Half-Hourly Metering
The metering and settlement regime in which electricity consumption is measured and settled in 30-minute intervals; mandatory above 100 kW measured maximum demand.
Half-hourly (HH) metering records electricity consumption in 30-minute intervals and submits the data to industry settlement on the same cadence. HH metering is mandatory for any UK electricity supply with a measured maximum demand above 100 kW; below that threshold, supplies are typically on a profile-class non-half-hourly basis with a profiled annual quantity.
HH supplies attract a richer cost stack than NHH:
- Time-of-day banded DUoS (Red, Amber, Green) on the forward-looking distribution charge.
- Direct exposure to TNUoS through the residual TCR fixed bands, plus the locational forward-looking element.
- BSUoS charges (now a fixed daily charge after the 2023 reform).
- Capacity charges based on Available Capacity in kVA, with DCP161 excess penalties.
- Reactive-power charges where power factor falls below the DNO threshold.
HH supplies also require separate MOP and DC/DA contracts alongside the energy supply contract — three customer-side contracts rather than one. For procurement, this means tender-and-renewal cycles need to coordinate three contracts, not one, and savings opportunities exist on each.
The MHHS (Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement) programme is extending half-hourly settlement to smaller customers via smart meters; see MHHS.
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Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement
MHHSThe Ofgem programme to extend half-hourly settlement to all UK electricity customers, leveraging smart-meter data; phased delivery through the late 2020s.
Read definitionProfile Class
The classification of UK non-half-hourly electricity supplies by typical demand pattern; used to estimate consumption between meter reads.
Read definitionMeter Operator
MOPThe licensed entity that owns, installs and maintains a half-hourly electricity meter; contracted separately from the energy supplier.
Read definitionData Collector / Data Aggregator
DC / DAThe licensed entities responsible for collecting half-hourly meter readings (DC) and processing them for industry settlement (DA).
Read definitionkilovolt-amperes
kVAThe unit of apparent electrical power; used to set Available Capacity on half-hourly electricity supplies.
Read definitionDistribution Use of System
DUoSThe charge electricity suppliers pay to regional Distribution Network Operators for using local distribution wires; recovered from customers through the unit rate.
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