Triad warnings

Triads are the three half hour periods of peak power demand across the National Grid in a year (from November to February). These three points are used to calibrate the system costs, which are passed on to industry.

If your business is a heavy consumer of energy, you do. Triad charges to business can range from around £15-£40 per kilowatt depending on where you are in the country. So, in any half-hour on a cold day in winter when there’s a chance of a Triad, it makes sense to minimise your power consumption. If your business is a heavy power user, you should sign up for our free Triad alerts.

TNUoS is short for Transmission Network Use of System. The terms are often used interchangeably, though Triads may be more familiar. The aim of the Triad system is to incentivise industry to help smooth out peaks in energy demand during the winter, especially in cold snaps.

There could be around 20-30 potential Triad warnings in winter (November to February). However, since Triads are assessed after the event, it’s impossible to know in advance which half-hour will be a Triad. That’s why it’s important to sign up for our Triad warning service and have a serious energy efficiency strategy in place.

A Triad represents one half-hour period of the highest demand for electricity. To avoid Triads affecting businesses in consecutive half-hours, each has to be at least 10 days apart. When power demand peaks, the National Grid network is under maximum pressure to deliver power where it’s needed, and causes generators to bring online more expensive (and less efficient) production capacity. So, it’s in everyone’s interest to work together to minimise energy usage.

Yes. If you can generate power and are able to supply excess electricity to the National Grid during Triad periods, there can be substantial financial incentives available. Simply sign up with SSE Business Energy on the form below.