Answer extracted from The Future of Utilities Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
What is the Power Responsive program and what is its mission?
Power Responsive is NISO's program that engages consumers directly to participate in energy markets by bringing their flexibility to the grid. The program works with consumers, suppliers, and market participants to stabilize energy demand and keep supply and demand in balance across the energy system.
From market understanding to consumer participation
Power Responsive came to life around 10 to 11 years ago as NISO's initiative to understand what demand-side participation could look like in practice. The program started as a concept and has evolved significantly over time. As detailed in this episode, Power Responsive now engages directly with consumers, helping them bring their flexibility to market and participate in the energy system like never before.
NISO—the National Energy System Operator—recognizes that flexibility is a critical component of keeping the lights on today and planning tomorrow's energy system. Jonathan Wisdom, who oversees balancing services development at NISO, explains that the program has evolved into an entity focused on consumer engagement rather than just market research. This shift reflects a broader commitment to making energy participation accessible to everyday consumers.
The strategic focus: stabilizing demand through flexibility
The core mission of Power Responsive is straightforward: stabilize demand for energy and maintain balance between supply and consumption. In a system that must operate holistically, this requires working across multiple participants—not just utilities and suppliers, but consumers themselves.
Recent collaboration with Ofgem and the UK government has sharpened Power Responsive's direction. The program now sits at the intersection of policy support and practical consumer action, driving forward flexibility participation across NISO's markets. For a deeper dive into how this flexibility translates to real-world energy security, the full conversation explores specific use cases and market mechanisms that make consumer flexibility valuable to the grid.
"We want to make sure that consumers have the opportunity to participate across our energy system and be really involved."
Jonathan Wisdom — Head of Balancing Services Development and Delivery, NISO. Wisdom oversees how parties participate in NISO's markets and is responsible for designing the pathways through which consumers can engage with the electricity system. His work bridges policy, operations, and consumer engagement to build a more flexible, resilient energy network.
The conversation also touches on the scale of the challenge ahead: moving from current flexibility participation levels to targets of 950 megawatts or 1 gigawatt by 2030 represents a significant acceleration in consumer engagement. The episode goes deeper into how EV fleets, residential storage, and other consumer assets will be mobilized to meet these ambitions and keep the energy system balanced as demand patterns shift.
See also
What role do female role models in senior leadership play in retaining women in utilities?
Female role models in senior leadership positions, particularly those who are also parents, signal to other women that career advancement in utilities is achievable. Visible examples demonstrate the feasibility of progression and sustained success in the sector.
How can experienced professionals avoid feeling phased out, and what role does mentoring play?
Experienced professionals can remain engaged by exploring mentoring opportunities, which transforms years of expertise into value. Mentoring encourages reflection and keeps senior talent actively involved in driving industry change.
What career advice does the Women's Utilities Network panel offer to young people entering the utilities industry?
Young people should approach utilities with an open mind about the breadth of available roles. The industry extends far beyond fieldwork and offers diverse pathways across technical, operational, and strategic functions.
Key takeaways
- Power Responsive engages consumers directly to bring flexibility to energy markets, enabling them to participate in grid balancing.
- The program evolved from theoretical market research into a practical tool for consumer engagement over its 10–11 year history.
- The mission is to stabilize energy demand and maintain supply-demand balance by working with consumers, suppliers, and market participants across the system.
- Recent government and regulator collaboration (Ofgem) has sharpened Power Responsive's strategic focus on accelerating flexibility participation toward 2030 targets.