Preparing for MHHS: What Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement Means for You

The UK energy market is changing, and one of the most important updates arriving in the near future is Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS).

Set to be implemented in stages from late 2025 and throughout 2026, this new initiative could significantly impact how your business is billed for electricity.

In this guide, we'll break down what MHHS actually is, why it's happening, and what it means for your business energy costs. And, as always, PPS is here to help you navigate these changes and secure the best rate possible.

What is MHHS?

Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) is an Ofgem-led reform to modernise the way electricity usage is recorded and billed across Great Britain. Currently, most businesses are billed using estimated or daily usage data unless they already have a half-hourly meter.

MHHS will change that. Under the new system, all businesses with smart meters will have their electricity consumption recorded and settled every 30 minutes. This means bills will reflect actual usage throughout the day, not averages or estimates.

Why Is MHHS Being Introduced?

The aim of MHHS is to make the energy system smarter, more efficient, and greener by:

• Encouraging smarter energy use: Businesses will be incentivised to use energy during off-peak times when prices are lower.

• Enabling better integration of renewables: More accurate consumption data helps balance supply and demand in real time.

• Supporting a flexible energy market: Suppliers can develop innovative tariffs that better reflect actual usage patterns.

Ofgem believes this change could save consumers billions of pounds in the long term by driving competition and improving efficiency.

How Will MHHS Affect Your Business?

If your business has a smart or advanced meter, your supplier will eventually begin charging you based on your actual half-hourly usage. While this could lead to more accurate bills, it also means:

• Your electricity rate could vary depending on when you use power, not just how much.

• Peak-time usage may become more expensive.

• Businesses that can shift energy use to off-peak hours may see savings.

It also means more complexity when choosing a tariff or supplier. That’s where PPS can help.

How PPS Can Help You Prepare

MHHS doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At PPS, we stay ahead of industry changes so you don’t have to. Here’s how we make it easier:

• Expert energy guidance: We help you understand the potential impact of half-hourly settlement on your bills.

• Tariff matching: We compare deals from trusted suppliers to find the one best suited to your usage profile.

• Contract negotiation: We take care of securing a competitive rate, so you’re not stuck on default or unsuitable tariffs.

Whether you’re a small retail unit or a large multi-site operation, we tailor our recommendations to your unique needs.

Don’t Wait for the Market to Catch Up

MHHS is coming – and businesses that prepare now will have the advantage. With smarter billing and flexible pricing models on the horizon, it’s never been more important to work with an experienced partner like PPS.

Send us your latest energy bill and we’ll show you how to get ahead of the changes – and cut your costs in the process.

Speak To The Team