Households Offered Financial Rewards to Reduce Cooling Use During Peak Demand Periods

Residents across North West England are being offered the chance to earn over £85 by participating in a new energy flexibility initiative designed to help manage electricity demand during warmer weather.

The project, known as CoolDown, is funded through Ofgem and will investigate how households with air conditioning units or cooling-enabled heat pumps can support the electricity network by temporarily reducing energy consumption during periods of peak demand on summer evenings.

Participants will receive notifications via the equiwatt smartphone app requesting that they briefly lower or switch off cooling systems during designated events. The reduction in electricity consumption will be tracked through smart meter data, with households receiving rewards based on the amount of energy they help save.

Those joining the trial can earn more than £85 through a combination of registration incentives, participation payments and feedback surveys linked to the research programme.

CoolDown is one of several projects supported through Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund, which aims to encourage new technologies and approaches that will help create a smarter, more flexible and lower-carbon energy network.

With climate change expected to increase the frequency of hotter summers, electricity demand from domestic cooling systems is forecast to rise significantly. The trial seeks to understand how demand-side flexibility could help reduce pressure on the grid during high-use periods while maintaining reliable energy supplies.

The initiative is being delivered by SP Electricity North West in partnership with energy flexibility provider equiwatt. Other organisations involved include Oaktree Power, Guidehouse Europe, Ricardo-AEA, Impact Research, National Grid Electricity Distribution and UCL Consultants.

Joanne Edwards, Chief of Staff at equiwatt, said the project provides households with an opportunity to contribute to the future of Britain's energy system while benefiting financially.

She said: "We're pleased to be involved in the CoolDown project, which demonstrates how consumers can play an active role in supporting a more flexible and resilient electricity network while earning rewards for their participation.

"As temperatures continue to rise and cooling technologies become more common in homes, understanding how energy use can be shifted away from peak periods will become increasingly important. The equiwatt platform makes it simple for households to take part and be rewarded for their contribution."

Richard Moulton, Head of Innovation at SP Electricity North West, said the project will help electricity network operators prepare for changing consumption patterns driven by warmer weather.

He said: "As cooling technologies become more widely used in UK homes, it is essential that networks understand how this additional demand can be managed effectively.

"CoolDown will provide valuable evidence on how flexibility services can help maintain network reliability during periods of increased demand while supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy system."

Marzia Zafar, Deputy Director for Energy Systems Management and Security at Ofgem, highlighted the role of innovation in modernising the UK's energy infrastructure.

She said: "Projects such as CoolDown demonstrate the importance of innovation in developing a more flexible and efficient energy network. Through the Strategic Innovation Fund, we are supporting initiatives that place consumers at the heart of the energy transition while helping to build a more resilient system for the future."

The trial is open to households located within the SP Electricity North West distribution area that have a functioning smart meter and use either air conditioning equipment or cooling heat pumps.

Throughout the summer, participants will receive invitations through the equiwatt app to take part in a series of short demand reduction events during peak evening periods.