The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has announced metering rule changes  that will allow consumers with an electric vehicle charger, heat pump or battery to sign up through a participating energy supplier or third-party aggregator to help balance the electricity network.
NESO said the change could allow will help reduce balancing costs, boost affordability and drive clean economic growth. Until now most devices were unable to participate, but new rules brought in by NESO, will open up participation in the Balancing Mechanism to households and businesses.     
Fintan Slye, Chief Executive of NESO, said: “Abolishing outdated metering requirements to allow millions of households and businesses to benefit from rewards for flexing their energy use is an exciting and historic milestone in the way Britain is powered.     
“Consumers will now be free to play an active and regular role in supporting sustainability from the comfort of their own home or workplace. And NESO will be able to utilise aggregated assets instead of switching on more expensive power stations – reducing costs for everyone, and helping us on the journey towards clean power by 2030.” 
The changes mean that if generation is high, to avoid wasting green energy, an aggregator or supplier might for example automatically charge EVs or batteries faster with clean surplus energy. Or they might temporarily increase heat pump temperature to prewarm a premises or home in a way that works for the consumer.      
Conversely, if national demand is high, consumers might agree to have their EV charging automatically paused or slowed down or opt to have their battery export small amounts of stored energy. In return they would have benefits such as lower tariffs offered by their supplier or aggregator.