In our role as Electricity System Operator (ESO), we balance generation and demand in real time. When demand is low, there may be a requirement for additional flexibility to balance generation and demand, as well as to achieve sufficient negative reserve and high frequency response. During 2020-22, there was a risk that restrictions associated with COVID-19 could present lower demand periods for longer durations than we had seen in the past. To help manage these changing system conditions we implemented an Optional Downward Flexibility Management (ODFM) Service across the summer periods in 2020 and 2021. The service is no longer live. Optional Downward Flexibility Management (ODFM) is a service which allows the ESO to access downward flexibility that is not currently accessible in real time and expand our ability to control output from providers we cannot currently access through the Balancing Mechanism and the Platform for Ancillary Services.