Launch of Landmark Industry Demand Side Response Code for a Voluntary Code Compliance Scheme for DSR Aggregators

Last year, a team comprising Ray O’Connor (partner, Birmingham), John Danahy (partner, London) and Rob Broom (associate, London) advised the Association of Decentralised Energy (ADE) on the establishment of a demand side response (DSR) Code of Conduct (Code) ahead of the launch of a voluntary Code Compliance Scheme (Scheme) called “Flex Assure”, for DSR aggregators.

As a relatively new service, DSR has been unregulated, and the Code sets common standards for those who coordinate or “aggregate” demand response from individual consumers and will initially apply to commercial, industrial and public sector energy users. The team also advised on the establishment of a governance structure to administer the compliance scheme for the Code, as well as advising on the Scheme’s contractual framework with DSR aggregators (being members of the Scheme).

Flex Assure was formally launched on 15 May 2019 at Ellwood Atfield Gallery in London, attended by key speakers, including James Heappey, MP for Wells and Vice President at the ADE, and various industry representatives. Special mention was given to the team and, in particular, Rob Broom for assisting in putting a Code together that was universally acceptable to more than 18 DSR aggregators. We are planning a further follow-up event at our Manchester office.