Installer utilities
A background in branded hardware and installation, extended with energy contracts. Vertically integrated from install to smart tariff, built for a sticky customer and asset base.
Examples
Report · 2025 edition
Utility Flex Trends 2025
What we learned from 150+ utilities across Europe about the business models forming around flexibility, with extra insights from Germany’s energy transition.
150+utilities interviewed
3business models
56%renewables in Germany’s mix
Why 2025
The race to win customers and manage flexible assets
Solar, batteries and EVs are straining grids, and Germany’s new rules set the pace for Europe.
2024Section 14a of the Energy Industry Act comes into effect
2025BNetzA publishes the AGNES paper on time-based tariffs and dynamic pricing
NextEnergy retailers react with flexible contracts and billing
Three business models
Flexibility takes centre stage
As the starting gun fires, three distinct types of player enter the field. Within all three, the ability to manage and valorise flexibility is the competitive edge.
Digital native utilities
Software first, hardware agnostic. Dynamic pricing and automated consumption management, won through brand, user experience and an open ecosystem, not margins on energy.
Examples
Incumbent utilities
Large, established players protecting a big customer base from churn, choosing between building in house, acquiring, or partnering for a fast and cost effective market entry.
Examples
The era of batteries
1.8 million systems in one year, most still sitting idle
15.4 GWhhome battery capacity installed in Germany in 2024
2%of homes with a digital meter
Most only serve self consumption today. The rules to change that are now in place.
Three questions
What established retailers are asking themselves
How far do we need to innovate to keep up?
Trading, assets, contracts and billing have to work as one. Pooling assets into a virtual power plant lifts the whole portfolio.
Acquire, build or buy?
Building in house means becoming a tech company. A proven partner moves faster and spreads the cost.
Which assets should we prioritise?
Batteries, PV and EVs carry the most flexibility value. What matters is managing them as one pool.
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