If you are the owner of a small business it is very likely that you will be interested in saving money anyway that you can, to keep your outgoings low and increase your profit. One way you could do this is by looking into installing a half hour meter. Don’t worry if you have never heard of half meters before, as the following article will explain everything you need to know.
What Are Half Hourly Meters Exactly?
HH, or half hourly meters are electricity meters that are very similar to smart meters. They analyse the amount of electricity used, as the name suggests, in 30 minute periods and then send the results automatically to the supplier via a landline phone connection. This means that the energy bills provided by using half hourly meters are very accurate. They can be used to help you become more efficient with your company’s energy usage as you will be able to see at which points during a day you use more than others.
What Sorts Of Companies Have Half Hourly Meters Installed?
There are around 10,000 HH meters used by companies using higher than average levels of electricity. The rule is that if a business uses in 30 minutes more than 100 kW of electricity, they are obligated to use a half hourly meter. This is known as a mandatory half hourly meter. If however, your business uses just 70 kW of electricity then you have the option to have a half hourly meter installed, though it is not essential.
How Do I Know If My Business Has A HH Meter Already?
If you do not know if your company has a HH meter or not, then you can check this very easily. On your business’s energy bill you will find what is called an “S” number. You will know that your business has an half hourly meter if the S number is 00. Your business may also have a HH meter if the S number is 05, 06, 07 or 08 – however, you will need to speak to your supplier to double check.
Does Half Hourly Meters Make The Pricing Different?
The pricing with a half hourly meter is different to the standard pricing based on projected and estimated amounts. This is because your provider will get very current and exact information about how much electricity your business has used, so your pricing will always be based on that usage.
Can You Switch Tariffs With A Half Hourly Meter?
It is not particularly easy to negotiate on a contract that involved a half hourly meter because of the changing prices on the market, the hedging strategies used by providers and the requirement of detailed information. However, by hiring an energy broker who understands the market and knows how to handle electricity and energy providers negotiate on behalf of your company, you might be able to save a bit of money on a half hourly meter contract. You can find out more about half hourly meters here: https://www.nerdwallet.com/uk/business-energy/half-hourly-meters/
