Meter Profile Classes and Energy Data Explained

Why Accurate Meter Data Matters

Every UK business relies on metering to track energy consumption. From half-hourly (HH) meters to AMR and Smart Meters, each system provides different levels of energy data detail. Without the right setup, companies risk paying more than necessary and missing out on efficiency insights.

Meter Profile Data and Classifications

Meter profile classes are shown in the first two digits of your MPAN. They determine how your consumption is recorded and billed.

• 01 & 02: Residential meters (single or dual-rate tariffs)
• 03 & 04: Small business meters with single or dual-rate usage
• 05-08: Larger business meters with varying load factors
• 00: Half-hourly meters for peak loads above 100kW

Getting the right meter profile data ensures your usage patterns are properly tracked and billed fairly.

Half-Hourly (HH) Meters and Compliance with P272

You will note in Figure 2 that there is one meter noted as an HH meter.

This is the 00 class meters for a large supply. So in essence, all large users should be on an HH meter.

You will find examples where this is not the case, but they are rare.

However, since 2017 and the introduction of P272 (HH settlement for non-domestic meters), the requirement has been that all maximum demand customers (denoted by meter class 5-8) have HH data for settlement. As a result, this HH data should be available to the customer. Where is the meter in this class?. Under P272, HH data is mandatory.

Editor’s Note: If your meter class 5-8 has not been switched, you are being billed on a default profile, which means you are likely paying more than you should. You should demand that the meter be changed.

Half-Hourly Meters and P272

Since 2017, all businesses with meter profile classes 5-8 have been required to move to half-hourly settlement under P272 legislation. This reform was introduced to improve billing accuracy and transparency across the commercial energy market. By recording consumption data every 30 minutes, suppliers and customers gain access to far more detailed energy data, allowing for precise billing and deeper insight into when and how electricity is used.

For organisations with significant energy demand, half-hourly metering highlights inefficiencies that would otherwise remain hidden under standard profiles. Analysing this energy data enables businesses to identify periods of excessive use, optimise load management, and reduce consumption during peak times. If your supply still operates on a default profile instead of an accurate half-hourly settlement, you may be overpaying for your electricity. Ensuring compliance with P272 and reviewing your meter profile class is therefore an essential step in effective cost and energy management.

AMR and Smart Meters

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and Smart Meters represent a significant evolution in the way energy data is collected and utilised across UK businesses. AMR meters automatically transmit readings to suppliers, removing the need for manual checks and ensuring billing accuracy. This provides businesses with consistent, real-time energy data to support performance monitoring and forecasting.

Smart Meters, including SMETS1 and SMETS2 models, go even further. These devices communicate securely through the Data Communications Company (DCC) network, enabling a two-way flow of data between your meter, supplier, and authorised third parties. This allows more efficient energy management and enhanced visibility across multiple sites or departments. By utilising this detailed energy data, businesses can pinpoint inefficiencies, track progress over time, and make informed, data-driven decisions to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.

Who Owns and Manages Meter Data?

For larger energy supplies and half-hourly meters, Meter Operators (MOPs), Data Collectors (DCs), and Data Aggregators (DAs) play key roles in managing and validating your energy data. The MOP is responsible for maintaining your metering equipment, while the DC and DA handle the collection, verification, and aggregation of your usage data before it’s passed on for billing and settlement.

Many businesses do not realise that they have the right to appoint their own MOP, DC, and DA rather than relying on their energy supplier’s default contracts. By reviewing these arrangements, you can often reduce costs, improve access to detailed meter profile data, and gain more control over your energy data. For organisations with multiple meter profile classes, this flexibility allows for greater consistency and accuracy across all sites, ensuring that energy performance data aligns with operational goals.

Using Energy Data for Savings

Modern energy platforms have made it easier than ever to turn complex energy data into actionable insights. Systems like EMMA AI connect directly to your MOP, DC, and DA services to provide live analysis of consumption patterns across different meter profile classes. By continuously monitoring this information, businesses can identify inefficiencies, detect energy wastage, and make informed decisions that directly impact their bottom line.

Leveraging your energy data in this way enables more than just cost reduction, it supports compliance with key energy reporting frameworks such as ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) and SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting). Through benchmarking and performance tracking, businesses can target specific areas for improvement, reduce emissions, and demonstrate progress toward sustainability goals.

The Future of Metering

The introduction of Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS), due by 2026, marks the next significant milestone in the UK’s journey toward more intelligent energy management. Under MHHS, all electricity supplies, regardless of meter profile class, will be settled using half-hourly energy data. This shift will standardise data collection across the market, ensuring that every business benefits from accurate, granular consumption insights.

As a result, energy data will play an increasingly vital role in how organisations monitor performance, forecast costs, and optimise efficiency. Businesses that invest in advanced metering technology and analytics platforms will be well placed to take advantage of these changes. The future of energy management lies in understanding and acting upon the wealth of information captured through half-hourly meter profile data, helping companies operate more efficiently and contribute to the UK’s long-term net-zero targets.