UK rolls out half-hourly settlement to 80 per cent of meters by October, enabling time-of-use tariffs

Energy suppliers are migrating customers to half-hourly settlement, a system in which smart meters record electricity consumption every 30 minutes rather than relying on daily estimates. The industry targets 80 per cent of meters on the new billing framework by October, a shift designed to manage demand as adoption of electric vehicles, smart meters and renewable generation grows. Experts caution that many households remain unaware of how the change may lead to time-of-use pricing, where electricity costs fluctuate throughout the day.

Why it matters: Time-of-use tariffs will steer EV charging to off-peak hours, flattening grid demand and reducing infrastructure strain. Charge-point operators and fleet managers must plan for customers seeking cheaper overnight sessions and may need dynamic pricing or load-management software to align with half-hourly settlement.