Elexon and ElectraLink sign agreement to share half-hourly data via API
Summary
Elexon and ElectraLink have signed an agreement establishing a daily API for sharing half-hourly settlement data, required to maintain retail market operations during Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) implementation. The framework guarantees data access between the settlement body and the retail market data provider. This prevents disruption to supplier switching and other retail processes that depend on ElectraLink's systems.
Why it matters
This is operational plumbing for MHHS rather than market design — it ensures existing retail processes continue to function when settlement moves from monthly profiling to half-hourly metering. As such, it preserves the current retail market structure rather than changing it, addressing implementation risk rather than creating new market mechanisms.
Key facts
- •Daily half-hourly settlement data sharing via API
- •First agreement of its kind between Elexon and ElectraLink
- •Prevents retail market disruption during MHHS transition
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo
What changed
Elexon and ElectraLink have signed an agreement establishing a daily API for sharing half-hourly settlement data between the central settlement systems and retail market processes. The agreement, endorsed by the BSC Panel, creates a formal framework requiring Elexon to provide ElectraLink with daily half-hourly settlement data necessary for retail market operations under MHHS. This represents the first formal data-sharing agreement of its type between the settlement body and the retail data provider.
The agreement addresses a critical gap in MHHS implementation: ensuring retail market processes continue operating when settlement moves from monthly profiling to half-hourly actual consumption data. Without this framework, supplier switching, customer enquiries, and other retail processes that depend on consumption data would face disruption when MHHS launches.
What this means in practice
For suppliers: Retail operations continue unchanged. Customer switching, billing queries, and consumption analysis tools that currently rely on ElectraLink data will function normally under MHHS. Suppliers avoid operational disruption to customer-facing processes while adapting back-office settlement systems.
For customers: No direct impact on switching times or service quality. The agreement preserves existing retail market infrastructure that enables same-day switching and consumption data access for customer enquiries.
For system operators: Elexon must deliver daily half-hourly data feeds to ElectraLink via API, adding operational requirements to the central settlement process. This creates ongoing data delivery obligations beyond the core settlement function.
The technical mechanism involves Elexon extracting processed half-hourly settlement data daily and transmitting it through API to ElectraLink's retail market systems. ElectraLink then provides this data to suppliers and other market participants through existing channels. The data flow mirrors current arrangements but shifts from estimated monthly profiles to actual half-hourly consumption.
Cost allocation remains within existing BSC charging structures, meaning suppliers fund the service through standard settlement charges rather than separate fees. This avoids creating new charging categories while MHHS implementation progresses.
What happens next
Implementation aligns with broader MHHS delivery timelines, currently targeting 2026 rollout across market segments. The API development and testing must complete before MHHS go-live to ensure seamless data flow transition.
ElectraLink and Elexon will develop technical specifications for the daily data API, including data formats, delivery windows, and error handling procedures. This technical development runs parallel to broader MHHS system build and industry testing phases.
The agreement establishes precedent for formal data-sharing frameworks between central market systems and retail market infrastructure. Similar agreements may emerge as other MHHS dependencies become apparent during implementation.
BSC modification processes may follow to codify the data-sharing obligations within settlement governance, ensuring the arrangement has formal regulatory backing beyond the bilateral agreement. This would embed ElectraLink data provision as a settlement function rather than voluntary cooperation.
Market participants should monitor technical specifications as they develop, particularly suppliers with bespoke integrations to ElectraLink systems. While retail processes remain unchanged, underlying data characteristics shift from estimated to actual consumption, potentially affecting analytical tools and customer communication systems.
The agreement removes a significant implementation risk for MHHS by ensuring retail market continuity. This addresses industry concerns about disruption to customer-facing processes during the settlement transition, supporting the overall MHHS delivery schedule by eliminating a potential blocking issue.
Source text
ElectraLink, Elexon and the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) Panel have signed a crucial agreement to guarantee open data access, underpin critical retail energy market processes and prevent disruption to the industry during Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS). This agreement is the first of its kind and outlines a framework for Elexon to share half-hourly settlement data with ElectraLink daily. The post Elexon and ElectraLink sign agreement to share half-hourly data via API appeared first on Elexon .