Hi all, has anyone else signed up for GivBack this year? I installed the new app a while ago, and when I looked just now, my inverter had been set to charge between 3pm and 5pm today, and I couldn’t alter anything via the app - when I logged in on desktop, it said “settings for this inverter are locked and controlled by GivBack” - I’ve had no notification of a GivBack event today, so is this a test?
Also, the access log says that I did it (“You”), not GivBack, even though the cloud page tells me it’s locked by GivBack
think you need to talk to Axle about this as they operate the GivBack scheme
Personally I’m with Octopus for my DFS sessions, at least I control what is done and when.
I didn’t like that Axle could control when my inverter charges without any knowledge of what tariff I was on. When I was on Agile the pre-DFS charge could be quite expensive
On the DFS website DFS Utilisation Report | National Energy System Operator I can see there was a live DFS event this evening. Both Equiwatt and Infiniti were successful with their bids. Whether Axle is rebranded as one of those names, I don’t know.
The inverter released and I can control it as usual again after 7pm last night. There is no ‘contact’ option on the Axle website or within GivBack, and the GivBack app is still showing no events / £0, so I’m a little bit dubious
Clearly the inverter activity was being controlled by Axle. Someone else has reported the same thing last night with their inverter on the other givenergy community forum, so its not just a one-off for you.
Can’t help you with contacting Axle, can only suggest replying to an email you had from them when you signed up to givback.
Income from the DFS sessions doesn’t get calculated for a day or so, it requires your existing meter import and export readings to be available for that day so the import/export can be compared to your base load.
Read the terms and conditions clearly says you will not be notified as these events are triggered by the Grid. and GivEnergy has no control over them , by agreeing to be a part of Giv Back you hand over control of your inverters to them.
Which is entirely different from the T&C document in the new app, which I guess is the current version. I suppose it was too much to expect the Givenergy site to be accurate.
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully. These Terms and Conditions apply to the GivEnergy GivBack Programme (the “Service”). By entering the Service, you agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions:
These Terms and Conditions, together with any specific rules set out in any communications relating to the Service, are the Service rules (“Rules”) and apply to this Service. By entering this Service, you are agreeing to be bound by these Rules and any other applicable instructions.
GivEnergy reserves the right to cancel or amend the Service and/or the Rules, you will be notified of any material revisions 30 days prior to changes or additional terms taking effect. Any changes will be posted on our website. These Terms and Conditions were last updated in November 2024.
In the event of any dispute regarding any aspect of the Service, the decision of GivEnergy shall be final and binding.
By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you consent that you allow GivEnergy and our partners to access your connected GivEnergy Inverters and GivEnergy Batteries, and other GivEnergy products (“Flexible Devices”) for us to deliver the Services. A full explanation and description of the Service is set out below.
About us
Givenergy Group Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom with registered company number 14404895 and registered office at Suite 2 Albion House 2 Etruria Office Village, Forge Lane, Etruria, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England, ST1 5RQ (“GivEnergy”, “we”, “us”)
Details of the Service
In Great Britain, various electricity balancing and flexibility programs (“Grid Services”) are offered to help the electricity grid. These are managed by different grid and market operators (“Programme Operators”). Each programme has its own eligibility criteria and specific rules. Examples of these Grid Services include the Demand Flexibility Service provided by the national energy system operator for Great Britain (“NESO”), and local network flexibility procured by Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). GivEnergy, its partners and data sub-processors, including but not limited to Axle Energy (“Partners”) will assess, enroll, manage, and reward Flexible Devices in Grid Services, based on location, technical specifications, preferences, and the availability of such services.
At times of grid need, Partners will control your Flexible Devices to adjust the overall electrical supply or demand on the network (“Events”). Where necessary, we may automatically vary the rate of production / charge / discharge from your Flexible Devices during or in preparation for Events.
The Service is offered on a best-effort basis, with no guarantee on the frequency of Events or the potential value of rewards due to evolving program rules and market conditions. The Service and these Terms and Conditions are subject to the applicable terms of the Programme Operators, and GivEnergy accepts no liability if the Programme Operators amend or terminate their terms.
Rewards
Participation in the Grid Services makes you eligible for rewards based on your Flexible Device’s performance (“Rewards”). We cannot ensure that the Service will result in any Rewards.
If you participate in a given month, you will receive a monthly email detailing your Service performance.
Rewards will be credited monthly to a digital account managed by Partners. You can use this account to view your rewards history and check your balance.
Rewards exceeding £10.00 can be redeemed via bank transfer. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, you consent to receiving payments via bank transfer and confirm that you have a UK bank account.
