Reserves
Reserve services allow NESO to procure additional power reserves, either through generation or demand reduction.
Since 31 March 2026 reserves are all auctioned at 1400 for day ahead.
The services are priced as availability payments in £/MW/h.
NESO procures reserves on different timescales, and utilisation is provided through the BM:
| Service | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Balancing Reserve | 60 minutes |
| Slow Reserve | 15 minutes |
| Quick Reserve | 1 minute |
Positive Reserve (e.g. PBR) reserves for generation increases / demand decreases.
Negative Reserve (e.g. NBR) reserves for generation decreases / demand increases.