Consumer-led flexibility achieved a major breakthrough this week with the first-ever Westminster Hall debate dedicated to the topic. The ADE: Demand motion, Consumer-Led Flexibility for a Just Transition, was tabled by Claire Young MP and deliberated in the Chamber on Tuesday morning, marking a significant moment for the consumer-led flexibility sector.
It follows months of repeated pressure from ADE: Demand urging the Government to give flexibility the same level of priority as power generation. The Chamber saw cross-party support from across the House, demonstrating the topic’s critical importance to the wider national energy debate.
MPs discussed the findings from ADE: Demand’s Consumer-Led Clean Power report, which highlights that unlocking 10GW of consumer-led flexibility, the equivalent of one third of today’s entire gas generation capacity, has the potential to slash at least £115 from household bills by the end of this decade.
For the Government, the key messages were clear – to truly unleash the benefits of flexibility we need strong leadership and accountability, fix the broken markets and empower every consumer. With 2026 around the corner, time is running out for us to get this right.
Sarah Honan, Head of ADE: Demand, stated: “Consumer-Led Flexibility is the single most powerful, untapped weapon we have to cut bills, secure our energy supply and meet the Government’s 2030 Clean Power mission. This debate is an important milestone, demonstrating clear Parliamentary recognition of the pivotal role consumers will play in achieving our national clean power objectives. Going into the new year, we will not let up and ensure government is sticking to the mark, through our Industry Progress Board.”
Energy Minister, Michael Shanks MP, said during the debate: “Can I thank the ADE for all of their engagement and expertise on this matter and to all those organisations who are working in this space who raise really innovative and creative ideas for how we can make this happen faster... it is crucial that we continue to hear that.”
Claire Young MP said during the debate: “It is time to give people the chance to take control, to be active participants in our energy system rather than being at its mercy.”
You can watch the full session here: Parliamentlive.tv - Westminster Hall
As well as view the Hansard transcript here: Net Zero Transition: Consumer-led Flexibility - Hansard - UK Parliament