Can Your Half-Hourly Meter Be Downgraded? Eliminate kVA Charges Entirely

Yes, if you qualify under industry regulations. A Change of Measurement Class (CoMC) allows businesses with consistently low peak demand (below 70kW for 12+ months) to return to standard metering. This eliminates kVA capacity charges entirely (often £1,500-£3,000+ annually), plus removes MOP fees, DC/DA charges, and significantly reduces standing charges — total savings frequently exceed £2,000-£4,000+ per year.

This is usually supplier policy, not legal reality. Most suppliers claim CoMC "isn't possible" because HH customers are more profitable. However, under BSC (Balancing and Settlement Code) and Ofgem regulations, you have the right to downgrade if you meet eligibility criteria. We specialise in navigating supplier resistance using proper industry regulations.

Absolutely — this is one of the most common CoMC scenarios. Many businesses inherit HH meters designed for previous high-usage occupants. If your consumption is under 100,000 kWh annually and peak demand stays below 70kW, you're likely paying for sophisticated metering infrastructure you don't need. kVA charges alone often cost £1,500-£3,000+ annually, plus additional standing charges — we can help you prove eligibility and coordinate the downgrade to eliminate these costs entirely.

Not necessarily. While CT (Current Transformer) meters require technical work to downgrade, it's often possible and highly worthwhile. The process involves DNO coordination to remove CTs, reduce capacity, and install a whole-current cut-out. Typical cost is £800-£1,300, but kVA elimination alone often saves £1,500-£3,000+ annually (recent client saved £1,762 just from kVA reduction), plus additional standing charge reductions. This makes the investment extremely cost-effective with payback typically within 3-6 months.

You likely inherited it from a previous occupant or were incorrectly advised when the supply was installed. HH metering is only mandatory for sites exceeding 100kW peak demand. If your usage is low (under 100,000 kWh annually) and peak demand is below 70kW consistently, you're paying for sophisticated metering you don't legally require. This typically costs £2,000-£4,000+ annually in unnecessary charges (kVA capacity charges alone often run £1,500-£3,000+ per year).

HH customers pay significantly higher TNUoS and DUoS standing charges, plus additional MOP fees and DC/DA charges. With the massive TNUoS increase coming April 2026, this gap will widen dramatically. kVA charges alone often cost £1,500-£3,000+ annually (one recent client saved £1,762 on kVA elimination alone). If your peak demand is consistently low, you're paying premium charges designed for high-demand customers when you could qualify for standard rates and eliminate these costs entirely.

Key qualification criteria: (1) Peak demand consistently below 70kW for 12+ months, (2) 12+ months of HH data available, (3) No export requirements, (4) Willingness to accept whole-current meter installation, (5) Supplier cooperation (we can help with this). We analyze your data to determine eligibility before proceeding with any technical work.

The complete process typically takes 3-6 months: (1) Eligibility assessment using your HH data (2 weeks), (2) DNO coordination for technical requirements (4-8 weeks), (3) Supplier application and negotiation (4-12 weeks), (4) Physical implementation - CT removal and meter exchange (2-4 weeks). We handle all coordination and paperwork throughout.

Our eligibility assessment and application coordination is free. The main cost is DNO charges for CT removal and infrastructure changes (typically £800-£1,300 + VAT). There's no supplier fee if they cooperate, though some may try to charge exit fees. With kVA elimination alone often saving £1,500-£3,000+ annually (recent client saved £1,762 just on kVA charges), plus additional standing charge reductions, most clients recover costs within 3-6 months and save thousands yearly thereafter.

CoMC changes your measurement class permanently, but you can always upgrade if business needs change. However, our recommendation is based on 12-24 months of actual peak demand data. If you've never exceeded 70kW in that period, future growth would need to be substantial to require HH metering again. We'll discuss growth plans during assessment.

Yes — this is exactly our specialty. Most businesses are refused because they don't know the correct regulations or how to present the application properly. We use BSC and Ofgem rules to demonstrate legal eligibility, coordinate technical requirements professionally, and navigate supplier resistance effectively. Previous refusal doesn't mean you don't qualify.