Eligibility and Participation requirements
To be eligible to participate in the Service, you must at all times comply with these Terms and Conditions and, be 18 or over, be a resident of Great Britain, have a working electricity smart meter (SMETS1 or SMETS2 electricity meter) that is actively communicating with the DCC and has done so for a period of at least 30 days prior to requesting to join the service, have a registered import MPAN, associated with your address in the database of Smart DCC Ltd, regulated by Ofgem (“DCC”), opt-in to the Service by completing the form on the Service landing page and the web authentication process, not be participating in the delivery of Grid Services or any similar service for NESO or any Distribution Network Operator, either directly, via an energy supplier, or another third party, and consented to, and not remove your consent, to give us and Partners access to your half-hourly smart meter reads.
Initial and/or ongoing participation in the Service may require firmware upgrade/s to your Flexible Device, and we reserve the right to remotely update firmware as necessary during the Service. Partners will control your Flexible Device to deliver the Service, with your consent for control during Events and any required preparation periods.
The number of Events is not guaranteed, and participants cannot choose which Events to join, though deregistration from the Service is always an option. Metered data from your Flexible Devices and smart meter will be used to calculate your contribution and determine any Rewards earned from Events.
GivEnergy is not liable for reimbursing any expenses incurred in connection with joining the Service.
For certain programs within the Grid Services, eligibility for Rewards requires achieving a reduction in electricity import or an increase in electricity export to the grid, as measured against a “Baseline” using data from your smart meter. Where applicable, the Baseline will be determined according to the specific baselining rules of each program.
We reserve the right to limit mode availability or decline registration for participants using unsupported modes as certain modes may not be compatible with the Service.
Service Terms and Liability
Flexible Devices can typically participate in most Grid Services with only one provider at a time. Enrolling in our Service, if you are already registered for Grid Services with another provider, will render you ineligible to continue with the previous Grid Services provider. GivEnergy is not responsible for notifying you of removal from any other service due to dual registrations or for any financial or other consequences arising from such removal. Registering with another Grid Services provider after joining our Service may result in disqualification from our Service.
GivEnergy is not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or incidental, indirect, special, or consequential damages (including, without limitation, lost profits or energy loss) arising from or related to the use or inability to use the Service. Participation in the Service is at your own risk and is provided on an “as-is,” “where-is,” and “where-available” basis.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, GivEnergy disclaims all representations, warranties, and conditions (express, implied, statutory, or otherwise), including but not limited to warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose regarding the Service.
GivEnergy in its sole discretion reserves the right to withdraw or vary the Rules and/or any offer made in connection with them in order to comply with the decision of any relevant judicial or regulatory body and shall not be held liable to any participant for doing so.
Termination
If GivEnergy reasonably believes you have violated the Rules, we reserve the right to disqualify you from the Service and revoke any payments.
We reserve the right to terminate your participation in the Service immediately if any information you have provided is found to be false, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading. In such cases, any benefits, rewards, or payments associated with your participation may be revoked.
We reserve the right to temporarily suspend or permanently remove your access to the Service at our sole discretion if, at any time during your participation, the following conditions occur:
Your Device becomes disconnected from the internet, or your Device is moved to a different location, or
Your smart meter is disconnected, your meter readings are no longer available in the DCC, or you relocate to a new property, or
You are no longer eligible under the Service Rules, or
A technical, operational, or security risk is identified in relation to your access to the Service.
You may opt out of the Service at any time by emailing givback@givenergy.co.uk. Re-registration may not be possible after opting out and is at the discretion of GivEnergy and its Partners.
GivEnergy may terminate the Service at any time and for any reason without prior notice. Upon termination or opting out, GivEnergy is not obligated to store, maintain, or provide any content, data, or information related to your participation in the Service.
GivEnergy or its Partners will only pay participants revenue received directly from the Programme Operators and accept no liability for unpaid amounts beyond what is received.
GivEnergy will share participants’ email, address, Meter Point Administration Numbers, half-hourly metered energy consumption, energy export, Flexible Device measurements, usage information, records associated with installation and the commissioning process, and other details relating to the participants with Flexibility Scheme Operators, its affiliates and their authorised sub processors to provide the Service including to register participants in the Service and calculate payments to individual participants. Your half-hourly metered consumption and export data will be processed by Partners and their authorised sub-processors by interfacing with the national smart meter systems in accordance with the Smart Energy Code (https://smartenergycodecompany.co.uk/).
