Gas

We structure gas supply agreements to provide price stability, clarity of terms and appropriate contract length aligned to consumption profile and risk appetite.Whether pricing is sourced via disciplined matrix comparison or through a bespoke tender process for higher-volume or multi-site portfolios, our objective remains the same: secure competitive market rates without exposing clients to unnecessary contractual risk.We also provide ongoing oversight where required, ensuring supply arrangements remain aligned with operational changes and tenancy movements.

Electric

Electricity procurement requires close attention to market timing, load profile and supplier performance. We assess consumption patterns and contract structure to ensure pricing strategy reflects both operational demand and budget expectations.For larger sites and portfolios, we can run structured market exercises to test supplier appetite and secure terms that balance competitive rates with service reliability. The aim is not simply to achieve a low headline price, but to secure a supply agreement that performs over its full term.

Multi-Site/Meter

Coordinated multi-site/meter energy management to reduce cost, risk and administrative burden.Managing multiple sites or meters introduces administrative complexity, fragmented contract positions and increased exposure to renewal risk. We provide coordinated oversight across portfolios to ensure supply arrangements are aligned, renewal dates are monitored and commercial terms remain consistent.From single business owners with several properties to managing agents overseeing larger estates, we centralise procurement strategy and provide a single point of accountability. The result is reduced administrative burden, improved visibility and greater commercial control across the portfolio.

Water

Water supply is often overlooked, yet contract structure and billing accuracy can materially affect operating costs over time. We review existing arrangements to ensure tariffs are appropriate, meter data is accurate and supply agreements are aligned with the wider energy strategy.Where required, we coordinate supplier engagement and support changes of tenancy, consolidations or account restructures — ensuring water procurement is handled with the same discipline as gas and electricity.

Matrix Pricing

For single sites and simpler renewals, we compare the market quickly and transparently to secure the best rate available — then sanity-check supplier service before we recommend anything.

Structured Tender

For higher consumption or multi-site portfolios, we run a structured tender to test supplier appetite, lock in commercial terms, and align contract structure to budget, risk and operational realities.

Property Managers & Estates

Managing multiple sites, tenants and meters often results in fragmented contracts, inconsistent billing and unnecessary admin.

Care Homes
& High Usage Sites

Single locations with significant energy demand can carry substantial cost exposure if supply arrangements aren’t properly aligned.

Owner Operators & Operational Teams

When energy isn’t centralised, it becomes another task to manage instead of something handled in the background.

The MHHS Overhaul:
Why Your Energy Bill Is About to Get a Lot More “Nosey”

How Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) is changing the way UK businesses are billed for electricity."As Ofgem’s MHHS programme moves toward full implementation, the way businesses are billed for electricity is undergoing its biggest transformation since market deregulation. Instead of suppliers relying on estimated or averaged usage profiles, smart meter data will allow them to see exactly when your business uses electricity — in 30-minute intervals, 48 times a day.

The End of “Average” Billing
For years, most business electricity bills have been based on estimated usage patterns and broad customer profiling. In simple terms, suppliers would make assumptions about when businesses used electricity, rather than seeing the full picture in real time.MHHS changes that completely.Instead of relying on averages, suppliers and energy networks will now receive half-hourly smart meter data showing exactly when electricity is being consumed throughout the day. That means two businesses using the same amount of electricity each month could end up facing very different costs depending on when they use it.Think of it like traffic on a motorway. Using electricity at quieter times of the day is far less stressful on the grid than everyone drawing power during the same busy peak periods. MHHS is designed to expose that difference much more clearly than the old billing system ever could.Peak-Time Usage Is About to Matter MoreUnder MHHS, suppliers can now see exactly when your business uses electricity — not just how much. That means businesses heavily using power during peak demand periods could face noticeably higher costs than those operating during quieter times.In simple terms, the grid is moving toward “busy time” and “quiet time” pricing.That’s where Time of Use and flexible tariffs start becoming much more important.

Preparing for the MHHS Shift
MHHS isn’t just another industry acronym — it’s a fundamental change in how business electricity is measured, analysed and eventually priced.For businesses with high daytime usage, poor load distribution or outdated meter data, these changes could quietly increase costs over time without ever triggering a “headline” unit rate rise.That’s why understanding your usage profile before full MHHS migration becomes increasingly important.At SUMS, we’re helping businesses identify hidden billing risks, review smart meter data and prepare for the next generation of electricity pricing before these changes fully take hold.

