The changing role of the consumer: insights from Ofgem's Consumer Insights and Behavioural Analysis team
This seminar will be held in person in Jub-G32 and online via Microsoft Teams for those who cannot attend physically. If you would like to attend this seminar via Teams please contact Yvonne Barnes business-research@sussex.ac.uk for joining details
Abstract:
As the energy system transitions to accommodate increasing amounts of electrical demand and decentralised generation and storage, the role of the traditional consumer changes to a provider of 'flexibility capital' . Engaging in flexibility markets can reduce personal energy costs and also reduce system costs for all users, but this requires those with the required flexibility capital to be willing to engage with flexibility markets - and this requires trust in the system and the system to be trustworthy. On a recent secondment to Ofgem, I was able to bring insights from our EDRC work on governance challenges for increasing trustworthiness to Ofgem and will share insights on how the consumer voice is now being used, the changes being made to regulatory frameworks and how this links to an overarching need to have a trustworthy system.
Bio:
https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/108166-helen-poulter/about