UK100 chief executive Christopher Hammond outlines how flexibility will be key to the transition towards clean power.
Britain’s electricity system is transforming at pace. As we race toward Clean Power 2030 and beyond, the shift from centralised fossil fuel generation to a decentralised system dominated by offshore wind, solar and smart technologies is well underway. But this transition creates a challenge (and opportunity) that doesn’t get the attention it deserves: how do we match a changing supply and increasing demand?
The answer is flexibility — the ability to adjust when we consume, generate or store electricity. And local authorities are uniquely placed to help deliver it.
This week, UK100, UK Power Networks DSO and the Association for Decentralised Energy launch Unlocking Flexibility: A Guide for Local Authorities, a practical guide designed to help councils across England participate in flexibility markets. The guide builds on an award-winning partnership between UK100 and UK Power Networks DSO that has developed practical tools for local authorities on everything from Local Area Energy Planning resources to EV charging infrastructure guidance.
The case for local authority engagement is compelling. UK Power Networks DSO delivered £114 million in customer benefits through flexibility services in 2024/25, up from £91 million the previous year. These are not abstract gains. Flexibility helps keep energy bills down, reduces the need for costly grid upgrades, strengthens local energy security and enables more renewable generation to connect to networks that might otherwise be constrained.
Local authorities are ideally positioned to contribute. They oversee a diverse range of assets that can provide flexibility when managed intelligently: EV charging infrastructure, batteries, heat pumps, solar farms and public buildings. The minimum threshold for local DSO markets is just 10kW, and councils can pool smaller assets together to meet requirements. Beyond their own estates, local authorities can act as enablers, encouraging residents, businesses, schools and community groups to participate, broadening the benefits across their communities.
The rewards are tangible. Indicative annual revenues of around £65 per 7kW EV charger, £35 per heat pump and £240 per 4.8kW battery may sound modest individually, but aggregated across council estates and communities, they represent meaningful income streams for cash-strapped local authorities. More importantly, they represent local leaders taking an active role in the energy system, rather than authorities being passive consumers.
Yet flexibility remains underutilised by the public sector. During focus groups we conducted with councils while developing this guide, local authority officers consistently highlighted the barriers: complexity in understanding different markets, uncertainty about revenue guarantees, confusion over contract requirements and a lack of internal capacity to navigate unfamiliar territory. One council told us they had spent three and a half years trying to engage with the process. Another described it as “mind-numbingly difficult to get your head around.”
Another involved in putting the guide together, said: “having a guide that speaks our language — and creates a space we can genuinely inhabit alongside network operators — is invaluable.” And that’s why this guide matters. It cuts through jargon to explain what flexibility is, which assets can participate and how to get started. It outlines both DSO markets and national services like the Demand Flexibility Service. It debunks common myths; that flexibility is only for large-scale operators, that extensive automation is required, or that this is a temporary opportunity. And it provides a clear signpost for councils at every stage of their flexibility journey.
The guide also reflects a broader shift in how network operators engage with local government. UK Power Networks DSO has established a dedicated Local Net Zero team supporting councils with long-term energy planning, offering tailored services and free digital tools. This collaborative approach, which was recognised with the Strategic Partner of the Year award at the Utility Week Awards last year, demonstrates what becomes possible when energy networks and local authorities work together.
Flexibility matters for reasons beyond revenue too. As electrification accelerates through heat pumps and electric vehicles, demand on local networks will surge. Without flexible energy practices, this growth risks being constrained by network capacity, delaying the connections that councils and communities need. Flexibility provides a release valve, allowing more decarbonising technologies to connect while limiting the need for costly and time-consuming infrastructure upgrades.
Local Area Energy Plans are identifying flexibility opportunities across the country, but too often the detail on how councils can actually engage remains vague. This guide provides that missing link between strategic planning and practical participation.
The transition to a cleaner, smarter energy system will succeed or fail at local level. Local leaders understand their communities. They know which buildings need upgrading, where EV charging will have maximum impact and how to engage residents in behaviour change. They can convene local businesses, schools and community organisations to aggregate flexibility at scale.
Local authorities are not alone on this journey and working with their DSO or flexibility aggregators can unlock the support, expertise and routes to market that make participation both practical and worthwhile. But until now they have lacked accessible, practical guidance to unlock that support. This guide, developed with input from councils themselves, is tailored to their circumstances and the critical first step in addressing that gap.
The energy system is becoming more decentralised, more digital and more dynamic. Local authorities can either watch from the sidelines or help shape the transformation. Flexibility gives them a seat at the table.
By Christopher Hammond, UK100 chief executive and former council leader
