Household demand flexibility during crises: the role of meta-services

As the energy transition accelerates and societies face increasing disruptions, the need for household demand flexibility becomes more critical. This article advances the understanding of demand flexibility through a practice-theoretical perspective, examining how household-energy demand adapts during crises. Based on group interviews with Finnish households living in single-family homes, we explore how demand flexibility occurs at the level of meta-services—thermal comfort, cleanliness, and control—during an energy crisis. We argue that distinguishing between meta-services and social practices provides new insights into the dynamics through which demand adapts to crises. Our findings highlight the significance of meta-services as a key dimension in shaping demand adaptation, suggesting that policy responses should extend beyond conventional demand flexibility strategies to address the broader dynamics of household-energy use.