SMS named finalist for two Utility Week Flex Awards

Summary

SMS has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2026 Utility Week Flex Awards – “Best Use of Energy Flexibility Data” and “Best Local Energy Project.” The recognition highlights the impact of the Oxfordshire Area-Wide Retrofit Programme, delivered by Metis by SMS in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, and its role in enabling data-driven, scalable energy flexibility.

SMS has been shortlisted for “Best Use of Energy Flexibility Data” and “Best Local Energy Project”

SMS has been named as a finalist in two categories at this year’s Utility Week Flex Awards – “Best Use of Energy Flexibility Data” and “Best Local Energy Project.”

The shortlist recognises the Oxfordshire Area-Wide Retrofit Programme, delivered by Metis by SMS in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council. The programme demonstrates how local collaboration and data-led innovation can support the transition to a smarter, more flexible energy system.

Creating a scalable model for local energy transition

The Oxfordshire Area-Wide Retrofit Programme was designed to address key barriers to household decarbonisation, including cost, complexity, and lack of confidence. By combining smart-meter data, digital engagement, and a fully managed delivery model, the programme creates a clear and accessible pathway for residents to adopt solar PV and battery storage.

Each customer journey begins with our award-winning Energy Saver App, which uses smart-meter data to provide personalised insights and technology recommendations. This is supported by supplier-agnostic modelling, enabling residents to understand potential performance and savings before committing.

As Dale Hoyland, Retrofit Team Lead at Oxfordshire County Council, explains, the programme was designed as “a single, guided route from awareness to installation that was transparent, supportive, and free of sales pressure.”

Delivering measurable results at scale

The programme has delivered measurable outcomes across both carbon reduction and customer engagement. To date, it has achieved:

• 10,000+ Energy Saver App downloads in under 12 months
• 65% conversion from interest to installation
• 262 completed solar and battery installations
• 599,104 kWh of solar energy generated
• Over 400 tonnes of CO₂e avoided

By using half-hourly smart-meter data and real-time optimisation, the programme enables households to shift energy use, maximise self-consumption, and reduce reliance on peak-time grid electricity.

As Oxfordshire resident Steve Holford explains, “The app made our energy use visible and understandable… we could easily see patterns, peaks, and, most importantly, opportunities.”

Making energy flexibility accessible to more households

A key feature of the programme is its accessibility. Through a no-upfront-cost subscription model, households can install solar and battery systems without the need for significant initial investment.

As participant Barbara Hall notes, “This scheme is just brilliant because you’re not having to pay out a big lump sum but you’re getting all the benefits.”

By combining digital insight, transparent modelling, and automated optimisation, the programme enables households to participate in energy flexibility without added complexity – creating a scalable model for wider adoption.

SMS looks ahead to celebrating the sector’s achievements

Being shortlisted for two Utility Week Flex Awards, after winning the “Net Zero Engagement Award” in 2025, reflects the expertise, commitment, and collaboration behind the programme. It also reinforces SMS’s focus on developing scalable, future-ready flexibility solutions that support a more resilient and sustainable energy system.

SMS congratulates all of the organisations shortlisted and looks forward to celebrating the sector’s achievements at the awards in May.