Open Utility Ltd
Open Utility Ltd (Piclo) operates an independent marketplace platform connecting energy flexibility buyers (utilities, DSOs, TSOs) with distributed energy resource providers across six countries, enabling competitive tendering, dispatch, and settlement of flexibility services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Open Utility Ltd does
Open Utility Ltd, operating commercially as Piclo, is a London-headquartered (founded 2013) energy technology company that operates an independent marketplace platform for trading distributed energy resource (DER) flexibility across six countries: the UK, US, Australia, Italy, Portugal, and Belgium. The platform connects flexibility buyers — utilities, distribution system operators (DSOs), and transmission system operators (TSOs) — with flexibility service providers including EV operators, battery storage owners, DER aggregators, and virtual power plant operators. The product portfolio centers on Piclo Flex (a seller-facing marketplace for asset registration, qualification, and competitive bidding), Piclo Max (a buyer-facing enterprise platform for managing procurement competitions, dispatch, and settlement), the Piclo Data Hub (publicly available datasets on flexibility markets and competition results), and the Piclo API (programmatic integration). Notable operational integrations include the Local Constraint Market embedded in the NESO control room for managing Scotland–England transmission constraints, plus regional marketplaces FIRMe (Portugal, 142 MW across 17 locations with E-REDES) and EDGE (Italy, 40 MW across 96 tenders with E-Distribuzione).
The business model is a marketplace-commission structure: Piclo generates revenue through platform fees on flexibility tenders, competitions, and ongoing trading activity. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales to large utilities and system operators with self-serve registration for flexibility service providers. Distribution includes country-specific platform instances and tendering portals. As of September 2025, the US platform alone had scaled to all 50 states with 350+ utility buyers, 100+ aggregators and asset owners, 400+ listed programs, and 1 GW of registered DER flexible capacity within six months of March 2025 launch. Named enterprise customers include NESO, National Grid (UK and US), NIE Networks, E-REDES, E-Distribuzione, Electricity North West, Northern Powergrid, SP Energy Networks, UK Power Networks, SSEN, NGED, Eversource, United Illuminating (Avangrid), CitiPower and Powercor, and United Energy; named flexibility providers include Octopus Energy, Enel X, and Sunrun. The company reports 250+ registered flex sellers, 350,000+ assets representing 40+ GW of flexible capacity, and over $100 million in enabled flexibility contracts cumulatively.
Open Utility Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Utility Ltd
- Legal name
- Open Utility Ltd
- Website
- https://piclo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Open Utility Ltd (Piclo) operates an independent marketplace platform connecting energy flexibility buyers (utilities, DSOs, TSOs) with distributed energy resource providers across six countries, enabling competitive tendering, dispatch, and settlement of flexibility services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Open Utility Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Flexibility Marketplace
- NAICS
- Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- DR Aggregators & Retail Curtailment Service Providers (CSPs) (EUAFAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- V2G Aggregators & Flexibility Service Providers (Market Participation) (EUAFAMAG), Retail Supply + DER/Virtual Power Plant Bundles (Solar, Storage, DR) (EUAGABAI)
Keywords
Where Open Utility Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Open Utility Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Platform Fees: Piclo operates as a marketplace platform facilitating flexibility procurement between buyers (utilities, DSOs, TSOs) and sellers (flexibility service providers). Revenue is generated through platform fees from facilitating tenders, competitions, and ongoing flexibility trading across the platform.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Open Utility Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open Utility Ltd (doing business as Piclo) operates an independent, cloud-based marketplace platform that connects energy flexibility buyers — distribution and transmission system operators (DSOs/TSOs), utilities, and energy retailers — with flexibility service providers such as EV operators, battery storage owners, and DER aggregators. The platform supports asset registration, competitive bidding in auctions, dispatch instructions, and settlement for flexibility services across multiple geographies.
Product overview
Piclo is an independent marketplace platform for energy flexibility operated by Open Utility Ltd. The product portfolio consists of Piclo (the overarching brand), Piclo Flex (seller-facing platform with 250+ registered flex sellers and 350,000+ assets), Piclo Max (buyer-facing platform for DSOs/TSOs to procure flexibility), Piclo Data Hub (public datasets on flexibility markets), and the Piclo API (for programmatic integration). Regional variants include E-REDES's FIRMe in Portugal (142 MW across 17 locations), E-Distribuzione's EDGE in Italy (40 MW across 96 tenders), and National Grid's US programs. The platform operates across the USA, Europe, and Australia, enabling flexibility providers to maximize asset value while buyers access the world's largest pool of vetted flex sellers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Piclo Flex
- Piclo Max
- Piclo Data Hub
- Piclo API
- Piclo (Portugal / FIRMe)
- Piclo (Italy / EDGE)
Quantifiable outcome
- $100 million+ in flexibility contracts enabled
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Open Utility Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Open Utility Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
Open Utility Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- NIE NetworkscoreNIE Networks selected Piclo's flexibility marketplace to manage and deliver flexibility procurement across Northern Ireland. Partnership supports NIE Networks' transition to DSO and utilization of flexibility to manage distribution constraints for 966,000 customers.
- WattCarbonflagshipCo-published the Accelerated Community Energy (ACE) white paper, a new model to channel AI data center capital into local grid flexibility. WattCarbon is a key partner in developing and promoting the ACE concept for US markets.
- National GridcorePartnership with National Grid for US platform expansion, managing procurement of flexibility services including Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA), Dynamic Load Management (DLM), and Commercial System Relief Program (CSRP) across New York and Massachusetts.
- United Illuminating (Avangrid)corePartnership for flexibility procurements and marketplace operations in the northeastern US market.
