UK: National Grid’s Distribution System Operator is launching a new flexibility service designed to strengthen network resilience during severe weather events.
The service, called Responder, will encourage customers and flexibility providers to shift electricity use into earlier time windows ahead of forecast storms. This could include charging electric vehicles, pre-heating homes, running appliances or completing industrial processes before severe weather arrives.
During storms, damage to parts of the electricity network can require alternative operating arrangements to maintain supplies. While these measures are necessary, they can place additional pressure on healthy assets. Responder aims to reduce this risk by lowering demand during critical periods.
National Grid DSO said the service will enable demand turn-up flexibility to be accessed across its entire licence area ahead of storm events. The approach builds on SP Energy Networks’ previous StormFlex trial, but National Grid said this is the first time a DSO is procuring resilience-focused flexibility at scale across a whole network, rather than in specific constraint management zones.
By moving demand away from high-risk periods, the service is intended to reduce stress on the network when resilience is most important. It may also help customers prepare for possible power interruptions by ensuring key equipment, vehicles and energy storage systems are ready for use.
Responder builds on National Grid DSO’s existing Operational Utilisation product and is expected to provide insight into how flexibility can support resilience in future network operations.
National Grid DSO plans to procure the service in summer 2026, with delivery running from September 2026 to March 2027.
Cathy McClay, Managing Director at National DSO, said: “Responder is an exciting step forward in the evolution of flexibility services and will help us better understand how flexibility can support both customers and system operators in preparing for extreme weather events.”
Source: National Grid
