What is Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS)? MOA, SDS & ADS Explained

If you have recently come across terms such as MOA, SDS or ADS in relation to your business electricity supply, they form part of a major change taking place across the energy industry.

Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement, known as MHHS, is changing how electricity consumption is recorded and used within the settlement process across Great Britain.

It also introduces a new structure for managing meters and consumption data. Some familiar roles are changing, while others are being replaced by a different process altogether.

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

Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) is an industry-wide programme that changes how electricity consumption is settled across Great Britain.

Traditionally, many business electricity customers have been billed and settled using estimated consumption profiles rather than actual usage data. MHHS moves the industry towards using half-hourly meter readings, creating a more accurate picture of when electricity is consumed.

By improving settlement accuracy, MHHS aims to:

• Improve the efficiency of the electricity market.
• Support the transition to a smarter, more flexible energy system.
• Encourage innovation in energy products and services.
• Help businesses better understand their electricity consumption.
• Support the UK’s journey towards Net Zero.

For businesses with half-hourly meters or smart meters, these changes will become increasingly relevant as suppliers and industry participants adopt the new framework.

Why are the industry acronyms changing?

As part of MHHS, the roles responsible for metering and consumption data are being reorganised to support half-hourly settlement across the market.

Some of the new roles have a close equivalent in today’s market, but they are not all direct name changes. In particular, there will be no separate Data Aggregator (DA) role under MHHS.

The three key roles to understand are:

• MOP becomes MOA
• SDS (Smart Data Service)
• ADS (Advanced Data Service)

Let’s look at each one in more detail.

MOP becomes MOA (Metering Operations Agent)

Previously known as the Meter Operator (MOP), this role is now referred to as the Metering Operations Agent (MOA).

The MOA remains responsible for:

• Installing electricity meters.
• Maintaining metering equipment.
• Carrying out meter exchanges.
• Ensuring meters continue operating correctly.

For most businesses, the services provided remain largely unchanged; the update is primarily a change in terminology under the MHHS framework.

What is SDS (Smart Data Service)?

The Smart Data Service (SDS) collects, validates and, where needed, estimates half-hourly consumption data from smart and traditional meters.

It then sends that consumption data into central settlement. SDS will mainly support domestic customers and some smaller business customers.

Its work is similar to data collection today, but it operates as part of the new MHHS framework.

What is ADS (Advanced Data Service)?

The Advanced Data Service (ADS) is the closest equivalent to a Half-Hourly Data Collector (HHDC) in today’s market. It is not a replacement for the Data Aggregator (DA).

ADS providers collect, validate and, where needed, estimate half-hourly consumption data from advanced meters before sending it into central settlement. This service will mainly support higher-usage SMEs and industrial and commercial businesses.

There is no separate DA role under MHHS. Instead, consumption data sent by SDS and ADS providers is aggregated centrally through Elexon’s settlement services.

What does MHHS mean for businesses?

For most businesses, Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) will not require immediate action.

However, you are likely to begin seeing the new terminology in:

• Energy supplier communications.
• Metering documentation.
• Industry reports.
• Contract paperwork.
• Energy management discussions.

Businesses with multiple sites, significant electricity consumption or complex energy portfolios may benefit from understanding these changes, particularly when reviewing energy contracts or discussing metering services.

Working with an experienced business energy procurement consultancy can help ensure your organisation understands industry developments while identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency and manage costs.

How MHHS supports smarter energy management

The move to half-hourly settlement isn’t simply about changing industry terminology.

Better quality energy data allows businesses to:

• Gain greater visibility of electricity consumption.
• Identify opportunities to reduce energy waste.
• Improve energy management, monitoring and reporting.
• Support sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives.
• Make more informed procurement decisions.

As businesses increasingly focus on reducing costs and improving operational efficiency, access to more accurate consumption data will become increasingly valuable. You can read more on smarter energy management in our article “Can Smart Meters For Business Help Me Make Business Energy Savings?”

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MHHS stand for?

MHHS stands for Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement, a major reform of the UK electricity market that uses half-hourly consumption data to improve the accuracy of electricity settlement.

What does MOA stand for?

MOA stands for Metering Operations Agent. It replaces the former Meter Operator (MOP) terminology under the MHHS programme.

What is SDS?

SDS stands for Smart Data Service. It collects, validates and submits half-hourly consumption data for smart and traditional meters, mainly serving domestic customers and some SMEs.

What is ADS?

ADS stands for Advanced Data Service. It performs a role similar to today’s HHDC for advanced meters, mainly serving higher-usage SMEs and industrial and commercial businesses. It does not replace the DA role; aggregation takes place centrally under MHHS.

Will MHHS affect my business?

Most businesses won’t need to take immediate action. However, understanding MHHS will help you interpret supplier communications, metering documentation and future changes within the UK electricity market.

How Tritility can help

Keeping up with changes in the energy industry can be challenging, particularly when new terminology and market reforms are introduced.

At Tritility, our experts help businesses understand changes such as Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) while providing tailored advice on business energy procurement, energy management and monitoring, utility contract management and Net Zero support.

If you have any questions about MHHS, half-hourly metering or your business energy strategy, speak to our team.