- EversourcecorePartnership for US market flexibility opportunities in the northeastern utility market.
- E-DistribuzionecorePartnership for Italy's EDGE flexibility project, enabling local flexibility markets in Italian distribution network. E-Distribuzione is Italy's largest electricity distribution company serving 31.5 million customers across 7.5 million outlets.
- E-REDEScoreLaunched Portugal's first local flexibility market FIRMe in 2023. Partnership involves Piclo providing marketplace infrastructure for E-REDES flexibility procurement across 17 locations seeking 142 MW flexibility from January 2026 to December 2027.
- Ores (UK) LtdcoreFlexibility buyer partner listed on Piclo's platform, operating as distribution system operator.
- UK Power NetworkscoreFlexibility buyer partner on Piclo platform, one of the largest distribution network operators in the UK.
- SSEN DistributioncoreFlexibility buyer partner on Piclo platform, operating electricity networks in Scotland and southern England.
- National Grid Electricity DistributioncoreFlexibility buyer partner on Piclo platform, one of the largest electricity distribution network operators in the UK.
- CitiPower and PowercorcoreFlexibility buyer partner on Piclo platform in Australia, part of the CK Infrastructure Holdings group.
- United EnergycoreFlexibility buyer partner on Piclo platform in Australia, distributing electricity across Victoria.
- Octopus EnergycoreFlexibility service provider on Piclo platform, one of the largest registered flex sellers enabling demand response and energy flexibility.
- Enel XcoreFlexibility service provider on Piclo platform, providing demand response and energy flexibility services.
- SunruncoreFlexibility service provider on Piclo platform, providing residential solar and battery flexibility.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Open Utility Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NODES: NODES operates a flexibility marketplace platform in Europe enabling distributed energy resources to trade grid services with TSOs and DSOs. It is a direct competitor in the European local flexibility market space alongside Piclo.
- AutoGrid (Schneider Electric): AutoGrid, now part of Schneider Electric, provides a flexibility and DER management platform enabling utilities to procure and dispatch distributed energy resources. It competes with Piclo Max on the buyer-facing procurement side.
- GridBeyond: GridBeyond operates a demand response and flexibility trading platform using AI to optimize industrial and commercial energy assets. It directly competes with Piclo by connecting flexible assets to grid services across UK, Ireland, US, and other markets.
- CPower: CPower is a demand response and grid services aggregator offering virtual power plant solutions to commercial and industrial customers in North America. It overlaps with Piclo's flexibility service provider value proposition, particularly in US markets.
- Voltus: Voltus is a virtual power plant and demand response aggregator connecting commercial and industrial customers to wholesale electricity markets and grid services in North America. It competes with Piclo's Piclo Flex marketplace for DER flexibility providers.
- EnergyHub: EnergyHub provides a DER management platform enabling utilities to manage residential demand response, smart thermostats, and distributed energy resources. It is a direct peer in the buyer-facing flexibility management category alongside Piclo Max.
- Equigy: Equigy is a flexibility aggregation platform founded by Terna, Enel, and other major European TSOs, enabling distributed energy resources to participate in grid balancing markets. It is the most direct peer to Piclo in the European flexibility marketplace space.
Broad incumbents
- Enel X (now Enel X Way / Global Infrastructure and Networks): Enel X is a major demand response aggregator and flexibility service provider operating globally, and is also registered as a flex seller on Piclo's platform. It competes with Piclo in providing demand response and DER aggregation services at scale.
Emerging players
- Stem Inc (also known as STEM): Stem operates an AI-driven energy storage and virtual power plant platform enabling commercial and industrial customers to monetize flexible assets. It overlaps with Piclo's flexibility service provider value proposition for storage assets.
- KEVIN.energy: KEVIN.energy is an emerging European flexibility marketplace platform connecting EV charging, batteries, and heat pumps with grid flexibility markets. It targets similar EV and residential DER use cases as Piclo Flex.
Market position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Open Utility Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Utility Ltd compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Open Utility Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Utility Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Open Utility Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open Utility Ltd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open Utility Ltd
What does Open Utility Ltd do?
Open Utility Ltd (doing business as Piclo) operates an independent, cloud-based marketplace platform that connects energy flexibility buyers — distribution and transmission system operators (DSOs/TSOs), utilities, and energy retailers — with flexibility service providers such as EV operators, battery storage owners, and DER aggregators. The platform supports asset registration, competitive bidding in auctions, dispatch instructions, and settlement for flexibility services across multiple geographies.
Is Open Utility Ltd a public or private company?
Open Utility Ltd is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Open Utility Ltd founded?
Open Utility Ltd was founded in 2013.
Where is Open Utility Ltd based?
Open Utility Ltd is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Open Utility Ltd make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Platform Fees.
Who are Open Utility Ltd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NODES, AutoGrid (Schneider Electric), GridBeyond, CPower, Voltus, EnergyHub and Equigy. Enel X (now Enel X Way / Global Infrastructure and Networks) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Stem Inc (also known as STEM) and KEVIN.energy.
Does Open Utility Ltd have an API?
Yes. Piclo offers API documentation for integrating with its flexibility marketplace platform. The API enables developers to build integrations with the platform for registering assets, submitting bids, receiving dispatch instructions, and accessing settlement and performance reports. Documentation is available at docs.picloflex.com. Developer documentation is at docs.picloflex.com.
What industry is Open Utility Ltd in?
Open Utility Ltd's product category is Energy Flexibility Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFAGAG, DR Aggregators & Retail Curtailment Service Providers (CSPs), with a secondary code of EUAFAMAG, V2G Aggregators & Flexibility Service Providers (Market Participation). Its NAICS code is 22112 and its SIC code is 4911.