By its nature, electricity is a specific commodity since it cannot be stored properly or its storage is very expensive. Its production, therefore, must be at any time such that covers the entire consumption. In time periods of peak demand, the production is also expensive, since the production facilities, which generate electricity gradually by increasing the load, start the facilities with higher operating costs. In the time of peak demand, the electricity system load is bigger, which can cause congestions and threaten the stability of the system. The construction of electricity networks is based on the peak load, which usually occur a few times during the year. New networks and reinforcement of the existing networks are among the most expensive investments, which are paid by all consumers and have a considerable impact on the environment.

Adjusting electricity consumption on consumers' side means that consumers adjust their consumption according to changes in electricity prices during different time intervals, or they respond to the programmes that promote the decrease in consumption at times of higher wholesale prices or when system reliability is jeopardized. Demand response, therefore, means encouraging consumers to greater flexibility in electricity consumption. 

The Energy Agency believes that the development of the programmes designed to change on-site demand are of the key importance for the use of advanced metering system and deployment of electromobility and energy efficiency. To facilitate the understanding of the issue and helping to create these programmes the Energy Agency prepared the consultation document Demand response (povezava).