Energy bills are complex enough, but more so when you have a Half Hourly Meter. So in this article we aim to take the mystery out of your electricity bill. We’ll explain the jargon, and break down everything from capacity charges to day and night rates.
Near the top of your bill, you’ll notice a small table containing a series of numbers, like the one in the above diagram. This tells you and your supplier key information about your meter, as follows:
- Profile Class: If you have a Half-Hourly Electricity Meter, this section will read ‘00’.
- Meter Timeswitch Code: This gives the supplier key information about your meter, including whether it is single-rate or multi-rate.
- Local Distributor ID: This number, between 10 and 28, shows which local distributor you fall under.
- Unique Meter Point ID Number: Also known as MPAN, this 21-digit reference uniquely identifies the point at which your meter is attached.
- Check Digit: This is the final mart of your MPAN, and is used to validate the previous 12 digits.
If you have a two-rate Half Hourly electricity meter, you’ll notice you consumption is broken down into ‘Day’ and ‘Night’ rates on your bill.
In brackets, next to each rate, you’ll see times of day, such as:
Day (07:00-24:00)
Night (00:00-07:00)
This shows when each rate kicks in. The night rate is usually less costly than the day rate, and tends to apply during the hours midnight to 7a.m, although this can vary.
More information on day and night rates can be found here.
If you have a Half Hourly electricity meter, you will usually be subject to Capacity Charges.
A Capacity Charge is a fee you pay to ensure you are supplied with enough energy to meet your highest demand. Your Capacity Charge is agreed between you and your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO).
If you notice something called ‘Excess Capacity Charge’ on your bill, that means you exceeded your agreed maximum usage at some point during that billing period.
For this reason, it’s important to ensure your Capacity Charge is set at the right level for your usage. If set too low, you may exceed your capacity and end up paying a penalty. If set too high, you’ll pay more than you need to.
You may notice something called ‘Climate Change Levy (CCL) on your Half Hourly electricity meter bill. The Climate Change Levy (CCL) was introduced to encourage businesses to reduce their carbon output. It is a tax on energy use, which is collected by your supplier for the government.
There are some exemptions from the Climate Change Levy. These include:
- Supplies used by a charity for non-business activities
- Businesses that use less than 1,000kWh electricity or 4,397kWh gas in a given month (known as de-minimus consumers)
- Customers with Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) in place
More information about CCL exemptions can be found on the UK government website.
If you have further questions about your Half Hourly Electricity Meter, take a look at our useful guide. It addresses some of the most frequently asked questions, and includes information on where to get further information.
If you’re a Tritility client with a Half Hourly Electricity Meter and you’d prefer to talk to someone, your account manager will be happy to help. Alternatively, you can get in touch via phone, email or contact form.