How to Protect Your BusinessMHHS represents a seismic shift in how UK businesses will be billed for electricity over the coming years. Yet despite the scale of these reforms, many companies are still walking blindly into the storm without fully understanding how supplier visibility, half-hourly data and future pricing structures are changing behind the scenes.That’s why SUMS has launched a dedicated 7-part MHHS explainer series on YouTube — breaking down these industry changes in plain English before the full transition takes hold.The series has new episodes every Monday. Click the link below to visit the YouTube MHHS playlist and subscribe to follow the rollout as the transition unfolds.

• Watch the MHHS playlist

• Request Your Bill Review

COMING NEXT IN THE MHHS SERIES

MHHS Migration Timeline: How Your Bill Is Changing"Why the M14 deadline matters, how suppliers are preparing for migration, and what businesses should be checking before the switch happens quietly in the background.

• Request Your Bill Review

The £30 Billion Motorway Toll:
A Deep Dive into RIIO-ET3

Why your 2026 TNUoS charges are funding the "Great Grid Upgrade."As of April 1, 2026, the RIIO-ET3 regulatory period has officially begun. While the headlines focus on the 60-65% hike in standing charges, the "why" behind the increase is a massive structural overhaul of the UK's high-voltage transmission network.

The Infrastructure Gap: Adding "Extra Lanes" to the Grid
The primary driver behind this month’s increase is the start of the RIIO-ET3 regulatory framework (2026–2031). Under this new five-year plan, Transmission Owners are authorized to collect record revenue to fund what is being called the "Great Grid Upgrade."Think of the UK's electricity grid like our national motorways. To handle the green energy transition, the network is undergoing a transformation that will eventually cost up to £70 billion. This investment is essential for connecting remote renewable energy sources—like Scottish offshore wind—to the southern demand centers.Why Efficiency Isn't Enough: The "Fixed Cost" TrapUnder the Targeted Charging Review (TCR) reforms, over 90% of TNUoS costs are now recovered through fixed residual charges. Unlike your unit rate, which depends on how much power you use, these costs are applied as a fixed daily fee based on your 'voltage band.'This means even if you reduce your electricity consumption, your standing charge will remain high unless you address your site's capacity banding directly.

Spotting the "Banding" Error
This is where many businesses overpay. Your band is often based on your Agreed Capacity (kVA). If your site is set to a high capacity but your actual usage is low, you are paying a ‘premium’ for grid space you don’t need.

How to Protect Your BusinessWhile TNUoS is a regulated pass-through cost that you cannot 'switch away' from, you can optimize how you are charged. At SUMS, we are currently assisting companies with 2026 Capacity Audits to ensure they aren't paying for 'ghost capacity'—grid space they pay for but never actually use. If your April bill doesn't stack up, it's time to review your kVA banding.

• Request Your Bill Review

The 200-Seat Restaurant:
Are You Paying for "Ghost Capacity"?

Why the "what you reserved" vs. "what you used" gap is costing you thousands.The headlines are full of news about electricity costs rising by up to 90%. While your entire bill won't jump that much, a massive portion of the increase is landing in your standing charge via TNUoS (Transmission Network Use of System).Crucially, this cost isn't based on your daily energy consumption—it’s based on the capacity your site has reserved with the network.Why the "what you reserved" vs. "what you used" gap is costing you thousands.The headlines are full of news about electricity costs rising by up to 90%. While your entire bill won't jump that much, a massive portion of the increase is landing in your standing charge via TNUoS (Transmission Network Use of System).Crucially, this cost isn't based on your daily energy consumption—it’s based on the capacity your site has reserved with the network.

The Restaurant Analogy: Paying for Empty SeatsThink of your business electricity connection like a 200-seat restaurant. Even if you only have 20 customers turn up, you are still paying to maintain, staff, and heat all 200 seats because you have reserved that space on the grid.In electricity terms, that reservation is your Agreed Capacity (kVA).The "Deli" Trap: Legacy Settings in a New WorldMany businesses are currently caught in what we call the "Deli Trap." Imagine taking over a massive restaurant space that used to have heavy-duty tandoori ovens and industrial refrigeration, but you’ve turned it into a simple deli.Your actual energy usage has dropped significantly, but if no one has updated your Agreed Capacity (kVA), the network still thinks you need all that power. You are effectively paying every single day to reserve "seats" you aren't using.Why April 2026 Makes This UrgentBefore April 2026, overpaying for capacity was a minor inefficiency. Now, it is a significant financial drain:Fixed Residual Charges: Over 90% of TNUoS is now a fixed daily fee based on your capacity band, not your unit rate.The "90% Headline": While total bills may only rise 5–10%, the fixed network element of those bills is skyrocketing by 60% or more.Regional Impact: If your "restaurant" is in a high-demand area like South Wales or London, your "reservation fee" is even higher.Is Your Site "Right-Sized"?Most businesses haven't audited their Maximum Import Capacity (MIC) in over five years. If your operations have changed—through efficiency, downsizing, or new equipment—you are likely in the wrong band.Are you paying for capacity you don't actually need?

