Open Balancing Platform (OBP) - Reserve Availability MW and Utilisation Price
Summary
NESO now publishes real-time reserve availability and utilisation prices for non-balancing mechanism services through its Open Balancing Platform. Quick Reserve service data is live, with Slow Reserve data to follow when that service launches. This creates transparency on ancillary service costs and provider behaviour previously hidden from the market.
Why it matters
Making reserve prices and availability visible enables market participants to understand the true cost of balancing services and potentially identify arbitrage opportunities. This transparency favours new entrants who previously lacked visibility of these markets, though established players retain operational advantages.
Key facts
- •Data published continuously throughout the day
- •Quick Reserve service data currently available
- •Slow Reserve service data to be added when service goes live
- •Covers both availability MW and utilisation prices
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo
NESO publishes non-BM Reserve Availability MW and Utilisation Price data declared by Service Providers to Open Balancing Platform (OBP) system. This information is continuously published throughout the day on this platform. As of today, this page hosts Non-BM Quick Reserve Service Availability MW and Utilisation Price data, and non-BM Slow Reserve Service Availability MW and Utilisation Price data will be added here when the service goes live. Additional transparency data for Non-BM Reserve services mastered by OBP can be found in [Non-BM Instructions](https://www.neso.energy/data-portal/obp-non-bm-reserve-instructions) and [Non-BM Physical Notifications](https://www.neso.energy/data-portal/obp-non-bm-physical-notifications).