Glossary of terms F-I

F

FEED-IN-TARIFF (FIT)

The Feed-in-Tariff, or FiT, scheme, is designed to promote the uptake of small-scale renewable and low-carbon electricity generation technologies. You can apply to get payments from your energy supplier if you generate your own electricity, for example with solar panels or a wind turbine.

For generators, the scheme stopped accepting new applications after 31 March 2019.

The scheme requires electricity suppliers to pay into a fund, to cover the costs of those who produce energy under the scheme. The cost is then passed onto all electricity customers through their invoices. Amounts charged depend on volume consumed.

FIXED ENERGY CONTRACT

Fixed energy supply contracts are used by the majority of small to medium business energy users. They involve fixing the commodity (gas or electricity) element of your bill for the duration of the contract at the outset. The non-commodity cost elements can be dealt with in two ways – fixed in an all-inclusive option or paid on a pass-through basis. You’ll receive a fixed price for the term of your contract unless there are changes that impact the contract terms or that are beyond our control, in which event we may vary your prices or pass costs onto you. These may include:

• you not adhering to the contract terms;

• you providing inaccurate information to us;

• changes in industry arrangements, regulation or law, metering, or supply;

• any change in the structure or calculation of third party charges

FLEXIBLE ENERGY CONTRACT

A flexible energy supply contract can apply to electricity or gas supplies. They are more common with large, energy intensive business consumers. Instead of fully fixing the commodity (gas or electricity) element of your bill at the outset, multiple trades will take place over time to form the commodity cost you pay. Re-floats or sell backs are usually included within a flexible contract to help customers to take advantage of falling wholesale prices.

G

GAS METER POINT REFERENCE NUMBER (MPRN)

A Gas Meter Point Reference Number, or MPRN, is the unique identifying number for the gas meter at your property. The MPRN should be printed on your gas invoice and consists of between 6 and 10 digits. If the MPRN starts with 74 to 77 and is 8 digits long, then the gas is piped through an Independent Gas Transporter.

GAS TRANSPORTER (GT)

A Gas Transporter, or GT, is responsible for maintaining a gas supply network. They may also be asked by the Supplier via the Shipper to provide a meter for the business’ use. This requires a GT licence.

GAS CHARGES

Gas charges are added to a gas invoice by the government and third parties such as distribution companies. There are a variety of non-commodity charges attached to gas such as System/Customer Capacity, Exit Charges and Fixed costs.

GREEN GAS

Green gas is biomethane produced from an anaerobic digestion plant that is injected into the gas grid. Whilst it’s not 100% carbon neutral, it is more sustainable than natural gas which is created over many millions of years and will help to reduce your carbon emissions.

H

HALF HOURLY (HH)

Half hourly (HH) relates to the type of meter you have on site. A half-hourly meter provides measurements every half an hour. The related data set is often referred to as half hourly data (HHD).

NON HALF HOURLY (NHH)

Non half hourly (NHH) relates to the type of meter at your site. Non half hourly meters are usually found at smaller business premises where measurements are not taken on a half hourly basis, for instance, on a monthly basis,collected manually.

I

WHAT’S AN INVOICE PERIOD?

An invoice period is the period of energy usage being charged for. Most invoices will be for a calendar month.