Profile Class

Key takeaways

A Profile Class is a settlement category used for customers who aren’t settled using actual half-hourly readings.

Each Profile Class has an associated load profile, which provides a standard “shape” of typical usage so consumption can be allocated across half-hourly settlement periods.

What is a Profile Class?

A Profile Class (PC) is the way the electricity market groups non half-hourly (NHH) supplies for settlement.

Electricity settlement works in half-hourly periods. If a site isn’t settled on actual half-hourly data, the system still needs a consistent way to estimate when that site used its electricity across the day. That’s where Profile Classes come in.

Profile Classes group similar types of demand, then apply a load profile to split consumption across each half-hour.

Why it exists (and what it changes)

A Profile Class doesn’t usually change what you pay per kWh on its own. It’s mainly a behind-the-scenes settlement mechanism that helps the industry:

1. allocate consumption to half-hourly periods consistently
2. reconcile supplier positions accurately
3. apply appropriate profiling rules for different types of supply

For most small businesses, it’s something you’ll only notice when:

1. setting up a new supply,
2. looking at detailed supply data, or
3. being moved onto half-hourly settlement as usage grows.

Where you might see it

You can sometimes find your Profile Class:

1. on the “supply details” section of electricity bills
2. in supplier portals or data reports
3. within MPAN-related supply information

It’s usually shown as a numbered class rather than a descriptive label.

Sources

1. Ofgem: Glossary definition explaining non-half-hourly customers grouped into eight Profile Classes and profiled using load profiles
2. Elexon (BSC Glossary): Profile Class definition and link to load profiles in settlement