UK Power Networks' Distribution System Operator (DSO) has secured a 100% low carbon flexibility portfolio for the first time, the company announced on 13 October 2025. The tender awarded 20MW of capacity across 217 local zones to nine energy flexibility providers, which UK Power Networks says is enough to power over 13,000 households across London, the East and South East1.
The nine providers registered more than 9,000 low carbon assets between them, including smart electric vehicle chargers, batteries and heat pumps. EV chargers alone accounted for 63% of the capacity awarded. UK Power Networks said nearly every asset came from residential and commercial customers1.
The company describes its flexibility market as running bi-annual long-term tenders alongside day-ahead auctions, and says it has introduced a single standard contract for flexibility providers to simplify participation1.
Alex Howard, head of flexibility markets at UK Power Networks DSO, said:
"Our first fully green flexibility tender is a real milestone. When I started in the industry in 2015, demand-side flexibility meant a diesel generator at a factory."
Karl Bach, co-founder and CEO of Axle Energy, one of the participating providers, said the results "showcase the power of distributed flexibility, and the ease of using assets that people already own, like EVs and electric heating"1.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Capacity awarded | 20MW |
| Local zones | 217 |
| Providers | 9 |
| Assets registered | More than 9,000 |
| Share from EV chargers | 63% |
| Households equivalent | Over 13,000 |
Why it matters for households
Flexibility services pay owners of smart chargers, batteries and heat pumps to shift when their equipment draws power, so the network can absorb demand without building more capacity. The fact that nearly all assets in this round came from homes and businesses, and that EV chargers supplied most of the capacity, indicates that household equipment is now a material part of how UK Power Networks manages its network1.
For a household, participation runs through a flexibility provider rather than directly with the network operator, and payments depend on the provider's terms. The announcement does not state rates, contract lengths or how payments reach individual households, and none of these figures have been reported1. The wider shift towards distribution system operators means local networks increasingly buy services from customers rather than only from large generators.
What happens next
UK Power Networks says its next tender round is open for participation, with details at its flexibility portal. The company has not published dates for that round in this announcement1.