Half Hourly Meters
Get a half hourly meter quote from trusted UK suppliers.
Whether you’re a large consumption business requiring a half hourly meter by law or looking to take control of your electricity bills, switch half hourly meter suppliers here.
Half Hourly Meter Deals From Trusted Suppliers
What Is A Half Hourly Meter?
A half hourly meter is also known as an HH or a 00 meter. Half hourly meters transmit meter readings every 30 minutes to the energy supplier. This is done via a data collector or through an accredited third party. It is a legal requirement to install a half hourly meter when a business consumes 100 kilowatts (kW) or more during any 30-minute period.
Half hourly metering ensures that businesses are paying the correct business energy rates. With large electricity consumption, billing can get out of control quickly if not managed closely. This type of meter helps manage that so businesses are not under or overcharged and save money on their energy bill. This avoids a potentially large bill at the end of the contract to catch up on payments.
Why We're A Great Choice For Half Hourly Meter Businesses
Does My Business Need A Half Hourly Meter?
An HH meter must be installed by law for businesses with a peak usage rate over 100kW. If you're a business with an energy procurement process, you will likely need a half hourly meter for your electricity.
Businesses with an HH meter installed must get in touch with a Meter Operator and Data Collector to enable the electricity meter to function properly.
How Are Half Hourly Meter Charges Different From Normal Billing?
Standard electricity meters require manual meter readings and a basic smart meter will only send a reading once per month. Half hourly meters send readings every 30 minutes to ensure that billing is accurate and you’re only charged for the electricity you use.
What Is A P272 Mandatory Meter Change?
Regulation introduced by Ofgem in April 2017, meant that all suppliers must move businesses with a profile class of 05-08 to a half hourly meter.
However, non-half-hourly required businesses can still have one installed if they wish. Some businesses do this to get a better handle on their commercial energy usage and to get more accurate billing.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Half Hourly Meter?
Half hourly meters offer benefits for both the business and the supplier. The main benefits are:
- Increase data on electricity consumption
- Accurate billing from the use of actual meter readings every 30 minutes
- Ability to charge different gas and electricity prices for energy used in high peak periods and lower demand periods
- Encourages use of electricity at lower demand periods when charges are lower
- Increased energy efficiency through knowledge of consumption
- Reduced carbon emissions from electricity consumption and improved environmental credentials
How To Check If I Have A Half Hourly Meter
The MPAN number located on your electricity meter will help you identify if you have a half hourly meter.
The image below shows an example of an MPAN. Under profile type, a ’00’ indicates that you have a half hourly meter.
Can I Switch Business Energy Suppliers If I Have a Half Hourly Meter?
You can switch suppliers if you have a half hourly meter. However, not all business energy suppliers offer tariffs for this meter profile class. As large consumption businesses can be more complex, you may need a more bespoke electricity quote based on detailed consumption patterns.
The business energy suppliers that currently offer half-hourly meter contracts include:
- British Gas
- Ecotricity
- ENGIE
- Good Energy
- npower Business Solutions, Powered by E.On
- ScottishPower
- SSE Business Energy
- SSE Airtricity
Half Hourly Meter FAQs
-
What is a DNO?
DNO stands for Distribution Network Operator. These organisations are regulated by Ofgem and are not the same as your energy supplier. They maintain the network in your area so that you remain connected to the Nation Grid.
-
What is a MOP?
A Meter Operator (MOP) is responsible for the installation of half hourly meters. A MOP will need to be appointed if you decide to install a new meter.
-
What is a capacity charge?
A capacity charge is a monthly cost applied as a per unit charge to your Distribution Network Operator. This covers the cost of network maintenance.
-
What is a kVA charge?
The kVA (kilo-Volt-ampere) charge is a monthly cost applied the your Distribution Network Operator. This covers the power capacity available to your business.
-
Why do I need a MOP agreement?
You will need to have a contract with your meter operator to ensure that the maintenance of your half hourly meter remains up to date and in good working order.
-
What is a time-of-use tariff?
Time-of-use tariffs offer cheaper energy prices during certain times of the day. This helps the network manage demand during peak hours.