Electricity Profile Class Explained

You may have come across the term ‘profile class’ when searching for a great deal on your business electricity. Understanding the profile class your business falls into may help you save time when searching for a new deal and reduce usage to save money. There’s also some legislation relating to certain profile classes so understanding yours is important. 

What Is An Electricity Profile Class?

A profile class splits users into different categories based on their electricity consumption and load profile. There are currently 9 different classes that you could be placed in. These consumption patterns monitor patterns in usage to help manage the network and provide better services. For example, allowing cheaper electricity during non-peak hours and managing maximum demand in a single 30-minute period. 

What Profile Class Is My Business?

Your electricity profile class is the first two digits on your electricity meter's MPAN number. This may be anything from 01 to 08 or 00 for a half-hourly meter.

Your business profile class is calculated by dividing the total amount of electricity used in one billing period by the maximum demand. You will then have a supply number that needs to be divided by the number of days in your billing cycle. All this information can be found on your electricity bill available from your supplier. 

What Is Peak Demand? 

Peak demand is the total amount of electricity used by a business within a short period when the maximum demand. This is a period where your company has the most active use of electricity. 

Business Electricity Profile Classes

A business with a profile class of 05, 06, 07 or 08 is commonly referred to as a maximum demand (MD) customer. These profile classes have been impacted by the P272 legislation that requires a switch over to a half-hourly meter. 

From the profile class calculation, a percentage of the consumption known as the peak load will be given for a period of maximum demand. Knowing what your profile class is can help you save money when comparing prices.

Here’s how the peak load is split by electricity meter. 

• 05 Meter - business maximum demand with a peak load factor of less than 20% 
• 06 Meter- business maximum demand with a peak load factor between 20% and 30%
• 07 Meter -business maximum demand with a peak load factor between 30% and 40% 
• 08 Meter - business maximum demand with a peak load factor over 40% 
• 00 Meter - peak load usage above 100 kW (half-hourly metering) 

Small Business Profile Classes

• 03 Meter - businesses with small amounts of electricity demand (most small UK businesses will be in this profile class 
• 04 Meter - businesses with a multi-rate meter with access to cheaper rates at night (Economy 7) 

Household Profile Classes (Domestic)

• 01 Meter - main household profile class. Most UK households will have this type of meter class 
• 02 Meter - households with a multi-rate (economy 7) have access to cheaper electricity at night will be in this profile class.

With Business Electricity Prices, you can quickly compare the latest prices from a panel of trusted suppliers. 

To find out which deal is right for you, simply compare the latest business electricity prices online today.

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