Chameleon Technology’s consumer brand ivie has partnered with Samsung to encourage homes with smart meters to reduce their electricity usage at specific times when supply is most in demand.
Last winter saw the inaugural UK-wide Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) run by National Grid ESO, the electricity system operator for Great Britain. This DFS scheme saw households up and down the country be rewarded for delaying or adapting their electricity usage away from busy periods.
Following the launch of the ivie energy saving app – a free app with over 40,000 active users that is specifically designed to help users save energy and carbon in the home by integrating with domestic energy smart meters – ivie took part in a trial DFS scheme alongside other UK energy providers.
The ivie Flex and Save scheme was a great success, encouraging ivie app users to flex – move their electricity use away from peak times – and save – save energy, carbon and money – by using less electricity. Participants saved money from reducing their usage, but also received additional ivie points as a reward. These points could then be swapped for raffle tickets to exclusive in-app prize draws.
This year, ivie Flex and Save returns, enhanced by a partnership with Samsung and its SmartThings appliance integration. Owners of Samsung SmartThings appliances can enjoy a ‘set and forget’ mindset as the ivie & Samsung technologies work in tandem to help household appliances automatically flex and save with their energy usage.
For the 2023-24 winter season, participants can look forward to the promise of bigger and better prizes on offer through the exclusive in-app raffle draws, including smart energy-efficient appliances such as dishwashers.
Creating more flexibility on the electricity system is vital for running the clean, green and fair energy supply system of the future. DFS gives households a direct opportunity to participate in flexibility services, with 1.6 million homes and businesses successfully participating in the service last winter.
The service aims to provide balance and stability to the energy network this winter and enable households to be rewarded for shifting their energy away from peak demand times.
Mike Woodhall, founder and CEO of Chameleon Technology, commented: “Making a conscious decision to adapt energy use during peak times helps to ease the pressure on the UK’s power system. The DFS winter saving events help everyone to become more flexible with energy usage, and will ultimately make the transition to a greener electricity supply much smoother. ivie’s demand flexibility provision will see users of the ivie energy saving app potentially winning some big prizes whilst saving money on their bills at the same time.
“As homes and lives become increasingly powered by cleaner electricity, it is vital that we can be more flexible about when electricity is used. Creating good energy habits now will help create a greener energy system in the future, which is vital if we are going to achieve Net Zero targets.”
Pictured: Mike Woodhall, founder and CEO of Chameleon Technology
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