Best Practices: Unlocking The Energy Flexibility Opportunity
10 Jun, 2026
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Executive Summary
Energy flexibility is both a cost optimization lever and a foundation for long-term energy resilience strategies for commercial and industrial (C&I) firms. As electricity systems evolve, organizations must rethink how and when they consume power. Despite some clear financial and operational benefits to energy flexibility, adoption remains limited. After conversations with a dozen energy leaders, Verdantix finds that most firms are still at an early stage, focused on on-site optimization and pilot demand response programmes, with progress constrained by inconsistent market incentives and unclear returns. This report outlines the barriers, emerging best practices and practical steps firms can take to unlock value, reduce costs and build resilience in an increasingly dynamic energy system.Summary for decision-makers
Energy flexibility is the untapped goldmine of commercial and industrial (C&I) energy management
Participation in energy flexibility schemes offers firms financial incentives
Flexibility adoption is low as it lacks a bulletproof business case
Innovations and investments in flexibility continue, despite slow corporate participation
Flexibility strategies must have clear return on investment (ROI) and no operational disruption
Capturing value from flexibility requires grounded, site-specific execution
Firms’ flexibility strategies will grow by automating demand response and expanding asset bases
Figure 1. Three forms of energy flexibility
Figure 2. The energy flexibility ecosystem
Figure 3. Demand response process in a corporate firm
Figure 4. Global corporate energy flexibility maturity by country: 2026
Figure 5. Flexibility maturity model
Alberta
Electric System Operator (AESO), Alberta
Utilities Commission (AUC), Ameresco, Australian
Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Australian
Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Australian
Energy Regulator (AER), Brazil
Electric Energy Trading Chamber (CCEE), Brazil
Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL), Brazil
Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Brazil
National Electric System Operator (ONS), BSES
Delhi, California
Independent System Operator (CAISO), California
Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), China National
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China State
Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), Con
Edison, Constellation, Electron, Enel X
Japan, EnergyHub, EPEX
SPOT, EU Agency
for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), European
Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), Flexitricity, France
Electricity Transmission Network (RTE), France
Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), German
Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), Google, GOPACS, GridBeyond, in
National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC), India Central
Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Italian
Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA), Japan Ministry
of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan Organization
for Cross‑regional
Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO), Korea
Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Logical
Buildings, McKinsey
& Company, Municipal
Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Netherlands
Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), New
York Independent System Operator (NYISO), New
York Public Service Commission (NYPSC), Nissan, Nord
Pool, Octopus
Energy, Ofgem, Ontario
Energy Board (OEB), Ontario
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Piclo, PJM, Red
Eléctrica (REE), Resideo
Grid Services, Schneider
Electric, Science
Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Siemens, Singapore
Energy Market Authority (EMA), Singapore
Power Group (SP Group), Southwest
Power Pool (SPP), Svenska
kraftnät, Swedish
Energy Markets Inspectorate (Ei), Sympower, Tata
Power, TenneT, Terna, UK Energy
Networks Association (ENA), UK
National Energy Service Operator (NESO), US Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
About the Authors

Isobel McPartlin
Analyst
Isobel is an Analyst at Verdantix, where she supports corporate decision-makers in navigating the energy transition through research on emerging energy solutions and net zero ...
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Ryan Skinner
Research Director
Ryan is a Research Director at Verdantix, where he leads a team of analysts delivering research, data and advisory services that help clients navigate the fast-evolving landsc...
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