A Half Hourly Meter automatically communicates your half-hourly readings to your supplier. This means your bills are calculated based on your actual usage, as opposed to your estimated usage, without the need for you to take a manual reading.
In addition to producing more accurate bills, half-hourly readings also ensure the grid has enough capacity to meet demand. For larger consumers of energy, even small spikes in usage can put pressure on the transmission network. This is why large consumers are required to have a half hourly meter.
With standard meters, you need to take a monthly reading and send this to your supplier. Smart Meter half hourly readings, however, are taken automatically, saving you the hassle of doing it yourself.
However, it can be useful to take an occasional reading. This is because the signal that transfers data from your meter to the supplier can sometimes be interrupted.
Your current reading will be shown on the LCD display on the front of your Half Hourly Meter. The numbers show how much electricity you have used (in kWh).
You can ask for a copy of your Smart Meter half hourly readings from your supplier. This will often be sent to you as a spreadsheet, but the format can vary. Below is an example of what your half-hourly readings might look like.
Column A shows your unique meter point identifier (MPAN). Column B shows the date, and columns C onward represent each 30-minute interval throughout the day. Under each of these intervals, you’ll find your usage in kWh within that half-hour timeframe.
Interpreting your half-hourly data in spreadsheet form can be useful, but there may be a more user-friendly option available to you. Some suppliers provide a simple usage dashboard, which converts your readings to simple charts.
Alternatively, if you used a third party to procure your energy, you may have access to additional energy monitoring tools. For example, our Half-Hourly Metered clients can view their data in a much more easy-to-digest format via our own Energy Monitoring Dashboard.
You can view your energy cost, consumption and carbon use in simple charts and heat maps, over a given period. Week-on week and month-on-month comparisons allow you to identify any changes in your usage. If you have multiple sites, you can view metrics for each one.
Because your readings are recorded every 30 minutes, you can analyse how much energy you’re using at certain times of the day. This could help you pinpoint which devices or processes are costing you the most.
You can set your own alerts to warn you when you’re nearing your kVa capacity, enabling you to avoid excess charges.
For more information on Half Hourly Meters, check out our guide. If you’re a Tritility client and would like help, get in touch with your account manager.
If you’re not yet a Tritility client, get a quote today, and find out how much you could be saving. In addition to securing you a better deal, we’ll take care of the day-to-day management of your energy, and help you cut cost through usage management.