Clenergy EV Achieves Elexon Approval for Lamppost EV Charging

As the UK accelerates towards its electric vehicle targets, accessible on-street charging has become critical for the millions of residents without off-street parking. Lamppost charging offers an elegant solution, leveraging existing street furniture to deliver cost-effective charging infrastructure. We're proud to announce that Clenergy EV achieved Elexon approval for managing lamppost charging infrastructure in March 2025, a rigorous certification that validates the accuracy and compliance of our platform.

This approval isn't just a milestone for Clenergy EV. It's essential for any council or public body looking to deploy lamppost charging legally and effectively.

What is Elexon?

Elexon is the independent administrator of the Balancing and Settlement Code, the legal framework that governs the UK electricity market. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation with approximately 250 specialists, Elexon manages the complex process of electricity settlement across Great Britain.

Every day, Elexon compares how much electricity generators and suppliers say they will produce or consume against actual volumes. They process 1.25 million meter readings daily, calculate the differences (called imbalances), work out pricing, and transfer funds accordingly. This ensures that everyone who generates, trades, or supplies electricity is billed accurately and fairly.

Elexon operates with complete neutrality. They have no commercial stake in generation, supply, or trading. This independence makes them the trusted arbiter of electricity settlement standards in the UK. When Elexon approves a system, it's a stamp of accuracy and reliability that the entire industry recognises.

Understanding Unmetered Supplies

Not all electrical equipment connected to the distribution network has its own meter. Unmetered supplies include street lights, traffic signals, zebra crossings, telecoms equipment, and now, EV charge points mounted on lamp columns.

Because these devices don't have individual meters, their electricity consumption must be calculated using approved methodologies. This is where the legal requirements become critical: under UK law, only charge points approved by Elexon may be powered by unmetered public street lighting supplies.

This isn't a guideline or best practice, it's a legal requirement. Operating lamppost charging without Elexon approval exposes councils and operators to regulatory non-compliance and potential settlement errors that could result in financial penalties.

Introducing mCMS: Measured Central Management Systems

Traditional unmetered supplies like street lights are relatively predictable: they switch on at dusk, off at dawn, with known wattage. EV charging is fundamentally different. Power consumption varies dramatically based on vehicle type, battery state, and charging duration.

To handle this complexity, Elexon introduced measured Central Management Systems in early 2018. An mCMS uses measurement devices to record the precise time and power of energy use for each charging session. This data is then processed through the unmetered settlement arrangements, ensuring accurate billing.

The mCMS must also maintain accurate event logs even during communications failures, handle multiple charging events correctly, and integrate seamlessly with approved Meter Administrators to process the data for settlement.

The Rigorous Approval Process

Achieving Elexon approval for an mCMS isn't straightforward. It requires months of rigorous testing against detailed specifications, overseen by accredited test agents and reviewed by industry bodies.

The testing process evaluates multiple critical functions:

Accurate event logging: The system must record every charging session with precise timestamps, power levels, and duration, even during communications failures or system faults.

Data integrity: Event logs must be generated in the exact format required for settlement, ensuring consumption is allocated accurately to half-hourly periods.

Communications resilience: The system must demonstrate how it handles network outages, ensuring no charging data is lost and subsequent logs correctly capture all consumption.

Power measurement accuracy: The mCMS must prove it can accurately measure and report varying power levels as vehicles charge at different rates.

Once testing is complete, results are presented to the Unmetered Supplies User Group (UMSUG) for recommendation, then to the Supplier Volume Allocation Group (SVG) for final approval. Only systems that pass this comprehensive evaluation are added to Elexon's approved list.

To date, only a handful of mCMS systems have achieved this approval. Clenergy EV is proud to join this select group, having completed several months of testing to prove the high level of accuracy our platform delivers.

Clenergy EV's Lamppost Charging Network

Clenergy EV now manages hundreds of lamppost charge points connected to our platform across the UK. We work with Elexon-approved hardware suppliers including Ubitricity and Evpzee, demonstrating our commitment to a software-agnostic approach that gives councils flexibility in their hardware choices.

While many charge point management systems focus solely on taking payments from EV drivers and starting and stopping charge sessions, the Clenergy EV platform goes much further. Our mCMS captures every detail of each charging session (start time, end time, power delivered) and automatically generates the complex event logs that Elexon requires for accurate settlement. This happens automatically in the background, ensuring councils and operators remain compliant without manual intervention.

The scale of opportunity is significant. The UK has over 7.5 million lamp posts that could potentially host EV chargers, making lamppost charging one of the most cost-effective ways to deliver on-street charging at scale.

Why This Matters for Councils and Public Bodies

If you're a council or public body considering lamppost charging, or already operating lamppost infrastructure, Elexon approval of your charge point management system isn't optional, it's a legal requirement.

Regulatory compliance: Only Elexon-approved systems can legally manage lamppost charging on unmetered supplies. Operating without approval puts you in breach of the Balancing and Settlement Code.

Financial protection: Inaccurate settlement data can lead to billing errors, disputes with electricity suppliers, and potential financial penalties. An approved mCMS ensures you're only paying for the electricity actually consumed.

Procurement confidence: When procuring a charge point management system, Elexon approval is a mandatory requirement. It eliminates regulatory risk and provides independent verification that the system meets industry standards.

Cost efficiency: Lamppost charging leverages existing infrastructure rather than requiring new electrical connections and civil works. Combined with accurate settlement through an approved mCMS, it represents exceptional value for public funds.

Resident access: For the significant proportion of UK residents without driveways, lamppost charging delivers accessible, convenient charging where they live, supporting equitable access to EV ownership.

Looking Ahead

The transition to electric vehicles is accelerating, and on-street charging infrastructure must keep pace. Government targets require rapid deployment of charging infrastructure, particularly in residential areas where off-street parking is limited.

Lamppost charging will play a crucial role in meeting this challenge, but only if it's deployed correctly and compliantly. Elexon approval ensures that the systems managing this infrastructure meet the rigorous standards required by the UK electricity market.

Clenergy EV's approval demonstrates our commitment to accuracy, compliance, and quality. As we continue to grow our network, we remain focused on delivering reliable, compliant solutions that give councils and operators complete confidence.

Get Started with Compliant Lamppost Charging

Whether you're a council exploring lamppost charging for the first time, a public body looking to expand existing infrastructure, or an operator needing to ensure your current setup is compliant, Clenergy EV can help.

Our Elexon-approved platform, combined with our partnerships with approved hardware suppliers like Ubitricity and Evpzee, means we can deliver turnkey lamppost charging solutions that meet all regulatory requirements from day one.

Ready to discuss your lamppost charging project? Contact our team to learn how Clenergy EV's Elexon-approved platform can support your EV infrastructure goals while ensuring full compliance with UK electricity settlement requirements.

For technical enquiries about Elexon approval or lamppost charging compliance, reach out to our team at Clenergy EV.