Electricity billing in the UK


In the UK, an electricity supplier is a retailer of electricity. For each supply point the supplier has to pay the various costs of transmission, distribution, meter operation, data collection, tax etc. The supplier then adds in energy costs and the supplier's own charge.

MSP and GSP

MSP kWh is the amount of electricity consumed at the 'meter supply point', which is the customer's meter. GSP kWh is obtained by multiplying the MSP kWh by the Line Loss Factor to include the amount of electricity lost when it is conducted through the distribution network, from the 'grid supply point' to the customer's meter. Some kWh elements of the bill are charged at MSP and some at GSP. The LLF for a particular supply depends on the DNO and the supply's characteristics and the time and date.

The bill

The consumer pays the supplier according to an agreed tariff, possibly including pass-through costs. A pass-through cost is a cost that is charged to the energy supplier, but is then "passed through" directly to the consumer.

Transmission charges

Transmission charges, known as "Transmission Network Use of System", are paid to National Grid to cover the expense of running the grid. The charge is calculated annually using the TRIAD method for large levels of demand, or based on usage between 4pm and 7pm for smaller demand levels.

RCRC

Residual Cashflow Reallocation Cashflow, also known as the 'beer fund', is the net remainder of Balancing & Settlement Code Trading Charges for a given half-hour, which is payable to or by Trading Parties based on their market share of energy volume. These Trading Charges consist of:
As Information Imbalance Charges are always zero, and System Operator BM Cashflow nets with Non-Delivery Charges and BM Unit Cashflow to zero, RCRC is effectively the net of Imbalance Cashflows.

Distribution charges

The distribution charges, known as the "distribution use of system" charges, are paid to suppliers and passed on to the distribution network operator on whose network the meter point is located. The charges cover:

