Winter Demand Flexibility Results: Lessons for Energy Consultants

Each winter places the greatest strain on the electricity system, and it is during these months that demand flexibility proves its worth. The 2025/26 season has now closed, and the pattern it reveals is unmistakable: flexibility is no longer an experiment confined to large industrial users. It is becoming a mainstream commercial product — and one that sits squarely within the remit of the modern energy consultant.

From Pilot to Product

What began as a system operator's contingency measure during the energy crisis has matured into a structured market. Aggregators now offer routine participation to commercial sites, paying customers to reduce or shift discretionary load during periods of system stress. The events of this winter were more frequent, better signposted and more widely subscribed than in previous seasons — a sign of a market settling into its stride.

The Consultant's Opportunity

Most SME customers have neither the time nor the expertise to assess their own flexibility potential. This is precisely where a knowledgeable consultant adds value. Identifying which loads can be shifted without disrupting operations, matching the customer to a suitable aggregator, and explaining the financial mechanics are advisory services in their own right — and they complement, rather than compete with, traditional procurement work.

• Audit the load profile — identify discretionary, shiftable and interruptible loads from half-hourly data
• Match the customer to an aggregator whose terms suit their size and sector
• Set realistic expectations — flexibility income is a useful supplement, not a primary revenue line for most SMEs
• Layer the services — pair flexibility origination with procurement and energy management for a fuller offering

Lessons from the Season

Three lessons stand out. First, reliability matters: customers who responded consistently to events earned materially more than those who participated sporadically. Second, data is the enabler — sites with smart or sub-metering could prove their reductions and were rewarded accordingly. Third, the businesses that benefited most were those that had prepared in advance, with clear internal processes for responding when an event was called.

“Flexibility rewards preparation. The customers who treated it as a planned operational routine, rather than an occasional scramble, captured the most value.”

— CAMB Editorial

Building It Into Your Practice

For consultants looking to add flexibility to their service line, the groundwork laid this winter is encouraging. The infrastructure required — smart meters, half-hourly data, aggregator relationships — is increasingly accessible. As the CAMB marketplace develops, connecting consultants directly with aggregators and flexibility providers will make originating participation simpler still.

Key Takeaways

• Demand flexibility has matured from pilot scheme to mainstream commercial product
• Consultants are well placed to audit load profiles and originate participation for SME clients
• Reliability and preparation drive the strongest returns; sporadic participation underperforms
• Smart and sub-metering data is the practical enabler of credible flexibility offerings
• Flexibility complements procurement — it is an additional service line, not a replacement