• Request Your Bill Review

What is TNUoS? A Business Guide to 2026 Price Hikes

As of April 1, 2026, UK businesses are facing the largest structural shift in energy billing in a generation. With Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges confirmed to rise by an average of 64% this month, many organizations are seeing a sharp, unexpected increase in their daily standing charges. This shift isn’t driven by global energy markets—it is the direct cost of the physical 'rewiring' of the UK grid for a Net Zero future

The £80 Billion Investment: Funding the RIIO-ET3 PeriodThe primary driver behind this month's increase is the start of the RIIO-ET3 regulatory framework (2026–2031). Under this new five-year plan, Transmission Owners are authorized to collect roughly £7.6 billion in revenue for the 2026/27 charging year to fund the 'Great Grid Upgrade.' This massive investment is essential for connecting remote renewable energy sources to the national network.This funding is essential for the Great Grid Upgrade, a series of massive infrastructure projects including:Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1): A 2GW subsea "superhighway" linking Scottish wind power to the North of England.Grid Resilience: Modernizing 50-year-old pylons and substations to handle the surge in renewable energy.The EV Milestone: As of late March 2026, there are now nearly 2 million fully electric vehicles on UK roads, placing unprecedented demand on our high-voltage network.The "Fixed Cost" Trap: Why Efficiency Isn't EnoughUnder the Targeted Charging Review (TCR) reforms, over 90% of TNUoS costs are now recovered through fixed residual charges. Unlike your unit rate, which depends on how much power you use, these costs are applied as a fixed daily fee based on your 'voltage band.' This means even if you reduce your electricity consumption, your standing charge will remain high unless you address your site's capacity banding directly.

Regional Winners and LosersIn April 2026, the 'postcode lottery' of energy has intensified. Because TNUoS includes a locational element, businesses in South Wales, the South West, and London are seeing the steepest premiums as power is transported from northern wind hubs to southern demand centers. Conversely, some regions closer to generation in Northern Scotland see much lower volumetric rates, though the fixed standing charge hike impacts everyone.Highest Hikes: Businesses in South Wales, the South West, and London are seeing the steepest premiums as power is transported from northern generation hubs to southern demand centres.Lowest Impact: Some regions in Northern Scotland and North East England are seeing near-zero volumetric rates, though fixed standing charges remain a factor for all.

How to Protect Your BusinessWhile TNUoS is a regulated pass-through cost that you cannot 'switch away' from, you can optimize how you are charged. At SUMS, we are currently assisting companies with 2026 Capacity Audits to ensure they aren't paying for 'ghost capacity'—grid space they pay for but never actually use. If your April bill doesn't stack up, it's time to review your kVA banding.

• Request Your Bill Review

What is TNUoS? Explained Simply

Think of the UK's electricity grid like a road network. TNUoS is effectively the 'Motorway Toll.' It pays for the high-voltage transmission system—the massive pylons and long-distance cables—that moves power from where it's generated (like offshore wind farms) to your local area. While DUoS pays for the local 'A-roads' to your door, TNUoS covers the national backbone

Where is it on my bill?For most small and medium businesses, TNUoS isn't listed as a separate line item. Instead, it is 'wrapped' inside your daily standing charge. Because the April 2026 hike is so large (increasing from ~£16/MWh to ~£31/MWh), it is the primary reason your fixed daily costs are jumping, even if your unit rate for actual energy used remains stable.Why can't I just use less?In the past, you could lower these costs by avoiding 'peak' times. However, under the latest Targeted Charging Review (TCR) rules, nearly 90% of TNUoS is now a fixed residual charge. It is based on your 'Capacity Band' rather than your consumption. This means a business using 100 units a day might pay the same TNUoS as one using 1,000 units if they are in the same banding.Spotting the 'Banding' ErrorThis is where many businesses overpay. Your band is often based on your Agreed Capacity (kVA). If your site is set to a high capacity but your actual usage is low, you are paying a 'premium' for grid space you don't need. A simple banding review is often the only way to significantly lower this fixed cost in 2026.

