Energy Update
Save the date – ESPO’s Energy Event returns!
We’re excited to announce that ESPO’s Energy Event is back – and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever!
Date: 10 June 2026
Location: Leicester City Football Club (King Power Stadium)
After the fantastic success of our last Energy Event, we’re thrilled to invite you to join us once again for a day packed with insights, networking, and everything you need to know about our energy frameworks.
Whether you’re already using our Gas, Electricity, MOP (Meter Operator) or Water frameworks, or simply curious about how ESPO can support your organisation’s energy needs – this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Want to join us?
Just fill out the form to secure your place!
Flexible purchasing in energy markets
Flexible purchasing is a strategy where energy is bought through multiple transactions rather than at a single fixed point. This approach allows energy to be secured in varying volumes and at different times, helping to take advantage of fluctuations in wholesale prices and manage future price risks.
This type of purchasing is usually only available to large industrial and commercial energy buyers. However, ESPO can aggregate the volumes of its Energy customers to enable all energy users to access the benefits of this strategy. As a risk-managed flexible trading strategy limits exposure to volatile wholesale energy markets, it is recommended by both the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education.
A large amount of the volatility in energy markets has been driven by global geopolitical tensions. Wholesale prices increased in June when the war between Israel and Iran threatened to disrupt the supply of key energy commodities. In addition, the threat of increased sanctions on Russian energy products also added to upward price risk.
In July, prices started to ease on increased gas supply from Norway and milder weather later in the month reduced energy demand for cooling. However, with ongoing global tensions and uncertainty around winter temperatures, price volatility is expected to continue.
When electricity prices change in October, we are expecting rates to increase by around 5%. This increase is due to the higher non-energy costs that suppliers need to account for as part of the rates. These are regulated charges and cover maintenance of energy infrastructure, grid management, and support for new generation projects.
If you have any questions about future energy prices or flexible purchasing, please contact the ESPO Energy team (energy@espo.org) and we will be happy to help.
Counting every half hour: what the upcoming market-wide half-hourly settlement reform means for you
Market-wide half-hourly settlement (MHHS) is the UK’s landmark electricity market reform ensuring that every home and business is billed based on actual usage rather than estimated profiles. Why it matters:
• Bills reflect real usage, improving accuracy and clarity and reducing estimated usage
• Late October 2025: migration begins.
Don’t worry, this transition is handled by your energy supplier. However, if you’re using an older or non-halfhourly meter, you may be contacted to arrange an upgrade. Once you’re MHHS-ready, you’ll be set to benefit from greater control over your energy use. Useful info can be found on TotalEnergies’ blog here
Phasing out old tech: RTS meter switch-off explained
What is happening?
From 30 June 2025, the old radio teleswitch service (RTS), which controls time-of-use tariffs and heating systems via radio, will begin being switched off in phases – not all at once.
Originally, there was a fixed national cut-off date, after which all RTS meters would have stopped working at once. However, this has been revised to a phased switch-off, with the signal being turned off gradually in small, localised groups.
Why should customers care?
Without the RTS signal, heating and hot water systems may stop working correctly or stay on when they shouldn’t be leading to higher bills or inconvenience.
What customers need to know:
• You will be contacted by your supplier before your area is affected.
• You’ll get a free smart meter upgrade, which can do everything your old meter did and more.
What you should do:
If you haven’t been contacted yet but suspect you have an RTS meter (e.g. economy 7/10 tariff, electric heating or no gas supply), get in touch with your supplier now to schedule your upgrade.
TotalEnergies awarded new ESPO Gas framework starting April 2027
We’re pleased to announce that TotalEnergies has been successful in their bid for the new ESPO Flexible Gas framework, which will commence in April 2027. ESPO has enjoyed a strong and collaborative relationship with TotalEnergies over the years, and we look forward to continuing this partnership as we enter the next phase of the framework.
In the coming weeks, ESPO will be reaching out to all existing gas customers to discuss renewal options. As part of this process, you will be invited to join an online webinar where you’ll have the opportunity to meet your dedicated ESPO team and the TotalEnergies National Account Manager.
MOP update
Our Utility Metering and Data Services framework and we are in the process of tendering a new our website for the launch of the framework towards the end of the year.
The new framework will build on the success of the previous contract and provide services for customers who are affected by the market-wide half-hourly settlement industry change which begins in October 2026.
If you need a new meter operator contract before November, please get in touch via we will advise you of the contingency arrangements we have in place.
Please be assured that should your current agreement come to an end between now and the start of the new framework, the supplier will continue to provide the service and we will contact you once the new framework is in place to renew your contract.
Meter operator (MOP) and/or data collector/data aggregator (DC/DA) services
If you’ve chosen to appoint a MOP and/or DC/DA services directly, please let us know by emailing energy@espo.org – this is in addition to notifying your electricity supplier. By informing us, we can ensure that any electricity pricing we arrange excludes these service costs.