GivEnergy and its Partners could provide Flexibility Scheme Operators with half hourly electricity consumption, export, baseline and reduction data and the value of any incentives used in an aggregate manner, for the purposes of delivering the Service. In some cases, Flexibility Scheme Operators may request detailed half hourly data around the Events to audit performance and payment, which may include consumption and export data on an individual participant basis.
GivEnergy, its Partners, and approved sub processors on its behalf may share and process the above information. By entering the Service you agree that your above information will be processed and used as such.
By entering the Service, you agree to receive communications from us or Partners in connection with your participation in the Services.
We and our Partners and/or authorised sub-processors shall retain settlement calculations and data regarding your participation in Grid Services per the terms of each Flexibility Services’ program rules.
By entering the Service, you agree that your above information will be processed and used as such
We and our Partners shall retain settlement calculations and data regarding your participation in the Service per the terms of each Services program rules.
Please edit the FAQ, also published and available on your website, to reflect the above terms and conditions, the aforementioned website reflecting incorrect information including that screenshotted in my previous post above.
Do I have to participate in every event?
No, you don’t need to participate in every event. You can always override the schedule, and there’s no penalty for not participating in an event.
How will I be notified?
You’ll get an app/portal notification (if you have them enabled). After an event, you’ll receive a summary of your earnings.
What if I already have a charge schedule? Will I lose it?
Your charge schedule will automatically adjust for the day of the event, and then revert to your normal schedule immediately after the event. You can also adjust the schedule from the GivEnergy app if it doesn’t suit you.
Thanks
Also FYI, your copy paste states " Any changes will be posted on our website. These Terms and Conditions were last updated in November 2024."
The GivBack app has terms and conditions last updated August 5th 2025, so you may also need to update that document
I don’t know who you are aiming this at, but GivEnergy don’t very often contribute to this forum, its populated by GivEnergy customers and the occasional installer.
I’m personally very sceptical about the statement “those that participated last winter earned £68 on average”. The first year of DFS and GivBack, i.e. winter 23/24, I can believe that, I earned about £80 with Octopus from participating in their DFS sessions as the price per kWh was typically £1 - £2.
Last winter, i.e. 24/25, not so much. NESO changed DFS to treat it on a par with the normal grid balancing activity and payment rates for participating were slashed. Often more like 10p/kWh. I think I earned something like £13.
As I said before I am signed up to Octopus for my DFS scheme, so don’t see always what Axle do, but from the DFS events I’ve seen, Axle often don’t bid, and if they do their bids are rejected as being too high.
It does look like the recent GivBack is looking to tap into business as usual grid balancing not just the DFS events, so maybe there will be more income this year, but I’m doubtful.
I guess only time will tell.
For info, with Octopus DFS I have participated in 4 events this winter:
I’ve heard that Axle energy no longer run the GivBack scheme, so it is most likely a different company name that will appear on the NESO DFS list
Although the terms and conditions do say “GivEnergy, its partners and data sub-processors, including but not limited to Axle Energy (“Partners”) will assess, enroll, manage, and reward Flexible Devices in Grid Services”
This. bit on the website was interesting about potential income:
“ How much could I be rewarded?
You’ll earn between £0.25-£2.00 / kWh for the energy that you save or export. The exact price will vary per event, but will typically be in excess of £0.25 / kWh. We’ll notify you of the price before an event.
For events between £0.25-£0.50 / kWh, we will not pre-charge your battery in order to maximise your rewards.
We will not be bidding with the system operator to participate in events at less than £0.25 / kWh. “
Yeah, last year they’d send a notification saying the times and the payment for the event, and the charge time would be set up but I could edit it afterwards.
This event had no notification and no price, so it’s very odd
I am using the Octopus Go tariff. I charge the battery from 00:30 to 05:30 every morning even though the battery charges up much more quickly than 5 hours, usually about 2 hours . The reason I do this is that it disables eco mode when charging so I can use the myenergi eddi to boost the hot water and also charge my electric car at the same time without being worried that they will use the battery and discharge it before the day starts.
As an additional suggestion, if you set a lower charge rate so you still fill the battery in the cheap period, it will keep your battery warm through the night, which helps keep it healthy, but also ensures that its available to discharge when you want it to.
If the battery gets too cold then it will reduce charging rate, and if really cold, will stop discharging. That’s pretty unlikely, but keeping it gently charging can help prevent it.
I’ve certainly seen my batteries charge rate reduce in winter overnight when they get cold
Just FYI, in case anyone else had the GivBack event without any info, my app has now updated stating that I earnt £1.01 for 3.37kWh, which equates to about 29.97p/kWh. Since British Gas charge 26.06p/kWh, this is a profit of 3.37p/kWh for me.