• Request Your Bill Review

Industry
Term

The "SUMS"
Translation

Why it matters
to businesses

ADR

The Safety
Net

Short for Alternative Dispute Resolution. If a supplier or broker messes up, this is the free service that steps in to settle the argument fairly. Yes, we are Members

AMR

The Smart-ish Meter

Automated Meter Reading. It’s a meter that sends your readings back to the supplier automatically so you don't have to provide them manually.

AQ

The Forecast

Short for Annual Quantity. It's the industry's estimate of how much energy of a type your site will use in a year. If this is wrong, your quotes will be miles off.

ASC

Your Power Allowance

Your Power Allowance
Short for Authorised Supply Capacity. The maximum amount of power your building is allowed to "pull" from the grid. Go over it, and you get hit with heavy penalties.

Base Load

The "Always On" Cost

The minimum amount of energy your business uses even when you're closed—think fridges, servers, and security lights.

BSUoS

The Balancing Act

The cost of keeping the grid stable (exactly the right amount of power) every second of the day.

CCL

The Carbon Penalty

A government tax on business energy to encourage better efficiency.

DCP 161

The Overdraft Fee

A penalty for businesses that pull more power than they promised the grid. Think of it like a bank charge for exceeding your limit. If you haven't "right-sized" your capacity, you’re paying this fine every single month.

DUoS

The Local A-Road Fee

The cost of the smaller wires that bring power from the pylon to your building.

EAC

The Energy Guess

What your supplier thinks you’ll use. If they guess wrong, your bills are a mess.

FiT

The Solar Cashback

A legacy payment for businesses that generate and export renewable energy.

HH

The Smart Meter on Steroids

The Smart Meter on Steroids
Meters that track usage every 30 mins so you know exactly when you're "hungry" for power.

KVA

The "Pipe Size"

The maximum amount of electricity your building is allowed to "pull" at once.

Load Shapes

The New Fingerprint

The replacement for the old "Profile Classes." Instead of being averaged with every other shop on the street, your bill is now based on your unique 48-point daily usage. Your "shape" determines your price.

LoS

The Wire Leakage

The Wire Leakage
A small charge for energy naturally lost as heat while traveling through the wires.

MHHS

The Digital Revolution

The entire UK moving to 30-min tracking. No more guesses; everyone gets a reality check.

M14 Deadline

The Finish Line

Short for Milestone 14. By October 2026, every energy supplier must be ready for the new half-hourly world.
If your supplier misses this, they’re effectively "locked out" of the market. It’s the date that changes your bill forever.

MIC

The VIP Reservation

The total "pipe size" (kVA) you’ve legally contracted with the grid. You pay for this space whether you use it or not.

Micro-business

The Protected Class

Smaller firms with extra Ofgem protection against "cowboy" broker tactics.

MPAN / MPRN

Your Meter's National ID

The unique "Social Security Number" for your meter that never changes.

NESO

The Master Planner

The new publicly-owned body in charge of planning the entire UK grid.

Nuclear RAB

The Sizewell C "Tax"

Regulated Asset Base, a small daily charge on your bill to help pay for building the UK's new nuclear power stations today, so they're cheaper to run in 10 years.

Ofgem

The Energy Referee

The official watchdog. They make the rules and fine suppliers when they play dirty. We are Members of their ADR.

P272

The Big Meter Upgrade

The regulation in 2017 that moved many SMEs onto 30-minute (Half-Hourly) billing.

Pass-through Charge

The "Out of Our Control" Costs

Third-party fees (like the RAB or TNUoS) that your supplier simply passes on to you. These can fluctuate even if you’re on a "fixed" rate.

Reactive Power

The "Head on the Beer"

Inefficient power that takes up space in the "pipe" but doesn't do work.

RIIO-ET3

The Multi-Billion Grid Rebuild

The 2026–2031 plan to upgrade transmission lines. Expect network charges to rise.

RO

The "Green" Tax

A mandatory charge that funds large-scale renewable projects across the UK.

SMET

2 types of Smart Meter - Gen 1 & 2

Did you know, under Ofgem regulations, your energy provider must outline a resolution plan within 5 working days of you reporting the issue, or they owe you £40 in compensation!

Standing Charge

The "Rent" for your Meter

A fixed daily fee you pay just for being connected, even if you use zero energy.

TNUoS

The Pylon Motorway Toll

You're paying for the "big" lines to move power across the country.

Triads

The Energy Rush Hour

The three half-hour periods of highest national demand in winter; avoid these to save big. They are being phased out/replaced by the TNUoS Reform (CMP317/327).