Availability

Supply availability, otherwise known as "supply capacity" or "kVA", if represented by its measured units, is the maximum kVA power allowed for a particular supply in a particular network and is set before the supply is energised. It is a figure agreed between the consumer and the supplier at the start of the contract. This supply availability is charged for every month, in effect as a standing charge, despite the fact that the maximum demand recorded in the month may be lower. If the kVA supply availability figure is exceeded by the value of the measured monthly maximum demand, also in kVA for this purpose, the higher figure of kVA from the maximum demand may be charged instead of the supply capacity. The new elevated kVA charge figure may stay as the chargeable figure for twelve months depending on the electricity distribution area. This can cause temporary unnecessary high billing, as if a penalty, if the breach was avoidable. Alternatively, the capacity charge can just return to the original availability figure in the subsequent month's bill. Determining the correct capacity figure to allow for the maximum demand required for the supply can be a fine judgement if the capacity charge is to be kept to a minimum, and vigilance of maximum demand and efforts to keep the power demand lower than the agreed capacity can be required to avoid triggering a higher capacity charge during the contract.
• Unit rates – these rates are split into 3 time periods; Red, Amber and Green. These charges vary per distribution company. The chart below shows the applicable time bands for each company.
DNOBandWeekdayWeekend
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Red16:00 – 19:00
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Amber07:30 – 16:00 & 19:00 – 21:00
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Green00:00 – 07:30 & 21:00 – 24:00all day
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Red17:00 – 19:30
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Amber07:30 – 17:00 & 19:30 – 22:0012:00 – 13:00 & 16:00 – 21:00
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Green00:00 – 07:30 & 22:00 – 24:0000:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 16:00 & 21:00 – 24:00
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Red17:00 – 19:00
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Amber07:30 – 17:00 & 19:00 – 21:3016:30 – 19:30
Western Power – Midlands, South West & Wales Green00:00 – 7:30 & 21:30 – 24:0000:00 – 16:30 & 19:30 – 24:00
NorthEast Red16:00 – 19:30
NorthEast Amber08:00 – 16:00 & 19:30 – 22:00
NorthEast Green00:00 – 08:00 & 22:00 – 24:00all day
NorthEast Red16:00 – 19:30
NorthEast Amber08:00 – 16:00 & 19:30 – 22:00
NorthEast Green00:00 – 08:00 & 22:00 – 24:00all day
London Power Red11:00 – 14:00 & 16:00 – 19:00
London Power Amber07:00 – 11:00 & 14:00 – 16:00 & 19:00 – 23:00
London Power Green00:00 – 07:00 & 23:00 – 24:00all day
Eastern Red16:00 – 19:00
Eastern Amber07:00 – 16:00 & 19:00 – 23:00
Eastern Green00:00 – 07:00 & 23:00 – 24:00all day
South Eastern Red16:00 – 19:00
South Eastern Amber07:00 – 16:00 & 19:00 – 23:00
South Eastern Green00:00 – 07:00 & 23:00 – 24:00all day
North West Red16:30 – 18:30 & 19:30 – 22:00
North West Amber09:00 – 16:30 & 18:30 – 20:3016:30 – 18:30
North West Green00:00 – 09:00 & 20:30 – 24:0000:00 – 12:30 & 18:30 – 24:00
Scottish Hydro Red12:30 – 14:30 & 16:30 – 21:00
Scottish Hydro Amber07:00 – 12:30 & 14:30 – 16:3012:30 – 14:00 & 17:30 – 20:30
Scottish Hydro Green00:00 – 07:00 & 21:00 – 24:0000:00 – 12:30 & 14:00 – 17:30 & 20:30 – 24:00
Southern Electric Red16:30 – 19:00
Southern Electric Amber09:00 – 16:30 & 19:00 – 20:30
Southern Electric Green00:00 – 09:00 & 20:30 – 24:00all day
Manweb Red16:30 – 19:30
Manweb Amber08:00 – 16:30 & 19:30 – 22:3016:00 – 20:00
Manweb Green00:00 – 08:00 & 22:30 – 24:0000:00 – 16:00 & 20:00 – 24:00
Scottish Power Red16:30 – 19:30
Scottish Power Amber08:00 – 16:30 & 19:30 – 22:3016:00 – 20:00
Scottish Power Green00:00 – 08:00 & 22:30 – 24:0000:00 – 16:00 & 20:00 – 24:00

Reactive power

This also varies with each distribution area, and is charged if the power factor for a supply is deemed too low.

Fixed charge

The fixed charge is in units of pence / MPAN / day.
New DUoS charges will come into effect on 1 April 2018 under a proposal known as DCP228. Green and amber rates will rise and red rates will fall.

Climate Change Levy

The Climate Change Levy is a p/kWh tax on certain electricity use. Exempt supplies include domestic supplies and supplies using less than the de minimis threshold of 1,000 kWh / month.

Renewables Obligation

Suppliers meet the Renewables Obligation by submitting a certain number of Renewable Obligation Certificates each year to Ofgem, which demonstrates that the certified electricity has come from a renewable source. If a supplier is unable to produce the required number of ROCs, they must pay an equivalent cash amount, the 'cash out price'.

Energy charge

Energy charges are the cost per kWh. They are usually given as pence per kWh, an amount often referred to as the unit price or unit rate.

Data collection charge

The data collection charge is a fee paid to the data collector for determining the energy consumption of the supply.

Meter operation charge

The meter operation charge is a fee paid to the meter operator for installing and maintaining the meter.

VAT

is payable at the standard rate unless the supply meets certain conditions in which case they are charged at the reduced rate of 5%.

Changing supplier

For a non-half-hourly supply, the NHHDC sets the change of supplier read from a meter read, a customer read or a deemed read. A deemed read is one estimated by the NHHDC based on any previous or subsequent readings. A CoS read can be disputed up to final reconciliation. Final reconciliation is fourteen months afterwards. If a normal read comes in after final reconciliation that is lower than the CoS read, the new supplier should credit the customer.