A half hourly electricity meter is a special meter that relies on Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology to provide businesses and energy suppliers with more accurate electricity readings. The system utilises a fixed line that sends updated meter readings from the business to the energy supplier every half hour.
This means that half hourly electricity tariffs tend to be cheaper as billing is more accurate thanks to the fully automated remote reading of the meter on a regular basis, so there is no need for estimation.
The other benefit half hourly electricity brings to businesses, is that business owners can request their consumption data from their energy supplier. By using this to review their energy usage throughout the day, they can work towards operating more efficiently by reducing their operational energy usage overall.
Does my business need a half hourly electricity meter?
Half hourly electricity meters are compulsory for businesses who use 100kw of electricity or more. If your business has usage of 70kw of electricity or more than you can request to have a half hourly meter fitted by your business electricity supplier.
If you have recently moved to new business premises and want to find out if the premises have a half hourly meter fitted already it is easy to discover this. Just check the last energy bill sent by the supplier – if it contains a number starting with 00 in the top left then there is already a half hourly meter fitted.
How does half hourly electricity billing differ from regular billing?
Thanks to the fact that your energy supplier will be getting regular meter readings from your premises, you should find that your half hourly electricity bill is better tailored to your requirements and usage. This is because your usage data is much more accurate and so it eliminates the need for estimated bills, which is what usually happens when there isn’t a half hourly electricity meter installed.
P272 Mandatory Half Hourly Meter Changes
From April 2017, all businesses who are supplied as 05, 06, 07, or 08 class and who have an advanced meter capable of recording half hourly consumption data are no longer settled against a Non-Half Hourly read, instead, they are settled using a Half Hourly read using Half Hourly data.
These changes were introduced as part of an OFGEM-backed revision named P272 which requires all of the aforementioned meters to switch via a Change of Management Class (COMC) to a half hourly meter.
We have this article has helped you understand a little more about half hourly electricity and how it can benefit businesses. If you would like your own half hourly electricity quote then please get in touch with the D-ENERGi team.
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You may not realise it, but there are actually plenty of cheap gas suppliers here in the UK. Here on the D-ENERGi website, we make it easier for you to find out which gas supplier can give you the cheapest business gas prices.
The easiest way to save money on your business gas and business electricity bills is to talk to the team at D-ENERGI about a free quote. By doing this, you will save yourself the hassle of seeing which gas providers there are in your area, as we do all of that for you. More importantly, we can also compare business gas prices and find out which of these companies can offer you the best energy deal on the plan that best suits your business needs.
All you need to do is tell us your business name and postcode, and we will call you straight back with the best quotes available on the market, and you can then decide which offer gives you the best deal and switch.
Will I get worse customer service from a business cheaper gas supplier?
No. This is a myth. When you compare business gas prices through our website, we will also tell you how well the energy supplier ranks for customer service through people who are already working with them. That way, you can include knowledge of their customer satisfaction scores in your decision of which company to swap to.
Will switching to the cheapest business gas supplier be hard?
Not at all. Once you have chosen your business gas supplier from the free quote we give you, we will contact your new supplier and your existing supplier and let them know that you have decided to switch suppliers. We handle all of the paperwork so that you don’t have any hassle at all.
You may not know this, but all energy companies use the same supply lines and gas pipes, so there is no need for anyone to come round to your business and lay new gas pipes or rewire it. And, at no point during the switching process will your business be left without gas or electricity.
The only thing you will need to do when switching to a cheaper business gas supplier is to take a final meter reading once you have confirmed the switch, as this will ensure the final bill you receive from your old supplier is an accurate one.
You will also need to cancel any direct debits set up in your old supplier’s name, as this will prevent them from charging you when you have stopped consuming energy from them.
By comparing your business gas prices with D-ENERGi once a year, you can be confident that you are paying the cheapest business gas prices and are continuing to save money on your business gas bills.
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The energy industry has started to make efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in recent years, and although traditional energy resources are still relied on, an increasing number of business electricity and business gas suppliers UK are offering renewable energy for business.
