National Grid ESO Keeps Demand Flexibility Service to Prevent Blackouts this Winter

The DFS was introduced in 2022 due to Europe's gas squeeze caused by the war in Ukraine.

The operator is consulting on the terms of the scheme.

The ESO expects sufficient capacity to meet demand this winter and a margin of 8%, which is in line with most winter periods.

There will be less coal-fired generation held in reserve, and a reliance on coal to fill the void will be constrained.

The UK played a pivotal role in helping supply the continent with gas last winter.

Britain tends to import electricity from its North Sea neighbours during the winter months.

The ESO expects there to be sufficient operational surplus in its base case throughout winter, but gas and electricity costs may still rise over the colder months as demand spikes.

The energy price cap will kick in again from July, and the level of the cap is well down on the estimate under the government's energy price guarantee.