Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement, or MHHS, is one of the most significant changes to the electricity market in Great Britain for many years.
The transition is already under way, with suppliers moving electricity meters onto the new settlement arrangements. More than half of industry MPANs had migrated by July 2026, and the programme is working towards completion of migration in May 2027.
For businesses, Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement could provide access to more detailed consumption information and create new opportunities to understand, manage and reduce energy use. However, it also introduces changes to the way metering data is collected, shared and accessed.
The key question is therefore not simply whether your meters will migrate, but whether your organisation will continue to have timely, consistent and useful access to its energy data.
Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement changes the way electricity consumption is settled across the UK.
Many larger business meters have already been settled using half-hourly data for several years. Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement extends the use of half-hourly settlement across the wider market, capturing smaller business and any remaining large entities.
In simple terms, the new arrangements are designed to make greater use of actual consumption information recorded throughout the day, rather than relying as heavily on estimated consumption profiles.
This should provide the energy industry with a more accurate understanding of when electricity is being used. Over time, it could also support more flexible tariffs, improved energy reporting and better-informed decisions about energy efficiency, generation and storage.
Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement changes the settlement arrangements for an electricity supply. It does not necessarily change a customer’s tariff, invoice frequency or physical meter, and businesses do not generally need to apply for their meters to be migrated.
Although the intended direction of Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement is positive, the transition is complex.
Suppliers are migrating meters according to their own programmes, which means that different sites within the same portfolio may move at different times. For organisations operating across multiple locations, this could result in a period where different meters, suppliers and data arrangements are operating alongside one another.
Depending on the metering arrangements in place, businesses may need to consider:
The Data Communications Company provides the secure communications network used for smart metering across England, Scotland and Wales. Access to half-hourly data is also subject to data-protection and industry-access requirements.
This makes it important to understand not only how your meters are being migrated, but also how you will access and use the resulting data.
Half-hourly information is most valuable when it is accurate, accessible and presented in a way that supports practical decision-making.
With the right arrangements in place, it can help an organisation:
The opportunity is therefore greater than simply maintaining access to meter readings. Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement can give organisations a stronger evidence base for controlling cost, reducing consumption and supporting their wider carbon and sustainability objectives.
Boxfish has partnered with STARK to provide a coordinated metering and data solution for clients affected by the Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement transition.
Our approach is designed to help clients maintain control of their consumption data rather than relying entirely on arrangements appointed by individual energy suppliers.
Where the solution is appropriate, Boxfish can help clients:
For managed clients, Boxfish will also retain access to the platform. This means your existing Boxfish team can continue to help with day-to-day questions, data interpretation and the wider use of the information.
Rather than leaving each site to migrate in isolation, our aim is to help clients adopt a planned, consistent and portfolio-wide approach.
Making the Complex, Simple. #theboxfishway
You do not need to become an expert in Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement, but you should understand how the transition could affect your organisation’s access to energy data.
Speak to your Boxfish Account Manager, or if you’re not currently a client, drop us an email if you’d like us to review:
The earlier we review the position, the more opportunity there is to plan the transition and avoid fragmented arrangements across suppliers and sites.
If you are unsure what Market-Wide Half Hourly Settlement means for your business, send us your electricity portfolio or a recent invoice. We can help you identify the right questions to ask and explain the practical next steps.