Simply Flex is our demand flexibility programme. It provides the on-site technology, market integration and insights to help you avoid high prices, benefit from low-cost periods, earn revenue by supporting the grid during times of stress, and reduce carbon emissions.
In essence, demand flexibility is the ability to adjust your electricity use. It involves activities such as shifting energy use to lower cost periods, reducing non-critical loads during peak periods, and utilising stored energy, such as batteries, to support the grid by injecting electricity into the network. This approach helps optimise existing infrastructure, minimise costs, and enhance grid stability.
We offer three ways to participate in demand flexibility with Simply Flex:
Get rewarded for responding to short duration grid events, by either shutting down equipment for up to a minute (for Fast Instantaneous Reserves) or up to 30 minutes (for Sustained Instantaneous Reserves).
Respond to requests from your local network (if available in your area) to help manage longer-duration grid constraints, such as during winter and morning and evening peaks, when electricity demand is high.
Shift your electricity usage to when your energy and network tariffs are cheaper, or in response to spot prices, which can fluctuate every half hour in response to demand and generation.
Simply Flex helps you use electricity smarter, reducing costs, lowering carbon emissions and contributing to a more resilient, affordable and sustainable electricity system.
Simply Flex can help you save costs by notifying you of upcoming periods with low and high energy costs. It also enables you to participate in demand response programmes where you’re incentivised to reduce or shift your electricity usage during peak demand periods, reducing costs and lowering your carbon footprint.
Simply Flex provides a way to earn revenue by supporting the electricity grid at times of stress. This involves having equipment available to turn off or reduce power, if called on by the grid operator – Transpower. It helps support New Zealand’s Reserve market, ensuring a secure and reliable electricity supply across New Zealand.
We typically install our Simply Hub if you want your equipment to respond dynamically in real-time to price parameters. It’s a smart way to stay responsive and efficient while retaining full control over how your equipment responds.
You’ll also need to install it if you want to provide grid support to the Reserve markets due to the fast response time required.
We’ll help you select suitable electrical equipment, identify metering and control requirements and assess the potential revenue you can expect from participating. Once we’ve agreed on the terms of your participation, we’ll install technology to signal when to ramp up and down. We generally cover all the upfront costs, including equipment and installation.
If you’d like a more comprehensive assessment of how to optimise your operations and increase flexibility, we also offer a range of advisory services. These services support your goals and explore elements such as large electrification projects, on-site generation (e.g., solar) and battery storage options.
See how we’re helping businesses across New Zealand make meaningful change.
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Demand flexibility benefits both business and the electricity system by supporting resilience, affordability, and sustainability. As demand grows and more intermittent renewables, such as wind and solar come online, your flexibility can help balance fluctuations in supply, lower emissions, reduce infrastructure needs, and lower electricity prices.
Many industries, such as cold storage, food processing, manufacturing, data centres, pools, and water treatment facilities, can support demand flexibility.
Suitable equipment includes:
If you have an asset that stores energy or can adjust its operation without disrupting operations, you may be able to use it to help you save costs and stabilise the grid.
Your equipment doesn’t need to run constantly, but the total average consumption of flexible equipment across the site should be at least 200 kW.
Yes, your site can be located anywhere across New Zealand.
No, you can participate in Simply Flex regardless of who supplies your electricity.
