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Need a new business meter, a brand-new connection, or an upgrade? It is a project with several moving parts. Different organisations handle different bits of the process, and the right path depends on whether you have an existing supply, what demand you draw, and the type of meter the site needs. We coordinate everyone involved so you are not chasing your own install.
What does Clearsight handle for business meter installs?
A brand-new electricity or gas supply at a site that has never had one. We coordinate the DNO or iGT, the meter operator, and the supplier so the project does not stall.
Single-phase to three-phase, G4 to U6, U6 to U16, or a step up to half-hourly. We get the right meter installed and the right contract in place at switch-on.
SMETS2 for most commercial sites, AMR where SMETS2 is not yet available. We arrange the install through your supplier and open the door to the better contract structures (pass-through, flexible) that need automated reads.
How does Clearsight handle a meter installation?
Postcode, supply type, demand requirement, timing. We confirm what you actually need before quoting anything.
From DNOs and iGTs for the connection, from MOPs and MAMs for the meter, from suppliers for the post-install contract.
We chase the parties and flag risks early so you are not stuck waiting on a missing step.
Once the meter is live and the MPAN or MPRN is issued, we put the supply onto a contract aligned with current market conditions.
What are the common business meter install scenarios?
Most enquiries we see fall into one of six situations. The kit, lead time, and cost shape change depending on which one you are in.
A new build, a redevelopment, or a change of use site that has never had a metered supply. You need a brand-new connection and a meter on top of that.
The supply cable or pipe exists but the meter is missing, faulty, or out of date. You need a meter install, not a new connection.
Site demand has grown above 100 kW (mandatory half-hourly) or you have moved from single-phase to three-phase. Plan it before the supplier forces it.
Retail unit becoming a commercial kitchen. Office becoming a small workshop. The existing supply may not have capacity for the new use.
SMETS2 commercial install or AMR for mid-sized sites. Usually supplier-funded and quick once the appointment is booked.
A portfolio of sites needing the same change at the same time. We sequence the suppliers, MOPs, and DNOs across the estate so the rollout completes inside one window.
What to have ready before you contact us
A 15-minute first call is enough if you bring the basics. We need:
- Site postcode and the access situation (is the metering position accessible, is there a main nearby).
- A recent bill from a comparable site if you have one, or your best estimate of expected demand in kW or kVA.
- What the site does today and what it will do after the install (a kitchen, a workshop, a warehouse, a server room).
- Planned move-in or commissioning date, plus any hard deadlines (lease start, fit-out completion).
- Whether single-phase is enough or you need three-phase, if you already know.
If you do not have all of this, we can fill the gaps once we have your postcode. Most of the figures the DNO will need come from a load schedule we can put together for you.
What are the stages of a new business connection application?
A new connection moves through five formal stages. The first two are the bit most businesses get stuck on.
Optional but recommended. The DNO or iGT gives an indicative cost and timeline without committing you. Useful at the feasibility stage.
Submit site address, supply type (single or three-phase), maximum demand in kVA, and load profile. Ofgem regulates the quote turnaround window.
The quote covers design spec, timeline, and what the network will charge for the work, and is valid for a regulated period. Accept, and the DNO schedules the design and works.
Network operator runs the cable or main, installs the cut-out for electricity or the service pipe for gas, and energises the supply.
Meter operator installs the meter. MPAN or MPRN is issued. Supplier is appointed and the supply goes live on a billable contract.
How a new business electricity connection works
A new business electricity connection is a project that pulls in three organisations. The DNO designs and installs the cable from the national grid to your premises, plus the cut-out at your meter position. The Meter Operator (MOP) installs and maintains the meter itself. The supplier contracts to bill you for the electricity once the meter is live.
The DNO is the bottleneck. Total timeline depends on the site: simple low-voltage connections close to the existing network are quickest, while jobs needing reinforcement or distant mains can stretch significantly. Costs vary widely depending on demand profile, distance from the existing network, and whether civils work is contestable or non-contestable. Ofgem caps how much of any required network reinforcement cost can be passed back to the developer, so the bigger surprises are usually flagged at quote stage. Read the full process, costs and timeline guide.
How a new business gas connection works
A new business gas connection follows the same shape as electricity, with different organisations playing each role. Either the regional Gas Distribution Network (Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, SGN, Wales and West Utilities) or an Independent Gas Transporter on newer-development sites. The Meter Asset Manager installs and owns the meter. The supplier bills you once the meter is live.
