Half-hourly metering for large sites
Half-hourly meters record consumption in 48 half-hour periods a day, giving both the supplier and the customer a detailed view of the site's load profile. This data is used to price contracts more precisely, since a site with a flat, predictable load profile is generally cheaper to serve than one with sharp demand peaks.
Half-hourly metering has historically been mandatory above 100,000 kWh of annual consumption, though market-wide reforms are gradually extending half-hourly settlement to a wider range of sites over time. Larger consumers should confirm current settlement arrangements with their supplier or meter operator.
Flexible and tranche purchasing
Rather than fixing an entire year's energy volume at a single price point, flexible contracts allow large consumers to purchase their expected consumption in smaller tranches over time, at prevailing market prices for each tranche. This spreads risk and can smooth out the impact of buying entirely at a market peak.
Flexible contracts require more active management than a simple fixed-rate deal and are typically overseen by an in-house energy manager or a specialist broker who tracks the wholesale market and executes purchases at agreed intervals.
- Volume is typically split into monthly, quarterly or seasonal tranches
- A risk management policy sets rules for how and when tranches are bought
- Partially fixed and partially flexible structures are common to balance risk
- Ongoing market monitoring is required throughout the contract term
Capacity charges and demand-based costs
Large consumers, particularly those on half-hourly metering, are typically charged for the maximum capacity they have agreed with their network operator, separate from the actual energy consumed. Exceeding agreed capacity can trigger additional charges, so accurately forecasting peak demand matters.
Charges related to network use, including costs linked to a business's consumption during peak system demand periods, can form a meaningful part of the total bill for large sites and are worth reviewing separately from the headline unit rate.
Compare business energy prices
Enter your postcode and business details to compare available commercial energy prices.
Indicative large business consumption examples
| Site type | Typical annual kWh | Metering type |
|---|---|---|
| Large office building | 200,000 - 600,000 | Half-hourly |
| Medium manufacturing site | 500,000 - 2,000,000 | Half-hourly |
| Large retail or distribution centre | 1,000,000 - 5,000,000 | Half-hourly |
| Heavy industrial site | 5,000,000+ | Half-hourly, often with bespoke supply arrangements |
Managing multi-site portfolios
Large businesses operating multiple sites can often bring them together under a single umbrella supply agreement, allowing consistent contract terms and consolidated billing even where individual site consumption and load profiles differ substantially. This can simplify budgeting and reporting across a group.
Portfolio agreements typically still price each meter according to its own consumption and network charges, so consolidation is more about administrative efficiency and contract consistency than a single blended rate across all sites.
Risk management and procurement strategy
- Define a clear risk appetite before entering a flexible purchasing arrangement
- Set a purchasing policy with agreed tranche sizes and timing rules
- Review capacity requirements periodically as the business's operations change
- Consider a broker or energy manager with wholesale market expertise for larger portfolios