Glossary
Technical terms explained in plain English
Metering & Data
MPAN
Meter Point Administration Number - like a phone number for your electricity meter. Every electricity connection in the UK has a unique MPAN that identifies it in the national system.
Export MPAN
A separate meter tracking energy sent back to the grid. When you generate or discharge electricity, this meter records how much you're exporting so you can be paid for it.
HHDC
Half-Hourly Data Collector - a service that reads your meter every 30 minutes. This granular data is essential for participating in wholesale markets where prices change every half hour.
COP11
Code of Practice 11 - the industry standard for asset metering that proves to the market exactly what energy was delivered. Required for receiving payments from wholesale market participation.
Elexon
The body that runs the UK electricity market settlement system. They ensure everyone gets paid correctly for the energy they generate, consume, or trade.
Markets & Trading
Flexibility
The ability to shift when you charge or discharge based on grid needs. By being flexible about timing, you can earn money helping balance electricity supply and demand.
Dispatch
When a market platform (like Axle) sends a signal telling your battery or charger to charge or discharge based on current electricity prices. Automated dispatch maximises revenue.
Wholesale Market
Where electricity is bought and sold in bulk. Prices change every 30 minutes based on supply and demand. By participating, you can buy cheap when there's excess and sell high when there's shortage.
NIV Chase
Net Imbalance Volume Chase - a trading strategy that follows wholesale price movements caused by supply/demand imbalances. The system automatically responds to price spikes to maximise returns.
DUoS
Distribution Use of System charges - fees for using the local electricity grid, especially at peak times. By avoiding peak usage, you can significantly reduce your electricity costs.
Shadow Bill
A comparison showing what you would have paid (or earned) under optimised energy management, even before switching suppliers. Demonstrates the value of smart energy control with real data.
P415
A market mechanism that allows distributed energy assets (like batteries and V2G chargers) to participate in wholesale electricity markets through aggregation.
Technical
V2G
Vehicle-to-Grid - bidirectional charging technology that allows your EV to send power back to the grid when parked. Your car becomes a mobile battery that can earn money by helping balance the electricity system.
Axle Energy
A flexibility platform that connects batteries, EV chargers, and other assets to wholesale electricity markets. Simtricity partners with Axle to enable market participation for community energy sites.