You may not realise this, but renewable energy sources such as biomass, solar, wind, and water may already be being used to contribute to your business energy supply, and you may already be using a green business energy biofuel – which makes it the perfect time to compare business electricity prices.
Green vs Renewable Energy
The more you understand about alternative energies for business use, the better equipped you will be to ensure we find you the right supplier. Although they sound quite similar, there is actually a big difference between green and renewable energy.
Renewable business energy is the term used to cover energy that is sourced from renewable energy sources such as geothermal heat, rain, sun, tidal, and wind. The most common form of renewable energy is wind power at the moment, although continued investment is being made in all forms of renewable energy.
Green energy tends to have a similar meaning, as most renewable forms of energy are also green – but green energy means energy that is produced in a clean and harmless way. For example, geothermal heat is a renewable energy source but not a green one as the way it is produced can have a negative impact on the environment.
What are the advantages of renewable energy for businesses?
There are lots of advantages for businesses of using renewable energy, but the main one tends to be an improvement of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). As all of us are becoming more aware of the effects of climate change, then more businesses are beginning to consider the benefits of switching to a renewable energy supplier. By making use of secure natural resources, it is possible for businesses to reduce their dependence on non-renewable energy.
Businesses can also access financial benefits through the improvement of energy efficiency, which can result in reduced energy bills – as many of the renewable energy companies in the UK will offer customers free smart meters. These can help you to monitor your gas and electricity usage, which can help you to make sensible adjustments to usage meaning lower bills in the future.
As one of the leading business energy comparison websites in the UK, the D-ENERGi team can help you to source the best quotes for your business gas and electricity – including both green and renewable energy too. Call us now to find out more.
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Research by the Federation of Small Businesses has revealed that 70% of businesses have experienced difficulty when it comes to comparing energy suppliers, with 43% saying they have never switched suppliers. These are incredible numbers when you think about how the cheapest business electricity prices could help you save money as a business.
A lack of understanding about different energy suppliers, wanting to remain loyal to existing suppliers, and a concern about the effort and time it may involve to switch business energy suppliers are all things that stand in the way of businesses potentially making the switch to the cheapest business electricity supplier.
However, switching business energy suppliers is not the long and complicated task that you might think it is, and the savings you could achieve will make any slight effort on your part well worth it.
Here are some FAQ’s relating to switching business energy suppliers.
#1 How do I find out who my existing supplier is?
You can find out who supplies your current business gas and electricity, by looking at your most recent utility bill – the contact details of your current supplier will be printed on it.
If you have just moved to new premises or you can’t find your latest bill, you can contact the Meter Point Administration service to ask for their details.
#2 What is a deemed contract?
If you have recently moved into new premises then a deemed contract will probably be in place for your electricity, gas, or maybe even both if you have not agreed on a contract with your current supplier. If your existing contract has come to an end but you are continuing to consumer electricity then a deemed contract probably exists. The cost of deemed contracts tends to be about 80% more expensive than a negotiated contract – so you can see why they are not good news for many businesses.
#3 What is a rolling contract?
A rolling contract is when your business gas or electricity supplier rolls you over into a new contract automatically – which may be the case if you fail to tell your supplier of your intention to end a contract before the end of your notice period.
#4 Do I need to tell my existing business energy supplier that I am leaving them?
Yes.
If you decide to leave your existing energy supplier and switch to another one, then you must inform your existing supplier by either
Telling them directly
Asking your comparison company (D-ENERGi) to provide them with a Letter of Authority (LoA)
#5 What is a Letter of Authority (LoA)
A Letter of Authority is a recognised legal document that allows us to liaise with energy suppliers on your behalf, with your permission.
It basically allows us to call time on your existing tariff and set you up on a cheaper and more competitive one.
D-ENERGi is here to help businesses across the UK save money and make the switch. Call us today so that we can help you find the cheapest business electricity rates UK.
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Call for free 0800 781 7626 to speak to one of our friendly Customer Services team directly and reduce your business energy costs!