- Pilots of new Day Ahead Markets will increase participation in flexibility.
- New markets will also support the increase in capacity on the network.
- SSEN becomes only the second network operator to offer such markets.
Published on 17 November 2025
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution’s provision of Flexibility Services is entering a new era with the launch of Day Ahead Markets, which will begin on Monday 24 November 2025 on ElectronConnect. In piloting these new markets, SSEN is becoming only the second Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to offer this option to Flexibility Service Providers.
Day Ahead Markets will allow the providers of Flexibility Services to decide at shorter notice if they wish to participate. As well as creating new opportunities for Flexibility Service Providers to participate in the market, and thus earn more revenue, the introduction of these markets will also benefit customers who are seeking to connect, by releasing greater capacity on the network when it’s needed.
Day Ahead Markets will be held based on network requirements, and will open and close daily, with the contracted action – be it exporting power or reducing use – being taken the next day. This approach will enable more agile and efficient market operations, that are well aligned with real-time network needs.
During this pilot phase, market operations will be limited. This gradual roll-out will allow SSEN to closely monitor performance, ensuring the system works effectively, and help with the gathering of valuable insights from stakeholders that will inform how these new markets develop.
Paul Fitzgerald, SSEN Distribution’s Network Access and Flexibility Markets Manager, says:
“Being able to offer flexibility opportunities that are closer to real-time for customers who can adjust their energy usage will be a game changer for us, the providers we work with, and the wider market.
“These new opportunities will appeal to a wider range of participants – from individual electric vehicle owners to operators of larger assets such as battery storage, and solar and wind farms.”
Jo-Jo Hubbard, CEO and co-founder of Electron, which operates SSEN Distribution’s flexibility platform, says:
“Day-ahead flexibility is a big step towards making the grid truly dynamic. When networks can trade capacity this close to need, flexibility stops ‘just’ being a cost-management tool and becomes the mechanism for affordable, resilient capacity growth.
“We’re thrilled to be SSEN’s partners, enabling them to move faster, open the doors to new participants, and bring us ever closer to a fully flexible energy system.”
Following this pilot phase, SSEN Distribution plans to scale up the service by increasing market volumes and expanding opportunities for wider participation.
For more information and how to participate, please visit SSEN Distribution’s Flexibility Markets website which can be viewed here.
About SSEN
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution is an electricity Distribution Network Operator which is part of the FTSE-100 energy company, SSE. We serve almost 4 million customers across the diverse communities of central southern England and the north of Scotland.
We provide millions of homes and businesses with a safe and reliable supply of electricity, and we’re at the forefront of delivering the decarbonised electricity system of the future, by connecting new Low-Carbon Technologies to the network. Through this, we’re helping support sustainable economic growth for decades to come.
For further information please contact SSEN’s Media Team on media@sse.com
About Electron
Electron runs flexibility markets for DSOs and the grid edge, unlocking fast, low-cost capacity from millions of flexible distributed energy resources (DERs). By pairing grid analytics with flexibility markets, Electron reveals where DERs are and what they’re worth, so flexibility can scale wherever it makes technical and economic sense. Trusted by customers across the UK and North America, Electron is helping build a more cost-effective, reliable, and resilient energy system.
For media requests, please contact Emma Lovell at emma.lovell@electron.net.
