Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement: What You Need to Know

The energy market has been turbulent in recent years. Between this and ongoing initiatives to increase energy security and reduce carbon emissions, it is clear that change is needed and is coming to the sector.

While renewable energy and net zero are the things that take up the headlines, there will also be revolutions in how individuals, homeowners and businesses engage with the energy market. Chief among these is the Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement Programme (MHHS).

What is the market-wide half-hourly settlement?

Simply put, the MHHS is an initiative revealed by Ofgem in 2021 with an implementation in December 2026. The goal is to help reach net zero and create a better and quicker electricity system. This allows for more flexibility in how people use energy and reduces energy usage overall.

This new energy system works by measuring consumption on a half-hourly basis. This makes it far more accurate than the current system. It will be enabled by smart metering technology and, analysts hope, it will mean people will have more accurate bills and be better informed by their smarter billing. This will change their consumption behaviours resulting in fewer emissions and moving us closer to net zero.

What does this mean for consumers and businesses?

When the Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement Programme (MHHS) goes into effect at the end of 2026, consumers and businesses will be better informed by their bills and will be able to make more informed decisions about their energy usage. Energy providers will also have more data and will be able to use this data to better manage their supplies and lessen their reliance on fossil fuels.

Apertus Group is ready to embrace this change, along with the rest of the industry. The additional data this generates will allow us to provide more insights to businesses and help them get the right deal for them on their energy.