Timelines stretch with distance to the existing gas main. Sites close to the main are the standard short job. Jobs further out, requiring mains extension or reinforcement, take meaningfully longer. iGT-managed connections are often quicker on new-build estates than the GDN equivalent. See our guides on new business gas connections and how iGTs work.
What are the different types of business meter?
The right meter depends on your demand profile, supply type, and whether you sit above a regulatory threshold. G4 covers domestic and very small commercial. U6 suits small commercial sites like pubs and small restaurants. U16, U25 and U40 cover medium to large commercial with bigger hospitality, manufacturing, or multi-tenant buildings. DM (daily metered) handles high-demand gas users. HH (half-hourly) is mandatory for electricity users above 100 kW peak demand. SMETS2 is increasingly the default rollout for commercial. AMR is the option for mid-sized commercial where SMETS2 is not yet available but you still want automatic reads. CT-metering (current transformer) is used where load is too high for a direct-connected meter, typically over 100 amps per phase. For a deeper read on the gas-meter side, see our guide to how business gas meters work.
When you legally need a half-hourly meter
If your maximum electricity demand exceeds 100 kW, you are legally required to have a half-hourly (HH) meter installed. This is not optional. HH meters record consumption every 30 minutes and the data is sent to your supplier and DNO automatically.
Half-hourly meters carry higher install and ongoing standing charges (see our guide to business energy standing charges) in exchange for granular usage data and access to more competitive contract structures such as pass-through and flexible procurement. If you are approaching the 100 kW threshold, get ahead of it. A forced upgrade tends to cost more than a planned one. Read the half-hourly meter guide.
From December 2026, Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) rolls out across the UK. Any site with a smart or advanced meter will be settled half-hourly under the new arrangements, regardless of demand. The 100 kW threshold remains the legal trigger for requiring an HH meter to be installed, but the settlement layer underneath it changes for everyone. Read our MHHS guide for UK businesses.
How long does a business meter installation take?
Cost and timeline depend on what you actually need. A smart meter swap on an existing supply is fast and usually included in your supplier contract. A meter replacement or upgrade typically takes a few weeks. A brand-new electricity or gas connection is the longest job: the DNO or iGT controls the lead time, and demand profile, distance from the main, and ground conditions all change the cost.
Bigger demand pushes costs up sharply. A simple low-demand connection is a different conversation to a high-demand industrial site or a half-hourly install with ongoing MOP charges. For an accurate figure on your site, we get quotes from the DNO or iGT, the meter operator, and your shortlist of suppliers, then bring them back as one number.
Who is involved in a business meter installation?
DNO (Distribution Network Operator) owns and maintains the electricity cables from the substation to your premises. 14 DNOs cover the UK. iGT (Independent Gas Transporter) owns the local gas network in certain newer developments. GDN (Gas Distribution Network) is the regional gas network owner: Cadent, NGN, SGN, Wales and West Utilities. MOP (Meter Operator) installs and maintains the electricity meter. MAM (Meter Asset Manager) is the equivalent of MOP, for gas. The supplier contracts with you to bill for the energy you actually use. Once the meter is live, see our guides to switching business electricity and switching business gas.
When smart meters help your business
A smart business meter (SMETS2 commercial, or AMR for smaller sites) replaces manual meter reads with near-real-time consumption data. The operational value is real: spot overnight or weekend gas and electricity use that should not be there, catch tariff billing errors before they snowball, tighten cost forecasting because you have actual usage data, and qualify for half-hourly contracts and pass-through deals that require automated reads. A smart meter for business is one of the quicker jobs to schedule on an existing supply.
Which network covers your area
Electricity distribution is split across 14 DNO licence areas covering the UK. UK Power Networks covers London, the South East, and the East of England. National Grid Electricity Distribution covers the Midlands, South West, and South Wales. Northern Powergrid covers Yorkshire and the North East. Electricity North West covers the North West. SP Energy Networks covers Central and Southern Scotland plus Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. SSEN covers the North of Scotland and Southern England.
Gas distribution is owned by four GDNs plus a growing number of iGTs. Cadent covers the largest area: North West, West Midlands, East of England, and London. SGN covers Scotland and the South. Northern Gas Networks covers the North East, Yorkshire, and Northern Cumbria. Wales and West Utilities covers Wales and the South West. iGTs sit alongside the GDNs, mostly on newer housing and industrial developments, and can often quote faster.
What can delay a business meter installation?
