Energy Mod1 Page14
DUS - Energy Training (15 of 17)
Half Hourly Meters

Half Hourly (HH) electricity metering is applied to high usage customers to better monitor their usage. As the name implies, half hourly meters (also known as 00 meters and business smart meters) are electronically read by your supplier every 30 mins.

This is done to make sure the business is paying the correct amount for electricity at all times. Thus, if the business uses a lot of energy during peak times they can expect a rather higher bill than if your usage is primarily at non-peak times.

Half hourly metering gives the business accurate information about how much energy they are using, and is mandatory for all businesses with a supply greater than 100kW. 

Half hourly meters are linked to a communications device that allows the data to be accessed remotely.
How to spot a half hourly meter? 

Half hourly meters are displayed on the bill as a "00 Profile" as indicated in the image. Once you find the MPAN number, if it is a half hourly meter then the top left hand box will say "00".  
Businesses required to use an HH meter.

Currently, if your business has a regular peak load usage of electricity above 100 kW you will be required by law to install a half hourly meter. Typical businesses include factories, large warehouses, department stores, breweries, supermarkets, large offices and other large scale industrial and agricultural enterprises.

From, November 5th, 2015 all new and renewing contracts for profile classes 05-08 will also be required to switch to half hourly settlement as well.
Half Hourly Electricity Prices.

Half hourly electricity prices can be quite different to usual commercial prices because they are affected by several factors. The wholesale electricity market, contract terms, time of year, location and availability just to name a few. 

For this reason it’s very important that we take some time to compare suppliers. Small differences between contracts can potentially add up to £1,000's per year for the largest users.
What to expect with half hourly meters?

In order for us to get prices for half hourly meters, first we need to gather information from the current supplier, this can take quite a while depending on how forthcoming the supplier is. 

We recommend when dealing with half hourly meter's to allow at least 21 days for prices (If the contract is within the renewal window). 
Data & Half-Hourly Settlement (HHS) 

While it can be difficult to work with half hourly metering contracts, one big advantage of HH meters and half-hourly settlement is that they give us and the client much more data about their energy usage compared to most SME and commercial users.

By using this data the client can save money in at least 3 ways:
  • Makes comparing competing contracts much more accurate as we will have the information about when the business is using power and can compare it to the rates being offered by various suppliers.
  • Once the client knows when they are spending the most on electricity they may find they able to shift certain energy intensive processes to when rates are lower.
  • If the client can’t shift production to off-peak times from peak times they could consider looking into implementing energy efficiency programs to offset some of the cost.

Getting Prices For Half Hourly Contracts

Given the size and scope of most mandatory half hourly contracts, getting a new contract or renewing an old one can take more time. It is important to manage the expectations of the client as to have a new contract up and running within a week is not possible. We always recommend that clients start looking at prices and quotes when they enter the renewal window and no less than 6 weeks before contract end to ensure they dont incur out of contract rates. This should give us enough opportunity to discuss the requirements with the various suppliers and get a good contract put in place.
FAQ's About Half Hourly Meters.
  • Am I required to get an HH meter?

    Yes, if you’re business at any point has a peak load electricity usage above 100 kW or you’re renewing your contract and your meter is in profile class 05-08.

  • What about P272 Regulation?

    P272 was brought in by Ofgem and now makes it mandatory for all new contracts under profile class 05-08 to get half-hourly meters installed. This applies to both brand-new contracts and contract renewals and came into effect on November 5th, 2015.

  • Do I still have I have to take meter readings?

    Generally no. HH meters are normally connected to a fixed phone line or increasing mobile phone connections and send the data directly to your supplier. However, you will still be required to have a Data Collector (DC) and a Meter Operator (MOP) – both of which can be provided by your electricity company, although not always at the lowest price.


  • What does a HH Meter Operator (MOP) do?

    A HH meter operator is basically responsible for the installation and maintenance of your meter. They also make sure the communications equipment is able to send the data to the data collector without any issues.

    This can be done either by your energy supplier or by an accredited third-party (often cheaper). However, you must have a contract in place for your supplier to supply you with electricity.

  • What does a HH Data Collector (DC) do?

    As the name implies a data collector, collects the data and passes it over to your energy supplier. While this is done automatically it’s still important and it can be provided either by your energy company or an accredited third-party.

    Unlike a MOP you do need to have a contract in place with DC before getting your power, but you do need one to get access to all your data.

Summary - You do not need to know everything there is about half hourly meters, just what they are, which businesses they are used for and the difference in timescales.
Share by: