Multi-Rate & HH Meters
Understanding Day/Night/Evening rates, Half-Hourly meters, capacity charges, and accurate cost calculations
Related Pages
Rate Types Explained
Three Main Rate Structures:
Single-Rate
What it is:
One unit rate applies 24/7, regardless of time of day or day of week.
Common for:
- Standard domestic meters
- Small businesses
- Profile Class 01-02
Example:
Unit Rate: 15.5 p/kWh
Standing Charge: 25 p/day
EAC: 3,000 kWh/year
Annual Cost:
£465 + £91.25 = £556.25Dual-Rate (Economy 7/10)
What it is:
Two rates: Day (peak) and Night (off-peak). Night rate typically applies for 7-10 hours overnight.
Common for:
- Economy 7/10 meters
- Storage heaters
- Profile Class 03-04
Example:
Day Rate: 18.0 p/kWh (60%)
Night Rate: 9.0 p/kWh (40%)
Standing: 30 p/day
EAC: 3,000 kWh/year
Annual Cost:
£324 + £108 + £109.5 = £541.50Multi-Rate
What it is:
Three or more rates: Day, Night, Evening/Weekend, or custom time bands.
Common for:
- Advanced tariffs
- Time-of-Use pricing
- Profile Class 05-08
Example:
Day: 18.0 p/kWh (50%)
Night: 9.0 p/kWh (30%)
Eve/Wknd: 12.0 p/kWh (20%)
Standing: 30 p/day
EAC: 3,000 kWh/year
Annual Cost:
£270+£81+£72+£109.5 = £532.50System Support
The Smart Pricing System automatically detects and displays the correct rate structure for each quote. No manual calculation needed!
Half-Hourly (HH) Meters
What are HH Meters?
Half-hourly (HH) meters record consumption in 30-minute intervals, providing detailed usage data.
✅ Characteristics:
- Profile Class 00 (HH metered)
- Typically > 100 kW demand
- Advanced metering equipment
- Daily data submission to supplier
- LLF Band = HH
💰 Additional Charges:
- Capacity Charge: £/kVA/year based on peak demand
- Metering Charge: Fixed £/year for meter reading/data
- DUoS Charges: Distribution Use of System charges
📊 Example HH Cost Breakdown:
Energy Cost:
Day Rate: 12.0 p/kWh × 35,000 kWh = £4,200
Night Rate: 8.0 p/kWh × 15,000 kWh = £1,200
Total Energy: £5,400
Standing Charge:
50 p/day × 365 = £182.50
Capacity Charge:
£45/kVA/year × 100 kVA = £4,500
Metering Charge:
£350/year
Total Annual Cost: £10,432.50
Effective Unit Cost:
£10,432.50 / 50,000 kWh × 100
= 20.87 p/kWh all-inAutomatic Calculation
The Smart Pricing System automatically includes capacity and metering charges for HH meters in the "Additional Charges" section. No manual entry required!
Line Loss Factor (LLF) Bands
LLF bands represent different network voltage levels and loss factors in the electricity distribution system.
What are LLF Bands?
Line Loss Factor (LLF) bands classify electricity meters based on the network voltage level they're connected to and their consumption pattern. Different bands have different line loss multipliers applied.
| LLF Band | Profile Class | Meter Type | Typical Usage | Voltage Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 01-02 | Non-HH | Domestic unrestricted | LV (Low Voltage) |
| B | 03-04 | Non-HH | Domestic Economy 7/off-peak | LV (Low Voltage) |
| C | 05-08 | Non-HH | Non-domestic small | LV (Low Voltage) |
| D | - | Non-HH | Non-domestic large | LV/HV |
| E | - | Non-HH | High voltage non-HH | HV (High Voltage) |
| HH | 00 | Half-Hourly | HH metered supplies | LV/HV/EHV |
Automatic Calculation
The Smart Pricing System automatically calculates the LLF band from the meter's Profile Class and Half-Hourly status. You never need to manually determine this!
Cost Components Breakdown
Understanding Your Electricity Bill:
What it is: The cost of the actual electricity consumed.
Unit: Pence per kWh (p/kWh)
Calculation:
- Single-rate: EAC × unit_rate
- Dual-rate: (day_eac × day_rate) + (night_eac × night_rate)
- Multi-rate: Sum of all rate bands × consumption
Example: 3,000 kWh × 15.5p/kWh = £465.00
What it is: Fixed daily charge for having the connection.
Unit: Pence per day (p/day)
Calculation: standing_charge × 365 days
Example: 25p/day × 365 = £91.25/year
This charge applies whether you use electricity or not.
What it is: Charge based on peak demand (kVA) for HH meters.
Unit: Pounds per kVA per year (£/kVA/year)
Calculation: capacity_rate × kva
Example: £45/kVA/year × 100 kVA = £4,500/year
Only applies to Half-Hourly metered supplies.
What it is: Cost for HH meter reading and data collection services.
Unit: Pounds per year (£/year)
Calculation: Fixed annual charge
Example: £350/year
Only applies to Half-Hourly metered supplies.
What it is: Contribution to renewable energy and environmental programs.
Unit: Pounds per year (£/year) or p/kWh
Example: £75/year
Helps fund renewable energy projects and environmental initiatives.
What it is: Government tax on energy use by businesses.
Unit: Pence per kWh (p/kWh)
Calculation: EAC × ccl_rate
Example: 3,000 kWh × 1.5p/kWh = £45.00/year
Non-domestic customers only. Rate changes annually.
What it is: Supplier cost for meeting renewable energy obligations.
Unit: Pounds per MWh (£/MWh)
Calculation: (EAC / 1000) × ro_rate
Example: (3,000 / 1000) × £50 = £150/year
Being phased out and replaced by Contracts for Difference (CfD).
Effective Unit Cost
What is Effective Unit Cost?
The all-in cost per kWh including EVERYTHING: energy, standing charge, HH charges, and environmental levies.
✅ Why It Matters:
- Shows the true cost per kWh
- Easy to compare suppliers
- Accounts for all charges
- More accurate than unit rate alone
💡 Formula:
Effective Unit Cost =
(Total Annual Cost / EAC) × 100
Example:
Total: £10,432.50
EAC: 50,000 kWh
(10,432.50 / 50,000) × 100
= 20.87 p/kWh effective📊 Comparison Example:
| Supplier | Unit Rate | Effective Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier A | 12.0p | 20.87p |
| Supplier B | 13.5p | 19.45p |
| Supplier C | 11.8p | 21.15p |
Supplier B has highest unit rate but lowest effective cost due to lower standing charge and HH fees!
Displayed Automatically
The Smart Pricing System calculates and displays the effective unit cost below the total annual cost. Use this for accurate comparisons!