Octopus Energy, a UK-based electricity supplier operating in France, has launched a new free service that allows it to remotely control electric water heaters. This initiative targets one of the largest contributors to household energy use—hot water production, which accounts for about 20% of total energy consumption. Previously, users could only manage their water heater's energy use by scheduling it during off-peak hours. Now, Octopus Energy plans to take this a step further by starting and stopping water heaters based on real-time electricity prices and the carbon intensity of the energy being used. The service has three main goals: reduce electricity bills, ease pressure on the electrical grid during peak times, and prioritize electricity generated in France. According to Octopus Energy, the service could save eligible customers around 33 euros per year. The company estimates that if all 7.8 million French households with compatible water heaters adopted this service, the savings could reach up to 257 million euros annually. Additionally, the service could reduce electricity demand by 780 megawatts during winter evenings, which is equivalent to the output of a large power plant. This is not the first time such a service has been offered in France. Companies like Voltalis and Elax Energy have already introduced similar solutions. While Elax Energy focuses on managing water heaters, Voltalis also optimizes the use of electric radiators. However, Octopus Energy's approach is unique in that it does not require any additional hardware. The company relies on the Linky smart meter, which is already installed in over 15 million French homes. For the service to work, customers must have an electric storage water heater connected to a Level 2 Linky meter and be an Octopus Energy customer. It is incompatible with certain offers, such as those tailored for electric vehicles or solar energy. To manage the water heaters, Octopus Energy collects consumption data every 30 minutes through Enedis, the national electricity distribution network. This data allows the company to determine the best times to heat water based on electricity prices and carbon intensity. These remote control services are becoming more important as the need for grid flexibility increases. While renewable energy sources like wind and solar are environmentally friendly, they are not always reliable due to their dependence on weather conditions. This makes it necessary to shift energy consumption to times when renewable energy production is highest, such as during the day. In the future, electricity subscriptions with fluctuating prices based on real-time production costs may become more common to support this shift.