How can we encourage end consumers to be more aware of their energy consumption? This is what Leipziger Stadtwerke is investigating as part of the SPARCS sub-project for developing virtual energy communities. The so-called “smart socket” plays a central role in this. Leipziger Stadtwerke has designed and implemented an app that does three things: it sensitises its users to their own consumption behaviour, provides concrete incentives to save electricity and, last but not least, it influences power flows in a targeted manner. We already have the first findings from practice.