wind and solar farms when demand is low, costs that ultimately fall on consumer bills.
The initiative comes as households face a rise in the energy price cap to nearly £2,000 a year from July, driven by global market costs. Great Britain set a double solar record earlier this month and expects the first summer of entirely zero-carbon electricity. However, a bright, breezy weekend could overload the grid, risking blackouts due to transmission bottlenecks.
Businesses and manufacturers will also be able to boost demand for better rates. Future grid upgrades and increased use of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and green hydrogen are expected to reduce the need for curtailment payments. Meanwhile, Great Britain has sufficient gas supplies for summer, relying on North Sea gas from Norway and the UK, despite global supply concerns from the Middle East conflict.
