FAQs | FAQs

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 What is DUoS ?

A Regional Electricity Company (REC) is responsible for distributing electricity to all sites within its own region. The RECs receive a market average of 20% of the electricity cost for distribution and this cost is paid irrespective of whether they are responsible for supply. This charge is known as DUoS (Distribution Use of Systems).

 What is TUoS ?

The National Grid - this is the "mainline" network for the transmission of electricity from the generator to the Regional Electricity Companies' (REC) area. The National Grid is paid a market average of 6% of the electricity cost for transmission. This charge is known as TUoS (Transmission Use of Systems).

 What is an Energy Only offer?

An offer of supply that only includes the raw energy element excluding the DUoS & TUoS offer. (see below for explanation).

Why do suppliers bid on an Energy Only Basis ?

By leaving the DUoS and TUoS out of the offer price the supplier leaves the risk of projecting the costs of these elements to the customer. Any changes in DUoS rates will be passed directly onto the client and not fronted by the REC with an inclusive contract.

 What is a TRIAD ?

The National Grid takes readings of maximum demands three times a year. The average of the three readings is used by the National Grid to calculate the demand based transmission charges.

 What is an all-inclusive offer ?

This indicates a supply offer which has all delivery charges (DUoS & TUoS) built into the unit rates for the supply of electricity.

 What is GSP ?

Grid Supply Point, (GSP) is where the National Grid ends and electricity is distributed via the local area network. Line losses occur during the transmission from the national to the local network as the voltage is stepped down to a usable current.

 What are Tariff structures ?

Suppliers quote for electricity in numerous different formats. These range from simple one rate structures (the same price per kWh at all times throughout the year) to complex "Seasonal Time of Day" tariffs which have multiple rates. i.e. the price changes 3, 6 or 8 times during the day and varies with the day / month concerned.

 What is a GSP Offer?

To fully evaluate a GSP offer, one must add on all energy transmission line losses (which are not published to the general marketplace) and DUoS and TUoS in addition to DUoS and TUoS line losses. This makes it difficult to accurately evaluate the net delivered cost of a GSP offer. In addition GSP offers can look extremely competitive until you add in all the non-quoted additional charges. EnergyQuote has eliminated this problem by only allowing energy rates to be published to EnergyQuote which are net delivered prices to customer meter (inclusive of all line losses).

 What is STOD ?

Seasonal Time Of Day. (STOD) This is a supply tariff where electricity is supplied at different unit rates according to the time of day the power is taken by the customer. Typically suppliers have different tariffs for Day and Night, summer Day & Winter day & winter peak supply times, generally between 4.00 p.m. & 7.00 p.m. In addition to this, they generally have an evening supply period. STOD's can have between 4 & 56 different unit rates in them.

 What is Capacity Charge ?

A unit rate of charge per kVa (or kWh) of demand made available to a customer. This is also called an availability charge.

 What are Settlements Fees ?

The Settlements Agency is the body that "settles" the distribution of electricity to establish where and to whom the generated load has been distributed. The Settlements fees are compulsory and are taken monthly to cover this service.

 What is MD?

This is an abbreviation for Maximum Demand, the highest rate of flow of electricity in any 30 minute period. MD is measured in kW.

 What is a Meter Operator (MO)?

Any qualifying site which wishes to benefit from contract rates must appoint a meter operator, this is usually the host REC. It is the function of the meter operator to maintain the half-hour data meter & collect the data by means of a communication link, which is normally a telephone line. A meter operator agreement costs from £160.00 to £280.00 per annum depending on factors such as the meter operator and the type of meter. There will usually be a separate charge for the communications link which varies from area to area.

 What does OH mean?

OH stands for Over one Hundred kilowatt and refers to the maximum demand recorded on the site. An OH site must have an electronic half hour data meter fitted.

 What does UH mean?

A generic label for electricity sites that have demands lower than 100 kW, Under a Hundred (UH).

 What are Communications Fees?

These are the costs passed back to the customer to have their half hour data remotely recorded via modem or pak net radio each day and stored.

 What is the average cost per unit ?

This is the average cost of buying one unit of electricity including all compulsory charges, TUoS and DUoS. EnergyQuote does not include settlements fees when working out the average pence per unit price.

Will the average cost per unit appear on my bills ?

No, the rates of charge under the contract will appear on your bills. These are the costs agreed. The average pence per unit price once the contract has started will be different to the illustration shown on the purchasing report. This is because your actual usage pattern will not be exactly the same as the 12 month period with which we worked.