Good Energy announced on 8 November 2023 that it is joining National Grid's Demand Flexibility Service this winter, under the name Power Pause, and is inviting eligible households to register their interest1. The supplier said participating customers who reduce consumption during designated events will be rewarded with a credit on their energy bills1.
The scheme is open to customers with a smart meter providing half-hourly readings1. Good Energy said the credit will be "based on a rate set by National Grid for the electricity saved compared to normal usage"1. National Grid will identify 12 trial periods from November 2023 when it wants to flatten peaks in demand, and each event is expected to last from one to four hours1. Good Energy aims to give at least 24 hours' notice of each Power Pause so customers can choose whether to opt in, with a reminder on the day itself1.
The supplier framed the scheme as a way to reduce pressure on the grid during busy periods, avoiding the need to switch on back-up generators using fossil fuels1. Good Energy chief executive Nigel Pocklington said:
"Power Pause means our customers can go a step further in helping to create a greener electricity grid and be rewarded for it."
Good Energy said the scheme relies on people having a smart meter so their energy usage during each event can be accurately recorded and compared to normal consumption1. The company also said it sources its electricity from more than 2,000 UK renewables including wind farms, solar farms and hydroelectric projects1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Power Pause |
| Eligibility | Customers with a smart meter providing half-hourly readings |
| Reward | Credit on energy bills, at a rate set by National Grid |
| Trial periods | 12, from November 2023 |
| Event length | One to four hours |
| Notice given | At least 24 hours, plus a reminder on the day |
Why it matters for households
Demand flexibility schemes pay households for shifting electricity use away from peak periods rather than for using less overall. For a home with a smart meter, that means the meter's half-hourly readings become the basis for measuring how much was saved against normal consumption, and therefore how much credit is earned1. Households without a smart meter cannot take part on these terms, because the supplier says accurate recording of usage during each event is what the scheme depends on1.
The practical effect is that a household's ability to earn from the scheme rests on being able to move flexible loads, such as running appliances, to times outside the event window. The reward is set by National Grid, not by Good Energy, so the value per event is not fixed by the supplier1. Good Energy has not reported the rate it will pay, the total number of customers it expects to take part, or the size of credits households might receive.
What happens next
National Grid will identify 12 trial periods from November 20231. Good Energy is inviting eligible customers to register their interest now, and says it aims to give at least 24 hours' notice before each Power Pause, with a reminder on the day1.