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What is Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement? (MHHS)

Meter Wide Half Hourly Settlement

What Is MHHS?


  • MHHS is a major UK energy-market reform for Businesses — the first big change since the smart-meter rollout in 2011.

  • Instead of bills based on estimates or occasional meter readings, MHHS will require all electricity consumption to be metered and settled every 30 minutes (half-hourly).


✅ Why It’s Being Introduced


MHHS aims to deliver several improvements:


  • More accurate billing — bills based on actual usage rather than estimates.

  • Opportunities for smarter and more flexible tariffs (e.g. time-of-use tariffs).

  • Better insight into usage patterns — businesses can track when and how they use power.

  • Support for energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and sustainability (aligning with net-zero goals).

  • Reduced need for manual meter-reading — more automated, convenient data collection.

🏢 Who Is Affected


  • MHHS applies to all businesses not already on a half-hourly tariff.

  • If your meter is already half-hourly, you’re already compliant. If not — suppliers will reprogram or replace the meter (usually at no extra cost).

  • When the switch happens, certain administrative details will change — for example your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) may update, profile classes may shift, and a new “Standard Settlement Configuration (SSC)” code will replace the old Meter Time Switch Code (MTC).


💡 What Changes You’ll See & What You Should Know


  • Under MHHS, your electricity usage will be recorded every 30 minutes; billing and settlements will be based on actual usage rather than estimates.

  • Businesses will get detailed consumption data — useful for spotting peak-usage periods, shifting demand to off-peak times, and reducing energy costs.

  • There may be implications for standing charges or capacity-based charges, especially for high-demand/peak electricity users.

  • From 2027, any new fixed-term business energy contract will require a smart or advanced meter.


📅 Timeline & Implementation


  • The transition is already underway: MHHS rollout is planned over the next couple of years.

  • From around Q4 2025, meter identifiers (MPANs) may start to change.

  • Full settlement via half-hourly data is expected to be standard for all by May 2027 (some articles suggest complete migration by then).


🎯 What It Means For Businesses


  • More accurate and transparent electricity bills — you pay for what you actually use.

  • Better visibility into when and how energy is used: helps with cost control, efficiency, and sustainability planning.

  • Potential to benefit from flexible tariffs or demand-response schemes (peak vs off-peak).

  • Those with high power demand need to understand how capacity or peak-demand charges might change.

  • If you plan to sign a new fixed-term supply contract after 2027, be ready to have a smart/advanced meter installed.


✅ MHHS Preparation Checklist for Businesses


1) Confirm Your Meter Status

  • Check if you already have a smart or advanced meter installed.

  • If not, ask your supplier about installation plans and timelines.

2) Review Your Current Tariff

  • Identify whether you’re on a half-hourly or non-half-hourly tariff now.

  • Ask your supplier how MHHS will change billing, standing charges, or capacity charges.

3) Request Half-Hourly Data Access

  • Ensure you can access consumption data (every 30 minutes).

  • Set up data feeds or dashboards to monitor usage.

4) Analyse Your Peak Usage

  • Identify when you use the most electricity.

  • Explore whether shifting usage to off-peak times could save money.

5) Evaluate Load Flexibility

  • Ask: can you move energy-intensive tasks to cheaper times?

  • Consider demand-response or smart automation solutions.

6) Budget for Potential Cost Changes

  • Prepare for changes in:

    • Standing charges

    • Capacity demand charges

    • Time-of-use tariffs

  • High-consumption sites should model different scenarios.

7) Update Energy Procurement Strategy

  • Plan ahead for new contract terms, especially from 2027 onwards.

  • Factor in potential benefits from flexible tariffs.

8) Talk to Your Supplier Early

  • Ask for clarity on:

    • Timeline of changes

    • Meter upgrades

    • Data access

    • Pricing implications

  • Get changes in writing where possible.

9) Train Internal Teams

  • Inform relevant teams (operations, finance, facilities) about:

    • Data availability

    • New billing structures

    • Efficiency opportunities

10) Look for Quick Wins

  • Consider low-cost steps to reduce usage:

    • Lighting upgrades

    • HVAC optimisation

    • Equipment scheduling

  • Small savings can scale with half-hourly charges.


🎯 Fast-Action Summary List


  • ✔ Confirm meter type

  • ✔ Get installation plan if needed

  • ✔ Ask for HH data access

  • ✔ Review tariff + future pricing

  • ✔ Analyse peaks + shift usage where possible

  • ✔ Prepare for cost changes

  • ✔ Update procurement strategy

  • ✔ Talk to supplier early

  • ✔ Train teams

  • ✔ Implement quick efficiency wins


Let our friendly team guide you through the process. We can arrange for the new meters to be installed.


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