How Homely DFS assist makes heat pumps work for you

Staying Warm, Helping the Grid, and Getting Rewarded: 

Have you ever heard of the “Demand Flexibility Service” (DFS)? It’s a new program that rewards households for using less electricity during peak hours, typically winter evenings when everyone’s at home. Sounds complicated, right? Well, with Homely DFS Assist, it doesn’t have to be.

Imagine this: it’s a chilly winter evening, and you come home to a warm and cosy house. But here’s the secret – you participated in a program that helped balance the national electricity grid, and you even earned some extra cash for it! That’s the magic of Homely DFS Assist.

Why is Managing the Grid Important?

Think of the electricity grid as a giant balancing act. Power companies need to constantly match the amount of electricity being generated with the amount people are using. During peak hours, like winter evenings when everyone uses their appliances and heating, balancing the grid becomes trickier. Traditionally, power plants burn fossil fuels to ramp up production during these times.

The Power of Flexibility

But what if the grid could pay households to use less electricity instead? That’s where DFS comes in. This program incentivises households to reduce their power consumption during specific periods, typically during peak hours. Most people participate by adjusting their lifestyles, using slow cookers instead of ovens or bundling up with an extra jumper. However, this can be inconvenient and disrupt your daily routine.

Homely Steps In: Effortless Comfort and Rewards

Homely saw an opportunity to make DFS effortless for heat pump owners. We leveraged our deep understanding of heat pump technology to develop a system that automatically participates in these programs on your behalf. Here’s how it works:

• Smart Monitoring: Homely constantly monitors the grid for upcoming “flexibility events” announced by the Electricity System Operator.
• Personalised Comfort: We then calculate the ideal pre-heating strategy for your specific home. This ensures your house remains comfortably warm even with the heat pump temporarily off during peak hours.
• Seamless Efficiency: Homely DFS Assist automatically adjusts your heat pump to achieve this pre-heating and then seamlessly switches to a lower power mode during the peak period.
• No Discomfort, Just Rewards: You don’t have to lift a finger or sacrifice any comfort. The system works silently in the background, and when the flexibility event ends, your heat pump resumes normal operation.