What is Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement and will it impact my business?
A smarter, more accurate way to measure electricity use is coming.
Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) is one of the biggest changes to the UK electricity market in years.
It’s designed to make electricity settlement more accurate, give businesses better insight into their energy use and help the grid make better use of renewable power.
But what does MHHS actually mean for your business? And will it affect your electricity bills? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS)?
MHHS is an industry-wide change led by Ofgem and facilitated by Elexon. It’s being introduced in phases, with the transition beginning in September 2025.
Under MHHS, electricity use will be settled using data recorded every 30 minutes, rather than relying on estimates of when electricity is used.
This means energy suppliers will have a more accurate picture of electricity demand throughout the day, helping to make the energy system smarter and more efficient.
What are the benefits of MHHS for businesses?
MHHS isn’t just a behind-the-scenes industry change. It could bring some valuable benefits for businesses, helping you understand your electricity use and make more informed energy decisions.
1. More accurate electricity data
Half-hourly readings provide a clearer picture of when your business uses electricity, reducing the need to rely on estimated consumption patterns for settlement.
2. Better insight into your energy use
More detailed data could help you spot patterns, identify periods of high electricity demand and find opportunities to reduce unnecessary energy use.
3. More choice over electricity tariffs
MHHS could open the door to more flexible tariffs, including time-of-use options that reward businesses for shifting electricity consumption to periods when demand is lower or renewable generation is higher.
4. More opportunities to save money
Understanding when you use the most electricity could help you make smarter decisions about energy-intensive activities, potentially reducing costs over time.
5. A greener, more flexible electricity grid
By giving the industry a more accurate picture of when electricity is needed, MHHS will help balance supply and demand as more renewable energy comes onto the grid.
6. Access to Hourly Matching Credit
Having access to more detailed electricity data could also make your business eligible for Hourly Matching Credit, our licence exempt supply scheme which rewards eligible businesses for using electricity at the same time as renewable power is being generated.
Will MHHS affect my business?
For most businesses, the move to MHHS will happen behind the scenes, with little or no action needed. The biggest change is how your electricity consumption data is used for industry settlement. As MHHS develops, you may also benefit from improvements to your Good Energy online account, including:
- More detailed graphs showing when you use electricity
- Clearer breakdowns of your energy consumption
- Improved access to downloadable usage data
We’ll keep you updated as new features become available. Some detailed data services may require you to opt in. What happens next depends on the type of electricity meter you have.
If you have a smart or half-hourly meter
You may already be benefiting from half-hourly electricity readings. You’ll continue to be able to:
- View your available electricity usage data
- Access insights through your Good Energy online account
MHHS will standardise how this data is used across the industry, so you may not notice much difference straight away.
If you have a traditional electricity meter
If you have a traditional meter, your electricity consumption may currently be calculated using actual or estimated readings. Moving to a smart meter could give you access to more detailed electricity insights, helping you better understand and manage your energy use.
If you’re interested in arranging a smart meter installation, contact our team at hellobusiness@goodenergy.co.uk.
If you have a Current Transformer meter
A small number of businesses may have a current transformer (CT) meter in place. These meters may need upgrading to operate in half-hourly mode, which could mean moving from non-half-hourly to half-hourly pricing. If this affects your business, we’ll contact you directly to explain what needs to happen and any changes to your tariff or billing.
What does MHHS mean for renewable electricity generators?
MHHS isn’t just changing how businesses consume electricity. It’s also part of a wider shift towards a more flexible energy system, where the timing of electricity generation and consumption matters more.
For renewable generators, this highlights the growing value of producing electricity when customers need it.
At Good Energy, we’re already helping eligible independent renewable generators benefit from this through our Hourly Matching Credit. This offers additional payments when the renewable electricity you generate matches our customers’ electricity use in the same half-hour period.
It’s an opportunity to earn more from the power you’re already producing, on top of your existing export payments.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for MHHS?
For most Good Energy business customers, there’s nothing you need to do right now.
We’re managing the transition to MHHS and will contact you directly if your business needs to take any action, including arranging a meter upgrade.
In the meantime, it’s worth making sure your contact details are up to date and exploring the energy insights already available in your online account.
