The Government has published a fresh update to its Clean Flexibility Roadmap, setting out plans to make households a much bigger part of the way Britain manages electricity supply and demand07:05, 25 Jul 2026Millions of households are being warned not to rush into changing when they use electricity after the Government unveiled the latest stage of a major shake-up to Britain’s energy system.‌The Government has published a fresh update to its Clean Flexibility Roadmap, setting out plans to make households a much bigger part of the way Britain manages electricity supply and demand.‌Under the reforms, consumers could increasingly be offered tariffs, technology and incentives that reward them for using electricity when power is cheaper or more readily available.‌But consumer finance expert Jasmine Birtles has warned households that simply changing when they use appliances will not necessarily save them a penny — and says consumers should check their existing tariff before changing their routine.Jasmine, founder of MoneyMagpie, said: “The danger is that people hear that the energy system is changing and assume they should immediately start putting the washing machine on at a different time or changing the way they use electricity.“For many households, doing that right now will make absolutely no difference to their bill. If you pay the same unit rate throughout the day, simply moving your electricity use from one hour to another will not normally save you money.‌“What is significant about these new plans is not that using electricity at different times is a new idea — it isn’t. It is that the Government wants this kind of flexibility to become a much bigger part of the way Britain’s energy system works.“My advice to households is: don’t change your routine because of the headlines. Check your tariff first. The real opportunity will come if consumers are offered genuinely competitive deals that reward them for being flexible.”‌What has the Government actually announced?The Government’s latest update to its Clean Flexibility Roadmap sets out the next steps towards making Britain’s electricity system more flexible.A key part of the plan is what the Government calls “consumer-led flexibility”. In practice, that means households could play a much bigger role in balancing the electricity system by moving some of their energy use to different times.The latest update also highlights the role of digital technology and artificial intelligence, with up to £25million in initial innovation funding linked to consumer-led flexibility.‌The long-term vision could see technology automatically helping households use electricity at more advantageous times.An electric vehicle could charge when power is cheaper. A home battery could store electricity for use later. Smart technology could potentially respond to changing prices without the householder constantly checking an app.Why is this different from Economy 7?Using electricity at cheaper times is nothing new. Economy 7 has existed for decades, while newer smart and time-of-use tariffs already allow some consumers to pay different electricity prices at different times.‌Some households have also taken part in schemes that reward them for reducing electricity use during periods of high demand. The significant change is the Government’s ambition to make this a much bigger part of the mainstream energy system.Jasmine said: “This is where consumers need to look beyond the jargon. The Government is talking about ‘consumer-led flexibility’, but what households will want to know is whether they are actually going to be offered better deals.“The technology may be clever, but if consumers cannot clearly see how much they are saving, the system risks becoming more confusing rather than more useful.”‌Could the new energy shake-up save you money?Potentially — but there is no guaranteed saving. The biggest opportunities may be for households that can move significant electricity use to different times.That could include people with electric vehicles, home batteries or electric heating. But whether any household saves money will depend on the tariff it is offered and the difference between peak and off-peak prices.For someone paying the same electricity unit rate throughout the day, changing when they use an appliance will not normally cut the cost.‌That is why Jasmine says households should check:Whether their electricity tariff charges different rates at different timesTheir current electricity unit rateTheir standing chargeWhen any fixed tariff endsWhether changing tariff would genuinely reduce their overall costs‘Consumers should not have to become energy traders’Jasmine said the success of the Government’s plans would ultimately depend on whether ordinary households could benefit without having to constantly monitor electricity prices.‌She said: “Consumers should not have to become energy traders to get a decent deal on their electricity.“The best version of these reforms is one where technology does the complicated work in the background and households can clearly see that they are saving money.“The worst version is a maze of tariffs, apps and complicated pricing where consumers have no idea whether they are better off. The Government and energy industry need to make sure ordinary households genuinely benefit.”‌What should you do now?The key message is not to change how you use electricity simply because the Government has announced new plans. Instead, check the tariff you are currently on and understand what you are actually paying.If your electricity costs the same throughout the day, moving your washing machine or dishwasher to another time will not normally reduce your bill.Consumers should also keep track of when fixed deals and household contracts end so they can review whether they are still getting good value. Always check the terms of any tariff or service before signing up and make sure it is suitable for your circumstances.Article continues belowWhat happens next?The reforms will not transform household bills overnight. The Government’s latest update sets out the direction it wants Britain’s electricity system to take, with consumer flexibility expected to play a much bigger role.For households, the potential opportunity is that more tariffs and technology could eventually reward them for being flexible about when they use electricity.But Jasmine says the test is simple: “Forget the jargon. If these reforms give ordinary households clear choices and genuinely lower bills, they will be worthwhile. If they simply make energy even more complicated, consumers will rightly ask who the changes are really benefiting.”