Profile class
The profile class groups similar electricity customers so their half-hour-by-half-hour use can be approximated.
What it is
A profile class is a category used in electricity settlement. For customers not measured on half-hourly meters, the industry applies a standard load profile to their total consumption, estimating how it is spread across the day. According to Elexon there are eight profile classes, and each has its own profile. A site on a half-hourly meter is in profile class 00 instead.
Where you will see it
The first two digits of the "top line" of your MPAN are the profile class. In broad terms, classes 1 and 2 are domestic, 3 and 4 are for smaller non-domestic sites (standard and Economy 7 style meters), and 5 to 8 are for larger non-domestic sites with maximum demand meters. Our guide to which profile class is my business helps you read yours.
Why it matters
The class affects how your use is allocated in the market and which meter type you are expected to have. Businesses in classes 5 to 8 have already been required to settle half-hourly, and the market is moving more sites in that direction through MHHS. A wrong class can distort estimates, so if your premises use has changed, mention it to your supplier. For more, see electricity profile classes explained.
Example
A corner shop on a standard meter is profile class 3. A factory with a maximum demand meter would be in a higher class. If the shop later fits a half-hourly meter, it moves to class 00.
Related terms
EAC and Data Collector.
Common questions on this topic
Sources
General information only. Energy prices, rules and supplier terms change; check the latest position with your supplier, Ofgem or the Energy Ombudsman before you act.