‘Set and forget’ eases grid strain and keeps consumers cosy, study shows

• Innovation tariffs like OVO’s ‘Heat Pump Plus’ could reduce grid strain by offering people a ‘set and forget’ approach  to control their energy demands.
• 9 in 10 households reported no loss of comfort, with most unaware their heating was being managed.
• Peak-time electricity demand fell by a third, easing pressure on the UK’s grid.

Friday 24th October; London: Households could stay cosy without lifting a finger, according to a pioneering smart heat pump trial. 

By automatically shifting home heating to times when electricity is cheaper and greener, electricity use during peak hours dropped by a third. The trial comes as the UK faces mounting pressure to balance grid demand and reduce energy costs, especially during the evening peak when usage surges, risking increased costs and reduced reliability. 

Run by OVO with support from Nesta, an innovation foundation who design, test, and scale new solutions to society’s biggest problems, 58 households on OVO’s Heat Pump Plus tariff took part in the trial to explore whether smart automation could make heat pumps easier to manage while easing pressure on the grid. For three months, heating schedules were remotely adjusted. Homes were preheated by just 1°C during midday, when electricity is often cheapest and greenest, and then cooled by 1°C between 4pm and 7pm, when demand typically surges and energy is more expensive.

The trial, powered by Kaluza’s real-time energy intelligence technology, delivered a 30% reduction in peak energy demand with little disruption to daily life. Nearly two-thirds (60%) said they didn’t notice their heating was being managed at all, while almost nine in ten reported being satisfied with their comfort levels. Just 1% of users chose to override the system in January and 2% between February and March, and the vast majority said they would be happy to continue with automatic controls in the future. The findings point to a future of “set and forget” heating, where homes automatically adjust to the cheapest and greenest times of day, without inconvenience to residents.

New polling commissioned by OVO found that over half (56%) of people say they’d be more likely to install a heat pump that saves money by using energy at off-peak times. This follows over half (57%) of Brits supporting their energy supplier being able to automatically adjust their heating to save money. 

The report findings follows recent news that shows the continued decline in supplies from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) has resulted in the tightest gas supply margins in four years. That is according to National Gas’ latest Winter Outlook for 2025, which forecasts peak demand, supply capability, and key considerations for the upcoming winter.

Chris Watling, Clean Head Lead, OVO said: “Heat pumps are a key part of cleaner, cheaper home heating, but they need to be affordable and simple for everyone to use.

“We’re helping households move away from gas and switch to low-carbon heating that cuts bills, reduces carbon, and takes the strain off the grid.

“But to make this possible for every household, we need government support to bring down upfront costs and make sure the right incentives are in place. Together, we can make clean heating the easiest and smartest choice for every home in Britain.”

Andrew Sissons, deputy director of sustainable future at Nesta said: “Heat pumps are the most efficient alternative to fossil fuel heating, but as more people decarbonise their homes this will mean using more electricity instead of gas. New heat pump tariffs that enable automatic control could make a big difference, so that climate-conscious consumers can be cosy at home without changing their routines. Innovations like this are paving the way for a faster rollout of heat pumps and could help to cut people’s energy bills – especially if the government takes steps to reduce electricity costs more widely.”

Home heating is responsible for around 12% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Without decarbonising homes, the UK cannot meet its 2050 net zero target. Heat pumps are one of the most promising solutions, but high upfront and running costs have slowed uptake.

With millions of homes still heated by fossil fuels, the trial offers a glimpse of how smart innovation – powered by Kaluza’s energy intelligence platform – can accelerate the shift to clean energy, while delivering real and immediate benefits to households.

END

Notes to Editors:

About Nesta 

Nesta is the UK’s innovation agency for social good. They design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Their three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet. For over 20 years, they have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. They work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early-stage businesses and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation. Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, they work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better.

About Kaluza

Kaluza is the Energy Intelligence Platform that turns energy complexity into seamless coordination. We enable energy companies to manage today’s operational challenges while building for tomorrow’s clean, electrified future.

Our platform orchestrates millions of real-time decisions across devices, homes, markets and grids. By combining predictive algorithms and human-centred design, Kaluza makes clean energy solutions dependable, affordable and adaptive to how people live.

With teams across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia, Kaluza powers world-leading energy companies including OVO, AGL and ENGIE, alongside automotive innovators like Volvo and Volkswagen. Since 2024, Kaluza has expanded operations through a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan. Certified as a B Corporation in 2023, we are committed to building technology that creates lasting impact for people and the planet.

Learn more at www.kaluza.com.

About OVO

In 2009, OVO was born to make energy better for people and the planet. Today, OVO is trusted by around four million customers with their home energy, EV charging, green tech upgrades, and more. 

OVO is getting the UK ready for a greener, fairer future – supporting new renewable power projects in communities across the country. Not only is OVO bringing low carbon tech into homes, it’s finding smart ways to cut costs for customers – making heat pumps, solar panels, and electric cars more accessible. Behind all this work is Plan Zero: the bold, science-backed sustainability strategy, which sets out how OVO will become a true net zero business by 2035. 

This progress can only happen with a culture fit for the future. OVO’s multiple awards include the Best Place to Work for Women in The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2023, which also saw the company coming in the Top 10 for Very Big Organisation. 

OVO also won Company of the Decade at the BusinessGreen Leaders’ Awards 2020. 

OVO key facts

• UK Customers: four million 

• People: 4,500 colleagues with sites in London, Bristol and Glasgow. 

• Customer service

• • • Over 170,000 5* reviews on Trustpilot for energy supply.
    • £190m support offered to customers in need since 2022.

• Rewarding customers

• • Beyond: More than 750,000 customers have signed up to OVO Beyond
    • Over 14 Million EV miles banked
    • 47K solar panels banked
    • 44K Months of heat banked
  • Charge Anytime over: £18.3 million saved to date by customers.
  • Solar and heat pumps: Over 1,000 heat pumps installed and over 500 solar systems installed in UK homes.
  • World leading trials: 320+ OVO customer trialists on the world’s first and largest domestic vehicle-to-grid trial, run by us. 
  • Rewarding trials: Over £2 million in credit through Power Move, for using energy at greener times – saving over 600 tonnes of carbon.

Expert advice: Over 10,000 home visits completed by OVO’s Energy Experts, giving customers one-to-one guidance on making their home more efficient.