Most delays are avoidable if they are flagged early. The common ones we see:
- Demand miscalculation. Under-stating kVA on the application leads to a later upgrade. Over-stating it means a bigger connection charge than necessary.
- Missing wayleaves. If the cable route crosses land you do not own, you need permission from the landowner. The DNO will not start without it.
- Site access. The DNO needs vehicle access and a safe working area. A locked yard or a constrained urban site can add weeks.
- Ordering the meter too early. The MOP cannot install a meter until the connection is energised. Sequencing matters.
- Network reinforcement. If your demand triggers an upstream upgrade, costs and lead times step up sharply. Pre-application enquiry catches this before you commit.
- Supplier appointment. The supplier needs the MPAN or MPRN before they can issue a contract. Lining the supplier up in advance saves weeks.
How quickly can I get a business meter installed?
Timelines are case by case. We work with a panel of suppliers and meter operators who can fast-track urgent installs where the supply is live and only a meter swap, exchange or upgrade is needed. The right slot depends on your supplier, your meter operator, and what kind of meter you need.
A brand-new electricity or gas connection is the long job. The DNO or iGT controls the timeline and there is no real way to compress it once it starts. The fastest path is getting the formal application in early so the regulated quote clock starts. Sites close to the existing network and not needing reinforcement complete fastest. Beyond that, the timeline depends entirely on the site.
My site goes live soon, can I get a meter in time?
Tell us your live date on the first call. If the site already has a live supply and you only need a meter swap, exchange or upgrade, we work with suppliers who can fast-track urgent installs. Timelines are case by case and depend on what your supplier and meter operator can offer.
If you need a brand-new connection or a meter upgrade on a dead supply, the answer is almost always that the standard process is too slow for an imminent live date. There are interim options worth talking through: a temporary builders supply, a generator hire, or sequencing the move-in around when the supply can realistically be ready. We tell you straight which is realistic for your job.
How does Clearsight help with business meter installs?
We work with a wide range of suppliers, meter operators, DNOs and iGTs to get business meters installed and new connections live across the UK. Free, no-obligation quote. Send us your postcode and the basics of what the site needs and we will come back with a realistic timeline you can plan around. If you also want to compare suppliers once the meter is live, see our business electricity and business gas pillars.
If your site is going live soon and the meter is the missing piece, talk to us first thing. The earlier we triage the project, the more options we have to keep your launch date.
Glossary of meter and connection terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| MPAN | (Meter Point Administration Number). The 13-digit identifier for an electricity supply. Printed on every bill in a box labelled Supply Number. |
| MPRN | (Meter Point Reference Number). The equivalent of an MPAN for gas. 6 to 10 digits. |
| DNO | (Distribution Network Operator). Regional electricity network owner. 14 DNOs cover the UK. |
| iGT | (Independent Gas Transporter). A non-GDN gas network operator, usually on newer developments. |
| GDN | (Gas Distribution Network). One of the four regional gas network owners. |
| MOP | (Meter Operator). Installs and maintains the electricity meter. Sometimes bundled with the supplier, sometimes appointed separately. |
| MAM | (Meter Asset Manager). The gas-side equivalent of a MOP. |
| HH | (Half-Hourly) electricity meter. Records consumption in 30-minute intervals. Mandatory above 100 kW peak demand. |
| NHH | (Non-Half-Hourly) electricity meter. Standard meter for sites below the HH threshold. |
| DM | (Daily Metered) gas meter. High-demand gas users above the DM threshold, read daily. |
| CT meter | Current Transformer meter, used where load exceeds the direct-connected meter range, typically 100 amps per phase. |
| SMETS2 | Second-generation smart meter, the current standard rollout. |
| AMR | (Automatic Meter Reading). Automated reads without a full smart meter install. Common in mid-sized commercial. |
Sizing a new business connection comes down to two figures the network needs to know. The first is the maximum simultaneous load your site will draw — measured in kVA for electricity — which sets the agreed supply capacity, the type of metering required, and the monthly capacity charge once the connection is energised. The second is the expected annual consumption, measured in kWh, which shapes whether the supply will be half-hourly, the contract structure you can negotiate, and the long-term running cost. Get either figure wrong at connection stage and the corrections later are usually slow and expensive.
Every working meter carries a meter serial number stamped on it, which is the first thing any engineer will ask for during an install or swap. On the electricity side, smaller commercial supplies sit on a profile class that flags how your site typically draws power, while larger connections come with an agreed Authorised Supply Capacity set at the install. Most sites still settle on a non-half-hourly basis, which keeps the metering simple.
