UK non-commodity charge · Settlement and smart metering · Electricity
DCC smart metering charges (electricity)
Latest published rate, who sets it, and where it is forecast to go.
What DCC smart metering charges (electricity) is, who sets the rate, what the revenue funds and where it is heading. Rates come from the Purely Energy non-commodity cost data hub; forecasts are our own.
DCC smart metering charges (electricity): what it is, who charges it, and what it pays for
What it is
The DCC smart metering charges (electricity) charge in plain English
Pays for the Data Communications Company’s smart meter communications network, the system that sends your meter readings to your supplier wirelessly.
Introduced 2013 (Smart Meters Act). Rising as more meters connect, plateau ~2030.
Who charges it
The body that sets the rate
DCC (passed through by suppliers)
Unit
p/kWh
Applies to
Smart-metered electricity supplies
What it pays for
Where the revenue ends up
Smart meter communication infrastructure (WAN, HAN, DCC systems)
Published rate history
| Financial year | Rate | Year on year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 0.00500p/kWh | - | Published |
| 2021/22 | 0.00600p/kWh | +20.0% | Published |
| 2022/23 | 0.00720p/kWh | +20.0% | Published |
| 2023/24 | 0.00850p/kWh | +18.1% | Published |
| 2024/25 | 0.00950p/kWh | +11.8% | Published |
| 2025/26 | 0.0105p/kWh | +10.5% | Published |
Forecast trajectory
Forecasts from our non-commodity cost model. P10, P50 and P90 are the 10th, 50th and 90th percentile outcomes; P50 is the central estimate.
| Year | P10 | P50 | P90 | Confidence | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | - | 0.0115 | - | - | |
| 2026-27 | 0.0118 | 0.0123 | 0.0145 | med | Final year of current business plan with infrastructure investment completion |
| 2027 | - | 0.0120 | - | - | |
| 2027-28 | 0.0121 | 0.0127 | 0.0152 | med | New price control period begins with efficiency targets offsetting cost pressures |
| 2028 | - | 0.0125 | - | - | |
| 2028-29 | 0.0124 | 0.0131 | 0.0155 | low | Uncertainty around technology refresh requirements and charging methodology changes |
| 2029 | - | 0.0128 | - | - | |
| 2029-30 | 0.0125 | 0.0132 | 0.0156 | low | Smart meter penetration approaching saturation with stabilising cost base |
| 2030 | - | 0.0130 | - | - | |
| 2030-31 | 0.0125 | 0.0132 | 0.0156 | low | Operational efficiencies offsetting ongoing investment needs |
| 2031 | - | 0.0133 | - | - | |
| 2031-32 | 0.0122 | 0.0134 | 0.0146 | low | Speculative estimate based on assumed technology refresh cycle |
| 2032 | - | 0.0135 | - | - | |
| 2032-33 | 0.0122 | 0.0133 | 0.0146 | low | Placeholder assumption with no regulatory guidance beyond 2030 |
| 2033 | - | 0.0138 | - | - | |
| 2033-34 | 0.0125 | 0.0133 | 0.0152 | low | Steady-state operations assumption with significant uncertainty |
| 2034 | - | 0.0141 | - | - | |
| 2034-35 | 0.0125 | 0.0133 | 0.0152 | low | Long-term placeholder with potential for significant deviations |
DCC smart metering charges (electricity) FAQs
What is the DCC smart metering charges (electricity) charge?
Pays for the Data Communications Company’s smart meter communications network, the system that sends your meter readings to your supplier wirelessly.
Who sets the DCC smart metering charges (electricity) rate?
The DCC smart metering charges (electricity) rate is set by DCC (passed through by suppliers).
What does DCC smart metering charges (electricity) pay for?
DCC smart metering charges (electricity) revenue supports Smart meter communication infrastructure (WAN, HAN, DCC systems).
What is the latest published DCC smart metering charges (electricity) rate?
For 2025/26, the published DCC smart metering charges (electricity) rate is 0.0105 p/kWh.
What is the DCC smart metering charges (electricity) forecast?
Our latest forecast for 2026-27 is 0.0123 p/kWh (med confidence). Final year of current business plan with infrastructure investment completion
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Rate data from the Purely Energy non-commodity cost data hub (dh.purelyenergy.co.uk). Published rates come from statutory publications by the body listed above; forecasts are modelled from published guidance and market trends, so treat P50 as a central estimate and use P10/P90 for sensitivity.