Half-hourly (HH) meters record electricity consumption in 30-minute increments. For UK businesses with peak demand above 100 kVA, they're mandatory, but increasingly they're the right choice for any commercial site over 100 MWh of annual consumption too.
Here's what HH metering actually means and why it changes how you buy energy.
How HH metering differs from profile billing
A standard credit meter records a single cumulative kWh figure. The supplier reads it quarterly (or more often), works out the difference, and bills you based on an estimated profile of when you used the energy.
HH meters record actual consumption every 30 minutes, 17,520 data points per year per meter. Your supplier bills you on real data, not a profile.
Why it matters for procurement
HH data unlocks time-of-use pricing, paying less for off-peak energy and more for peak. For businesses that can shift load (manufacturing, EV charging, cold storage) the savings can be 10-20%.
It also enables more accurate demand forecasting, which tightens supplier risk premiums on flexible contracts.
Should you install one?
If your annual electricity consumption is above 100 MWh and your peak demand is below 100 kVA, you're not legally required to install HH metering, but it's almost always worth the conversation with your supplier.
Most major suppliers will fit HH metering free of charge as part of a multi-year contract.
Priya Mehta
Metering Operations Lead
Part of the Scottish Prime Energy procurement team, 500,000+ UK businesses switched, £150M+ saved.