Octopus to offer free power at times of surplus renewables

Britain’s Octopus Energy said today it has partnered up with electricity distribution network operator UK Power Networks to offer households free electricity when there is excess renewable electricity on the local grid.

Customers participating in the Power-ups project will be notified of the times they can take advantage of free energy a day in advance, based on UK Power Networks’ forecasts.

Octopus, which serves 5.5 million customers through its retail arm, is initially making the service available to customers with connected smart meters in certain areas in East England.

The initiative is part of efforts towards demand flexibility to help balance the grid as wind and solar generation increases.

“In response to growing volumes of renewable power, UK Power Networks is the first distribution system operator to call for ‘demand turn up,’” said Sotiris Georgiopoulos, Director of Distribution System Operator at UK Power Networks. “We’re delighted to have seen a strong response to the requirements we issued in December, including from innovators like Octopus,” Georgiopoulos added.

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