Putting the User First: E-REDES Shares Flexibility Preference Results for the Portuguese Pilot
Understanding the needs and habits of consumers is at the heart of the ECLIPSE project. Recently, our partner E-REDES reached a significant milestone in the Portuguese pilot by completing a comprehensive study on participant preferences regarding flexibility services.
By analyzing responses from 31 pilot participants, we now have a clearer picture of how to align digital energy tools with the real-world routines of citizens.
Tailoring Energy Services to Daily Routines
The initiative began on March 23, 2026, when a preference survey was shared with pilot participants. The primary goal was to gather detailed information on their availability and willingness to participate in flexibility service requests.
In the evolving energy landscape, “flexibility” allows consumers to adjust their electricity usage in response to grid needs. However, for these services to be effective, they must be practical for the end-user. By collecting this data, E-REDES aims to:
- Adjust pilot operations to better align with the actual routines of participants.
- Ensure an efficient and balanced experience that does not disrupt day-to-day activities.
- Enhance consumer engagement by making energy management a seamless part of their lives.
What Motivates Consumer Flexibility?
The survey, conducted between March 23 and April 7, 2026, sought to identify the primary drivers behind consumer participation in energy-saving request. The results highlight three main motivators:
- Financial Incentives: Monetary compensation remains the top priority for participants.
- Environmental Impact: A strong desire to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Social Responsibility: Recognition that lower consumption leads to higher electricity service quality for the community.
Key Findings: Frequency, Timing, and Duration
The data provides a blueprint for how flexibility events should be designed to ensure an efficient and balanced experience that does not disrupt daily life.
- Broad Commitment: An impressive 97% of respondents expressed willingness to participate in both programmed consumption reductions and emergency grid situations.
- Optimal Frequency: The majority of participants are comfortable engaging in these actions 2 to 3 times per week (39%) or at least once a week (32%).
- Daily Limits: 71% of users prefer to receive only one request per day.
- Preferred Timing: While availability is broad across all days, afternoons emerged as the most popular time for energy reduction actions during both working days and weekends.
- Duration: For planned events, a duration of up to 2 hours is the preferred limit for the highest percentage of respondents (42%).
Check the complete survey report here: https://eclipse-digital.eu/download/6128/?tmstv=1778491945
Putting Insights into Action
These results are more than just statistics; they are the foundation for the next phase of the Portuguese pilot. By integrating these preferences, E-REDES will adjust pilot operations to ensure they are seamlessly aligned with participants’ day-to-day activities.
This user-centric approach is vital for enhancing Energy Awareness and Consumer Behavior, proving that when citizens are provided with the right information and incentives, they become active and powerful allies in the energy transition.
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