Half Hour Electricity Metering Explained

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Last updated: 08 June 2021

Half hourly (HH) electricity metering is useful if your business has a high energy consumption and you want to keep track of how much you are using. Your energy supplier will receive readings from your meter electronically every half an hour via a fixed data line or phone line.

The automatic meter readings mean you don’t have to do anything and you can be confident in the knowledge that your energy bill will be up-to-date and accurate. You won’t have to collect the readings manually which makes this kind of meter much more convenient for your business.

Should my business get a HH meter?

Some businesses are required to use a HH meter by law. If your electricity demand is regularly 100 kWh or more in any half hour period of the day, then you are required to install a HH meter. Due to recent changes in the law, any medium or large business must now use a HH electricity meter.

If your business is smaller and has a half-hourly demand of 70 kWh or more then you can choose to have a HH meter, but you do not have to. You may be able to get cheaper energy rates for your business by doing this, so it is worth looking into.

If your business is getting a HH meter, you need to appoint a Meter Operator and a Data Collector. Your energy supplier can do this for you but this can often be an expensive route. We can help offer you options for your Meter Operator and Data Collector to reduce costs and make your life hassle-free.

If your business has moved to a new building, you need to find if you have a HH meter or not. Look at a recent energy bill provided by the supplier for that premises. Find the S number on your bill, if the number in the top left is 00, then the building has a HH meter.

How much will I pay for a HH electricity meter?

Half hourly electricity prices can vary considerably so it is important that you compare business gas and electricity before deciding on a contract. Finding the right energy deal can save you thousands of pounds each year.

You can start now by filling out a form with usave and we will provide you with a tailored quote from a wide range of suppliers. We have experts on hand that can recommend certain business energy deals that will suit the needs of your business. Your business will be appointed an account manager to help you through the process and who ask any questions along the way.

Sometimes, you can secure a lower unit price if your business has high energy consumption rates. Prices depend on several factors and can differ depending on your location, consumption and tariff type.

Automatic readings mean that the bills will always be accurate and you know that you won’t be overpaying due to poorly estimated readings. This also means energy suppliers can tailor a contract to the usage and needs of your business much more than a regular contract.

How can a HH meter cut down my energy bill?

Your data usage will be completely accurate and so can be used in the future when you are considering switching suppliers. You can use your usage data to negotiate new contracts and potentially find your business a better deal.
With all this new usage information, you can review the usage of your business and see if there are ways you can be more energy efficient. You can look into implementing an energy efficiency programme - there may be some simple ways you can cut down costs.
Once you have worked out when you are spending the most money on your energy, you can work out what you need to cut down on. If your business is involved in particularly energy-intensive processes, you may be able to do these at off-peak times when the unit rate of electricity is lower.
You can compare contracts in a much more accurate way. You will have more information to compare to the rates on other deals to see whether you need to consider switching supplier.

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Author: Danny Lord

Danny is our Editor-in-Chief, and has been writing news and guides for comparison sites for the last five years.

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