Alpiq buys UK's Flexitricity to tap into power management market

ZURICH, April 8 (Reuters) - Swiss energy company Alpiq said on Tuesday it had acquired British electrical service firm Flexitricity, as it seeks to expand into the electricity demand management market.

The area of managing electricity supply is becoming more important due to higher, fluctuating production from wind farms and solar systems, Alpiq said in a statement.

Flexitricity balances electricity supply and demand by directly controlling power plants and machines connected to the grid via an internet line. This allows it to siphon off or feed more power into the grid to stabilise it.

Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Flexitricity runs the largest live, open-market smart grid operation in Britain and supplies reserve services to National Grid (LSE: NG.L - news) , the Swiss firm said in a statement.

Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price, Alpiq said. (Reporting by Alice Baghdjian; Editing by Greg Mahlich)